Work starts on controversial equine housing estate

Ambitious but controversial plan in Balnagowan has residents on edge

BORROWED TIME: Alwyn Plessis on his mango farm neighbouring the equine estate. He produces aroun 40 -60 tonnes of mangoes for the Brisbane markets. Picture: Troy Kippen

AN AMBITIOUS plan for an equine estate in the rural hamlet of Balnagowan is still facing controversy 10 months after it was first lodged with Mackay Regional Council.

The Meadows Equestrian Estate development was approved in January with strict conditions, but the developer wants changes to the plan.

About seven property owners living around the development site made submissions concerned about its impact to their rural lifestyle. That issue about the road and water infrastructure being unable to cope with a 10 additional homes first came to a head at a December council meeting when councillors decided to defer the decision until the full impacts were understood.

The council approved the development in January with heavy conditions that the developer, Andrew McDonald, is understood to have since objected to. Some of the conditions were that no water bores were allowed to the Equestrian living lots, it needed a sealed road connecting the lots with Maraju-Yakapari Rd, and no more than 10 users could use the facilities at any one time.

But the developer is understood to have requested negotiations about the conditions, so the council has suspended the appeal period. Despite the strict conditions, residents living around the development believe it's the beginning of the end. Balnagowan mango farmer and one of the objectors to the development Alwyn Du Plessis said he had 4000 trees and 50 bee hives and has already had to move the hives 25km away because of the development and he expects the trees to go next.

"I can't say, no stop. You just can't,” he said. "The council needs the money from the extra rates.” Mr Du Plessis said the biggest issue was the bats that were regular visitors to the farm and took about 10 - 15 per cent of his crops. "There are thousands of bats flying over and there is Hendra and other things,” he said. He has horses on his property and lids over his horses' water to avoid contamination from bats.

Originally published as Work starts on controversial equine housing estate