By ALENA HIGGINS
ABOUT 60 concerned residents turned out to a public forum on poultry farm developments at Warwick on Monday night.
The meeting at the Criterion Hotel was organised by a group of local landowners staunchly opposed to the proposed development of a large broiler farm near Pratten, which went before Southern Downs Regional Council (SDRC) for deliberation yesterday.
The group says it is not against chicken farms as such, but contends the DA in question ignores serious environmental, amenity and planning issues.
A representative from each of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) and Department of State Development, Infrastructure and Planning (DSDIP) attended and explained the new system which sees the State Government take over from local government as environmental assessors.
SDRC’s planning and environment department and the developer were invited to attend, but failed to show.
However, council was represented, with deputy mayor Ross Bartley and councillors Neil Meiklejohn, Vic Pennisi and Jamie Mackenzie on hand at to listen to the discussion.
While there, Cr Meiklejohn spoke about council’s position, which he said had to balance a number of important social, environmental and economic issues.
John Greacen, who has spearheaded the campaign, said while he was happy with the response from the State Government departments and especially Andrew Foley of DSDIP who pledged to address his concerns by email as soon as possible, he was disappointed other invited members of council were “not interested in talking to the community that pay their wages”.
SDRC director of planning and environment Ken Harris said earlier this month council “would normally not attend meetings that are set up as part of protest to development applications”.
Mr Greacen said regardless of the outcome on this particular application council had to “lift the benchmark” and “show more planning nous” so future generations were not left wondering “who was asleep at the wheel”.
The meat chicken industry contributes $370 million in GVP to the Queensland economy and employs about 4000 people, according to DAFF’s 2010-’11 figures.
More on council’s final decision in next week’s edition.
