Golden Plains chicken farms proposed months after bird flu outbreak

A chicken farm capable of housing 400,000 birds has been proposed in the Golden Plains Shire just months after a bird flu outbreak in the region.

A chicken farm with a capacity of 400,000 birds has been proposed in the Golden Plains Shire just months after a bird flu outbreak.

Planning applications lodged by Rokewood Livestock Farms Pty Ltd with the council revealed a proposal for eight sheds in Meredith, each capable of housing up to 50,000 broiler chickens, along with machinery and staff buildings, 12 feed silos, 4LPG tanks and two water tanks.

“The subject land is currently used for broadacre cropping and livestock grazing,” the application states.

“The proposed broiler farm will use only a small portion of the property and the balance will continue to be used for agricultural purposes.”

The applicant would also look to build a new access road and dam on the property.

A separate application submitted on behalf of Rokewood Livestock Farms revealed plans to use land on Shelford-Mercer Road as a recycling facility to produce shredded timber to be used as litter for the broiler sheds.

“Our client has purchased land at 1115–1185 Shelford-Mt Mercer Road, Shelford, upon which they propose to establish several broiler farms and associated uses,” the report read.

“Our client is an existing broiler farmer who uses shredded timber as deep litter on their broiler farm at Mt Cottrell.”

Another separate application from Valley Park Farm Pty Ltd proposed expanding an existing chicken farm along the Midland Highway to a total of 370,000 birds.

It comes six months after 450,000 birds were culled after Avian Influenza – commonly known as bird flu – was found on four other farms around Lethbridge.

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Victoria’s chief veterinary officer Dr Graeme Cook confirmed in September that roughly 450,000 birds had been culled as a result of two strains found in Victoria last year.

It’s not suggested that any of the farms involved tested positive for either strain of bird flu.

Updates last month revealed poultry movement restrictions had been removed, with only small control areas remaining around Lethbridge farms.

“Agriculture Victoria will undertake the appropriate actions to depopulate and decontaminate the site,” Dr Cook said at the time.

“Avian influenza viruses occur naturally among wild birds and can be difficult to detect as they may not show signs but can cause infections in our domestic bird populations.”

Originally published as Golden Plains chicken farms proposed months after bird flu outbreak