Kernot says no to Chinese expansion at Yo You Dairy farm

PLANS to expand a Chinese-owned dairy farm at Kernot in South Gippsland have angered local farmers.

DAIRY: Stock Exchange Dairy Mike Hackett and Nathan Leman photographed on farm in Brucknell. Pictured: Generic dairy cows. PICTURE: ZOE PHILLIPS

PLANS to expand a Chinese- owned dairy farm at Kernot in South Gippsland have angered local farmers, who say if the development is approved, the town will suffer.

Yo You Dairy, owned by the Ningbo Group, wants to expand its operation including doubling its herd size to export more than 10,000 ­litres of fresh milk a day to China.

At a meeting last week, attended by more than 100 farmers, concerns were raised about the intensity of the operation.

Kernot farmer Phil Westwood said the 280ha farm, on the Loch-Kernot road, wasn’t suitable for the scale of the planned development.

“The proposal includes a 14 metre high barn to house cattle as well as the construction of a bottling plant,” he said.

“The Yo You dairy herd will also be doubled to 1000 cows on a block which is largely under water during winter.”

Mr Westwood said residents were concerned at the scale of dairy farm acquisitions by Chinese interests.

“It could become even harder for young farmers to buy land here, (as) the prices these companies pay are way above what young people can afford,” he said.

He said the meeting was the first formal communication from the Bass Coast Shire “which wasn’t good enough”.

Bass Coast Shire said it would not approve the proposed development until a council meeting in April.

Shire chief executive officer Paul Buckley said the community was passionate and concerned about the proposal.

“Last week’s meeting was a good opportunity for council to hear directly the community’s concerns ... council received positive feedback and many important points were raised that will require further investigation,” he said.