By JONATHON HOWARD
NOOSA councillors were expected to defer a long-standing application to construct an intensive poultry farm at Ridgewood west of Cooroy, pending several tough conditions.
The deferral comes despite council’s senior staff recommending the application be refused due to five conditions including the proposed poultry farm “does not comply with the overall outcomes of the Noosa Plan’s Mary River Catchment Locality, agricultural uses and transport, roads and drainage codes”.
The material change of use application was made for the construction of eight 100m x 16m sheds which would house a total of 240,000 broiler chickens at 136 Top Forestry Road.
Concerned Cooroy residents have run a fierce campaign against the application with hundreds of signatures against added to an online petition.
While the matter had been pending a decision for more than 12 months and was deferred by the previous Sunshine Coast Council, it is now closer than ever to a final ruling.
Present during Noosa Council’s general committee meeting on Monday, 22 September, was Cr Frank Wilkie (chairing the meeting), Cr Frank Pardon, Cr Sandy Bolton, Cr Joe Jurisevic and Mayor Noel Playford, while Cr Bob Abbot and Cr Tony Wellington were away on holidays.
Councillors discussed the specifics of the application for more than an hour before they agreed to defer the matter pending five conditions.
The conditions included greater dust mitigation, an alternative haul route through Cooroy, greater addressing of odour concerns and sealing of Top Forestry Road.
The final vote to defer was expected to be made during council’s ordinary meeting tonight.
HAVE YOUR SAY: Do you think an intensive chicken farm at Ridgewood should go ahead? Email your thoughts to newsdesk@noosatoday.net.au
