Cooroy chooks off the boil

Council CEO Brett de Chastel has today (Friday, 7 April) confirmed that an appeal of Noosa Council’s decision to refuse a large-scale Cooroy poultry farm application had been withdrawn.
The Planning and Environment Court appeal had sought to overturn council’s decision, subject to conditions, after council refused the large-scale poultry farm proposal in November 2015, citing conflicts with the Noosa Plan, insufficient distance from surrounding residences, and traffic and amenity issues.
“The application attracted significant community interest, and was the subject of several petitions both for and against the proposed poultry farm,” Mr de Chastel said.
It included eight sheds capable of housing 26,800 to 34,840 chickens, and with the potential to carry up to 230,000 birds at any one time.
“While the Noosa Plan supports rural farming activity in the hinterland, council determined that this proposal was, in the end, too great a scale, for the wrong site, and it had the potential to significantly impact on residents’ amenity for years to come,” Mr de Chastel said.
Powerlink Queensland joined council in the appeal, given high voltage powerlines cross the site close to the proposed sheds. A local resident also joined the appeal.
The No Broiler Farm community group said the withdrawal of the appeal was a “success” for the community in defending the refusal of the Top Forestry Road broiler farm proposal.
“This means that there will not be a chicken meat mega-farm on the ridgetops of west Cooroy, and the local roads will not have to service the extra heavy vehicle traffic,” a statement on the group’s website said.
“We would like to thank everybody who supported our cause and particularly the community co-respondents who ensured that locals had a voice in the appeal.
“Thankyou to the applicant for showing some heart. Good on you!”