Hen-pecked

By Melissa Meehan
CARDINIA Shire’s council chamber was a flurry of excitement on Monday night as councillors refused an application to allow a broiler farm to be built in their town.
Over 20 residents who attended the meeting hugged and cheered as councillors unanimously agreed with council officer Brett Jackson’s report that the application be deemed prohibited as it does not comply with the Victorian Code for Broiler Farms.
While pleased with the outcome, group spokesperson Ron McCausland said the group wasn’t counting their chickens before they hatched – as the applicant had 28 days to decide whether to take the matter to VCAT.
He said the council’s decision had vindicated the hard work of all in the community.
“It’s been a fantastic effort by so many people in our community,” he said.
“We had councillors and local politicans come out so we could show them our concerns and it paid off.”
Mr McCausland said it had all happened pretty fast, first hearing about it when neighbour Tracey Gardiner knocked on his door on 13 March.
Fellow resident Trevor Row said the community would be very happy with the council’s decision but couldn’t celebrate just yet – and that they were ready to continue their fight at VCAT should the applicant choose to take it further.
Cardinia Councillor Stuart Halligan said the council received 34 passionate objections to the application that would see more than two million chickens brought to the town each year.
While he said he supported the refusal based on the application being prohibited under the Broiler Code, Cr Halligan said it was not a total rejection of broiler farms in the area.
“There is a need, just not in towns,” he said.
“They need to be in a place they won’t affect prime farming land and the safety of the community.”
Residents have always opposed the application, saying the land in question, on the corner of McCraws Road and Lennox Road, was not suited for use as a broiler farm.
They cited noise, safety issues and increased traffic movements on dirt roads around the town.
But the ace up the sleeve of objectors was the plan to use a neighbouring property as the buffer zone between the broiler farm and its closest neighbour.
More than 78 per cent of Trevor and Donna Row’s property was to be taken over by the buffer zone needed to meet the requirements of the Broiler Code – and this is what ended up costing the applicant a permit.
Councillor Collin Ross said most councillors visited the site, and were presented with a well-educated and researched argument from all concerned.
“They did their homework and when they told us about the buffer zone impinging onto 78 per cent of a neighbouring property, I just thought it was a weird thing to do,” Cr Ross said.
“It wouldn’t be fair on their neighbours, and that as well as other concerns it would have a large impact on the area.”
Cr Ross applauded objectors for the way they carried themselves through the process, and said others should follow their lead.