Wellington Shire Council has again extended the public submission period for the proposed Toongabbie Free Range Broiler Farms.
It will welcome further written submissions by Tuesday 7 July, following further information provided by the applicant including a revised traffic report, buffer assessment report and a revised engineering layout plan.
The additional information can be viewed at www.wellington.vic.gov.au/Developing-Wellington/Planning-Permits/Toongabbie-Broiler-Farm-Planning-Applications and in hard copy at Wellington Shire Council’s Sale service centre and at Latrobe City’s Traralgon service centre.
In March, some Toongabbie residents raised concerns about the proposal, fearing odour pollution and increased traffic on the roads if the two 400,000-bird, free-range farms were built.
Wellington Shire development general manager John Websdale said council had to date received 64 objecting submissions and two supporting submissions.
“Council sought further information from the permit applicant, principally in relation to odour and traffic impacts,” Mr Websdale said.
” It is important that the community is provided with further time to consider the additional information submitted and provide feedback prior to a decision being made.”
Mr Websdale said the next step was to consider the further written submissions and ensure the views of the applicant and objectors were heard at an upcoming consultation meeting.
He said subject to all relevant requirements being met, a council decision on whether to approve the application was likely to be made by the end of July.
The proposed farms would be located within the Wellington Shire boundary, but are close to the town of Toongabbie, which sits within Latrobe City.
Latrobe City previously made a written submission to Wellington raising concerns about the adequacy of the intersections at Traralgon Maffra/Sale Toongabbie roads and Traralgon Maffra/Princes Highway to cope with the increase in heavy vehicles; along with broader traffic movement along the Traralgon Maffra Road.
Council also suggested an Odour Elimination Risk Assessment be conducted.
A Latrobe City spokesperson said council officers were still reviewing the new information to determine whether council would offer any further correspondence.
“Council is pleased that Wellington Shire has initiated a consultation meeting on the 14 July and would encourage any residents or community members of Latrobe City to attend.”
Written submissions should be marked to the attention of the Coordinator Statutory Planning, Wellington Shire Council, 18 Desailly Street (PO Box 506), Sale, Victoria, 3850 with reference to planning permit application numbers P26/2015 and P27/2015.
Council will hold a consultation meeting on Tuesday 14 July at 5.30pm in the Wellington Room at 64-66 Foster Street, Sale.
It is requested that submitters RSVP to Jasmin McMillan, Land Use Planning Support Officer on 5142 3155 or via email jasmin.mcmillan@wellington.vic.gov.au
For further information, phone John Traa, Coordinator Statutory Planning on 5142 3169.
