AS farmers find solutions to expand productivity, there will be more planning applications for intense farming operations, according to Gannawarra Shire councillor Ross Stanton.
The council last week approved a planning application for the use and development of land at Macorna North for a 2000-head beef cattle feedlot, despite five objections from nearby landholders.
The application is subject to more than 30 conditions, but councillors weren’t concerned.
“Historically, this area has been dairy and beef farming for over 100 years,” Cr Kelvin Burt said.
“Just over the creek there are two large dairy farms already operating, some piggeries, and at the other end of Mead Road there are a couple more dairy farms.
“None have had major impacts on waterways, so basically we are voting on an application to be a modern farmer.
“Farmers look after their land and livestock … I don’t see any problems.
“We don’t sit on a stool and milk cows into a bucket anymore, this is just progress.”
Cr Stanton said for many years the shire survived off dairy farming, but water usage had almost halved through trade and deregulation.
“We have a few dairy farms now, but now they are much bigger and taken over three to four what were mum-and-dad farms,” he said.
“I think we will see more applications like this for intensity-type farming as people work out how they can farm, produce money and add value to the community.
“We need to be on top of those codes and conditions (for planning applications), and I get people have concerns about that, but we need to diversify and grow to keep producing.
“Our own council plan identifies a growth strategy – supporting existing agriculture and facilitating diversification to improve productivity through sustainable planning.”
Under the proposal, there would be up to 1800 head at one one time in the proposed feedlot and up to 7200 head in a year.
However, it has been indicated that if smaller cattle were fed (such as animals with a finished weight of 400kg) there could be up to 2667 head at a time.
The five objections received included concerns about traffic impacts, work hours, use of dairy infrastructure, odour, chemicals and farm machinery, road maintenance, nutrients leaching into groundwater, potential for impacts on Pyramid Creek and Johnson and Hird swamps’ surface water quality, and dust and odour.
A consultation meeting was held with council officers, the applicant, proponent and some objectors early last month “for all parties to gain a better understanding of the proposal”.
