2015-11-10 Planning & Organisation Committee Agenda

PLANNING & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                            10 NOVEMBER 2015



 Issues                                        Comments
 Does not meet the Overall Outcomes of Animal Husbandry Type 2 (Intensive Poultry Farm)
 The Noosa Plan’s Mary River Catchment is a consistent use within the Rural zone, subject
 Locality Code.                        to impact assessment and must demonstrate that
                                       the selected site is suitable, and impacts can be
                                       appropriately managed.
5.   CONCLUSION
The report provides an assessment of the most recent information for an application for a
230,000 bird poultry farm at 136 Top Forestry Road, Ridgewood. Animal Husbandry Type 2
(Intensive Poultry Farm) is a consistent use within the Rural zone, subject to impact assessment
and must demonstrate that the selected site is suitable, and impacts can be appropriately
managed.

It has been three years since the application was lodged, and has often changed with regards to
bird numbers, shed litter disposal, odour impact assessment modelling, traffic impact and
volumes, shed synchronisation and upgrades to Top Forestry Road for heavy vehicle use.
Because of the numerous changes and the perceived impacts of a farm of this scale, Council has
received over 226 submissions over this period (including two petitions of support, with 198
signatories; and two petitions objecting, with 723 signatories).

In November 2014, Council deferred consideration of the application and requested the applicant
address traffic and odour impacts by providing an infrastructure agreement, and provide further
clarification about the haul route and chicken pick-up times.

In October 2015, the applicant responded by providing an Infrastructure Agreement detailing
proposed upgrades (including sealing and widening) to Top Forestry Rd, and a restrictive odour
covenant on the adjoining properties currently owned by the applicant.

Council’s traffic consultant considers the sealing and widening of Top Forestry Road will allow for
the road to be used safely at moderate speed, as well as reducing Council’s maintenance.
Council’s solicitor is also accepting of the restrictive odour covenant to bind the adjoining
properties within the unacceptable odour impact area so as not be used as a house (or transfer
of any existing house), while the poultry farm is operational.

While the Infrastructure Agreement overcomes the outstanding key issues of traffic and odour,
the applicant has not adequately addressed how the impacts on surrounding residents living
along the haul route are to be mitigated. This is a concern, with the Department of Agriculture
and Fisheries (which manage the compliance of poultry farms) considering the noise impacts
from chicken pick-up times to be high, especially during night time operations.

To minimise these impacts on the lifestyle and amenity of residents on the haul route, a condition
is recommended restricting truck movements to between 6am and 7pm. The application is
therefore recommended for conditional approval, subject to Council entering into the
Infrastructure Agreement to secure the proposed road upgrades, and a restrictive odour
covenant is included on the title of the adjoining properties.




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