Council rejects broiler farm bid

By Paul Dunlop
A BROILER farm in Nar Nar Goon has been refused permission to expand despite acknowledgment the technology used at the farm is among the best in Victoria, possibly even Australia.
Kerry and Steve Stoiljkovic had sought Cardinia Shire Council’s approval to put another two broiler sheds on their property in Racecourse Road, a move that would have almost doubled the size of their family operation.
The Stoiljkovics currently keep up to 90,000 chickens in two sheds and had hoped to have up to 160,000 birds on the 30hectare property.
The extra 70,000 birds were to be housed in new sheds built using the latest in broiler farm technology, including emission stacks on some exhaust fans to minimise odour.
However, the expansion was opposed by many nearby land holders with 14 residents lodging objections with the council.
Councillors voted 43 in favour of an officer’s recommendation that the application be rejected.
Councillors acknowledged the decision was difficult.
Among the concerns raised by objectors were increased traffic in Racecourse Road, fears of increased odour and concerns about the distance between the broiler operation and nearby properties.
The buffer zone was a key issue for council, with officers saying the proposal did not meet the requirements under the Victorian Code for Broiler Farms.
Town planners said the boundary buffer required was 260 metres but the proposal would not deliver this result.
Residents opposing the proposal also said the broiler farm was too close to the Nar Nar Goon township.
Cr Bill Pearson said in an area that would soon see significant future residential growth, allowing a broiler farm to expand was the wrong way to go.
Crs Pearson and Doug Hamilton both voted against the proposal but said they had some sympathy for the applicants.
Cr Graeme Legge spoke in support of the application. Cr Legge said the Stoiljkovics were widely recognised as leaders in their field.
He said the distance at issue in terms of the buffer zone was about the length of a cricket pitch.
Newlyelected councillors Brett Owen and Ed Chatwin both said the issue presented a dilemma.
Cr Chatwin said a recent inspection of the farm was his first visit to a broiler farm, which are a regular topic of controversy in the region.
“I found (the Stoiljkovics’) operation particularly well run,” he said.
Cr Owen wanted to see council’s decision deferred pending further information about the objections, most of which were lodged when the expansion was first mooted in 2004.
But Cr Pearson said he had talked to residents and found “local people don’t want it”.