Tallawanta Feedlot at Garah is set to expand from 5,000 head of cattle to 10,000, following the approval of a Development Application last week.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Moree Plains Shire Council signed off the on DA to expand the existing feedlot at last Thursday's council meeting, provided a range of administrative and performance conditions are met, including odour, dust, noise and pest management and the development of a wet weather road access plan to reduce the destruction of Gingham Road.
Councillors unanimously voted to approve the DA, which will see the expansion of the Gingham Road feedlot progress in two stages.
The first stage will involve an increase to 7,000 head of cattle, while before it expands to 10,000 head in stage two.
Tallawanta Feedlot owner Sam McNiven said the second stage won't happen until funding is secured to seal the Gingham Road.
READ ALSO:
The condition of the road was one of the biggest issues raised by adjoining landowners and residents along the Gingham Road.
Council received 10 submissions from neighbouring residents raising concern about the Gingham and Talmoi roads' ability to cope with an increased volume of traffic which will result from the feedlot's extension.
Many of the neighbours said in their submissions that while they don't want to stand in the way of progress, they would like to see the roads bitumen sealed before the feedlot can be increased in size.
Currently, the road is cut up after any wet weather event and many were concerned about the potential impact that double the number of heavy vehicles would have.
In an attempt to mitigate these concerns, Mr McNiven has entered into a Voluntary Planning Agreement with council, offering to pay a fee of $0.53 per head on cattle movements inbound and outbound from the feedlot.
The contributions would be made to council which would be entrusted to spend the money on maintenance of the Gingham and Talmoi roads.
"I'll start tipping in money, paying double the rate to use the road still as a gravel road," Mr McNiven said during the public forum at last Thursday's council meeting.
"If a private enterprise can be seen to be putting money into public infrastructure, we'll have a lot more strength in going to the state and federal governments to apply properly for a grant."
Mr McNiven has also agreed to a wet weather protocol in the event that more than 10 millimetres of rain falls.
He has requested that council continue to apply for state and federal government funding to seal the road.
Odour was another of the concerns raised by neighbours in relation to the feedlot's proposed extension, however Moree Plains Shire Council's senior urban planner Murray Amos said that would be improved as part of the new development and as part of Environment and Protection Authority (EPA) licensing.
A number of people spoke in favour of the development at last Thursday's council meeting.
John Brazel said it's a great thing for the district.
"This is something local; it supports local business and local properties," he said.
"We've just got to get council on side to do something about the road."
Mark Winter also endorsed the expansion, saying the extra jobs it'll provide for the district is a positive.
Lou Doran was unable to make the meeting, but Mr Amos read out a statement on her behalf, saying the state of the existing road is "unsatisfactory" for existing farm businesses.
"It's important for that road to be adequate for industry to take place," she said in the statement.
Cr Sue Price moved the motion to approve the expansion of the feedlot from 5,000 head to 10,000 head, saying it is a great project.
"It's value-adding which is something we do," she said.
"I congratulate Sam for having the motivation to do it and for hanging in there.
"There's never enough money to do roads, but by expanding the feedlot it rises the priority of Gingham Road to have the maintenance done it needs to."
Cr Kerry Cassells seconded the motion.
"We do not want to send our stuff to Queensland," she said.
"We need our business in NSW. I'm looking forward to seeing what you're going to do."
Cr Greg Smith also spoke in favour of the expansion, saying the timing couldn't be better with the Inland Rail happening.
Mayor Katrina Humphries also endorsed the development, congratulating the community on working with council to address all the issues that arose throughout the process.
"It was a real community effort all along," she said.
"We will keep banging on doors trying to get funding. The increase in percentage numbers is only going to make it more palatable to the people who hold the purse strings.
"Now is the time for us to be embracing development."