Heat on broiler plan

By Melissa Meehan
A CARDINIA councillor has lashed out at a land developer who wants to build a broiler farm in Catani – labelling it grossly inappropriate.
Councillor Collin Ross met with a handful of concerned residents who are opposed to a plan that would see more than 2 million chickens brought to the town each year.
Residents say the land in question, on the corner of McCraws Road and Lennox Road, is not suited for use as a broiler farm and have raised many concerns including the increased traffic movements on dirt roads around the town.
“I went out there at the same time as Eastern Metropolitan MP Edward O’Donohue,” Cr Ross said.
“We listened to what they had to say and walked away with our own concerns.
“I personally think the broiler farm would be inappropriately placed and would impinge on the local area.”
Cr Ross said the fact that one farmer would lose up to 70 per cent of his own land to the buffer zone was reason enough to object the proposal from his point of view.
“Not to mention the extreme stress on local roads with all the truck movements,” he said.
“I know other councillors have been out there, and I don’t know what they’re thinking but I just believe its inappropriately placed and if greater consideration of residents was factored into the proposal there wouldn’t be so many objections.”
Mr O’Donohue said it was a good opportunity to hear the residents concerns, but was careful not to overstep the council’s decision.
“As a member of government I’m always keen to engage with local residents and this is a significant concern to people in Catani but, primarily, it is a matter for council and its not for me to pre-empt that.”
A committee of residents has been formed to act on behalf of the Catani residents who are opposed to the broiler farm.
The group put in its second submission last week.
“This is a fight we will continue to the end,” committee member Donna Rowe said.