Piggery to expand in Fraser Coast, despite public opposition

A long-standing piggery in the region’s south has been given the green light to expand despite public opposition and some councillors deeming the industry’s business practices inhumane. Read what was said in council and how the vote was split:

The bid for a 60-year-old piggery on the Fraser Coast to more than double its capacity has been approved, despite strong public opposition and councillor concerns over animal welfare.

Wilrose Piggery at Netherby, south of Tiaro, was given the green light to house a further 4000 pigs following an ethical debate at the Fraser Coast Regional Council meeting on Wednesday.

In strong favour was councillor Denis Chapman, who argued for regional jobs growth, while councillors James Hansen, David Lewis and Mayor George Seymour stood against the expansion based on farming practices they deemed inhumane, with Mr Seymour branding the operation “immoral”.

Mr Chapman compared the proposed expansion to the growth of Nolan Meats abattoir in Gympie, which he said injected jobs and had been encouraged by the community.

“What these people are trying to do is expand their business for a better future,” he said.

Mr Hansen, a Boompa dairy farmer, was the first to directly voice concerns.

“I agree with job creation – I think that is something we all agree on, but there are two types of farming in my view – ethical farming and confinement farming.

“As a farmer that always been a grass-based producer, I believe that’s how animals should live.

“I don’t think we should be supporting a confinement operation. I think it’s wrong to treat pigs that way.”

More than 1000 public submissions had voiced similar animal welfare concerns but also took issue with the proposal’s possible threat to wildlife including nearby endangered species, contamination and erosion of the Mary River system and effluent impact to the environment.

Mr Lewis prompted debate when he questioned pig stall space in the proposal, which led to an amendment for approval to be subject to the piggery meeting the requirements of the Animal Care and Protection Act.

“How can they achieve enough space for the pigs to turn around?” he asked, quoting the proposed upscale in pig numbers as opposed to expanded space.

“I don’t see anything in the application that suggests that they are going to provide much more than the minimum space.”

The pigs’ pen space should not form part of the council’s assessment of the application, council executive manager for planning and growth James Cockburn said.

“This is a highly regulated activity – whilst the code of practice is relevant, the code of practice is not relevant to our assessment of town planning.”

Councillor Phil Truscott said he had researched the topic.

“(Wilrose Piggery) works through strict codes because they supply Coles and Woolworths.

“They check the pigs every day, have a vet on hand every day and put any pigs in a small sick bay if needed,” he said.

“There is no stress, they look after their pigs extremely well.”

Despite the amendment, Mr Lewis said he could not support the expansion of an industry whose practices should be in the past, terming his reasoning as an “environmental matter”.

“We no longer accept slavery or torture – we gradually crawl towards a more civilised community, but we are still a far way down the road when we still have battery hens and what seems to be battery pigs,” he said.

“We have a role by refusing this application that might prompt the state to re-visit their codes.”

Councillor David Lee, who supported the expansion, said while animal welfare was a concern he believed regulations the piggery faced within the industry were sufficient to satisfy concerns.

Maryborough Mayor George Seymour was opposed to the expansion of Wilrose Piggery.

Mr Seymour branded the project “immoral”.

“I think the confinement of other sentient creatures, for the entirety of their natural, albeit shortened lives is immoral. How would we feel if this life was dictated to us?” Mr Seymour said.

He said on planning grounds, the expansion posed an unacceptable threat to wildlife and the ecology of the Mary River system.

Mr Chapman said the application boiled down to industry growth.

“The owners of this industry have got confidence in our region to grow it forward,” he said.

He said the Wilrose Piggery had a long and complaint-free business history and would need to continue to comply with industry regulation or they would face closure.

“This piggery has been going for nearly 60 years; if there haven’t been complaints out at the piggery, I feel they have been doing the right thing.”

The motion was carried 7-4, with councillor Zane O’Keefe making up the fourth councillor opposed to the piggery expansion.