Toowoomba Regional Council approves 70,000 bird poultry rearing farm in Sandy Camp

Toowoomba Regional Council has approved a poultry rearing farm in the region’s south.

Darwalla Milling Co has received an approval from Toowoomba Regional Council for a poultry breeder rearing farm that will support a maximum of 70,000 birds in the region’s south.

The business lodged its application for the farm and caretakers accommodation on rural land at 230 Coupe Rd, Sandy Camp, in July 2020.

The proposed development is for the rearing of replacement chickens for breeder farms located in the wider locality of Allora and Clifton, which supply fertile eggs.

According to an officer’s report, “chicks are to be brought onto site at zero days of age over a two-week period in two batches per year”.

“These chicks are raised until they reach 20 weeks of age before removal and transportation to nearby breeder farms.

“There is a maintenance period of eight to 12 weeks between each batch to clean, sanitise, replace bedding and undertake any required maintenance on sheds.”

The development will support a maximum of 12 staff on-site at any one time, comprising four full time staff residing on site and occupying the caretaker’s accommodation, and eight additional staff on-site as needed.

A maximum of 70,000 poultry will be contained within six sheds.

There was one properly made submission objecting to the proposal, on the grounds of the potential for the development to have an adverse odour, dust or noise impact on adjoining and nearby properties, the potential for environmental harm and impact on water quality, the site’s susceptibility to bushfire and flood events, visual amenity concerns and traffic concerns.

The officer’s report said those matters were considered during assessment of the application.

“It is considered that the recommended development approval conditions would minimise the risk of the development causing environmental harm or nuisance,” it said.

The closest rural residences are located 360m to the southeast of the site, while the banks of the Dalrymple Creek sit approximately 700m from the development.

Councillors moved a number of amendments to the officer’s recommended conditions – that the project be built in a single stage, rather than two stages, the inclusion of conditions to ensure non-reflective surfaces and rooves, that feed deliveries and catch-ins were to take place between 5am to 7.30pm.

Cr Carol Taylor, Cr Nancy Sommerfield, and Cr Bill Cahill voted against the motion, which was ultimately approved.

Cr Paul Antonio and Cr Kerry Shine were absent.