A Parwan broiler farm that will hold 400,000 chickens in eight sheds has been given the go-ahead by Moorabool council.
Councillors last week granted a planning permit for the $5.8 million farm on Geelong-Bacchus Marsh Road, despite receiving 20 objections.
Moorabool Environmental Group member and Parwan resident Kate Tubbs said it wasn’t the kind of farm the shire should boast about.
“There’s another small broiler farm nearby and it’s created problems, so to have one this huge at the other side of our property is a big concern,” she said.
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Ms Tubbs said she was worried about the minimum 35 million litres of drinking water the farm would use every year for its machinery and poultry sheds, feed silos and earthworks. “Everyone in Bacchus Marsh is so frugal with their water and to think this industry will use so much of it is just obscene.”
Cr Tonia Dudzik asked if the chickens would ever see daylight, to which she received a straight “no” from applicant Fernando Ferreira.
Genetics Australia breeding programs manager Peter Thurn said while he was not necessarily against the broiler farm, which will border his company’s property, he was concerned it could have a negative impact.
“When overseas authorities come to inspect our cattle, we want to show that we are separate and unaffected by the possible pathogens from the poultry,’’ Mr Thurn said.
‘‘It’s that perception of biosecurity we need for our business.”
Mr Ferreira said he had consulted with neighbours and had addressed concerns about potential odour and amenity.
“This industry makes a significant contribution to a community and will lead to five or six direct jobs, and many indirect jobs during construction and eventually maintenance,” he said.
Cr Pat Toohey said it was an appropriate development, well away from domestic activities. “The applicant has gone out of his way to ensure a quality facility and address any of the residents’ concerns about flooding and cattle export,” he said.
No way to treat a chook
Brittany Cheeseman, who runs Forever After Animal Rescue in Parwan, said broiler farms had no regard for the lives of animals and were “absolutely disgusting”.
“They’re just seen as meat and injected with hormones and steroids until they can’t move and their legs collapse.”
Ms Cheeseman, who last year took in 22 broiler chickens, said they often died of heart or organ failure before they were six months old.
“If they were healthy we didn’t get to see them, as they’re slaughtered at eight to 12 weeks old.”
Moorabool Environment Group member Kate Tubbs said many broiler chickens were suffocated or trampled.
“They’re squeezing 24 grown hens into a square metre, that’s 40 kilograms of chicken squashed in that small space.’’
But a report to councillors stated the application complied with relevant animal cruelty laws.
