OPPONENTS to a controversial outdoor pig farm near Koondrook are appealing Gannawara Council’s decision to approve a planning permit with the state’s planning umpire.
An application was lodged with Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) late last month, with a hearing scheduled for April next year.
Western Plains Pork successfully sought approval to develop the 440 hectares of land at a site near Koondrook, which borders Gunbower Creek.
Close to 50 objections were received, however councillors Keith Link, Charlie Gillingham and Travis Collier voted to issue the permit in a 3-2 vote.
Objectors cited noise, smell and dust from the farm as major concerns, fearing it would deter visitors who enjoyed the creek.
“When locals and tourists come up here to the bush and to the creek for camping and family time they don’t want all that odour,” local Tanya Black said.
“The proposal is quite intense – 5000 squealing pigs right next to wetlands where you are cruising up in your kayak.”
Ms Black said she was concerned the farm would jeopardise the region’s pandemic recovery and was at odds with a local push to grow ecotourism in the area.
“If it were going to be an eco-resort or something like that, where it was creating money for the community, that would be OK. But the pig farm is only going to employ four people – hundreds of thousands of dollars in tourism will be lost,” she said.
“Our tourism rates are rapidly climbing after COVID and we have been the busiest we have been as people explore close to home, so any deterrent like odour and noise will detract from that.”
The piggery had received full approval from Goulburn-Murray Water, DELWP, Agriculture Victoria and North Central Catchment Management Authority, and was permitted under Gannawarra Shire’s planning scheme.
Mayor Charlie Gillingham described the piggery as an “approved agricultural business in an approved farming zone”.
“And as Cr (Keith) Link mentioned, this will be the most scrutinised business in the Gannawarra. I can assure you there will be people looking over the fence every day,” he said.
Western Plains Pork director Tim Croagh said the planning system allowed objections.
“This is a democratic process, so in reality it’s something that is quite common,” he told the Gannawarra Times.
Asked if the hearing delay was a frustration, Mr Croagh said “naturally he would prefer to be setting up the farm, but we accept and play by the rules”.
“We are busy cropping and rearranging some of the infrastructure, so we will continue to manage the property from a cropping perspective,” he said.
“A large part of the farming operation is growing feed just like most local farmers so that is our current focus.”
Mr Croagh said the company didn’t have any “firm decisions” on how to best respond in the VCAT hearing.
“We have plenty of time and we will consider all the options,” he said.
The VCAT applicants declined to speak at this stage and Gannawarra Council was contacted for comment.
