At its March meeting, Campaspe Shire Council determined Midland Bacon at Carag Carag would be allowed to construct two finisher sheds and a new dry sow shed.
The application also sought to amend the conditions of the permit to reflect current environmental, operational and regulatory standards.
The application needed to be put in front of council due to the significant number of objectors — totalling 4381, only one of which was identified as being from within Campaspe Shire.
Other objectors came from overseas and interstate locations across Australia, with many submissions lacking sufficient contact details for verification.
In January, Farm Transparency Project wrote on its blog, encouraging supporters to object to the planning application on the basis that expansion would pose “a serious risk to animals, people and the planet”.
The objectors’ concerns stemmed from animal welfare issues and potential public health, amenity and environmental impacts the expansion would cause.
The sole objector within Campaspe Shire was concerned with the odour, the proposed increase in pig numbers and the impact to the property value.
Following consultation, the sole local objector formally withdrew their objection based on amendments made in discussions.
Councillors heard from two speakers for the application at the March council meeting.
One objector had planned to speak online, but did not connect when it was their time to speak.
Ian Peace spoke first and represented “potential owners” of the farm who had agreed to take over the farm subject to the approval of planning permits.
He spoke to his own experience working in pork production across Victoria and NSW, and explained Midland Bacon would not be able to operate to the proper standards without permit approvals.
Janine Price, who works with Scolexia Animal & Avian Health Consultancy, spoke next and said she had consulted the new owners of Midland Bacon to prepare their planning application.
She said Midland Bacon did not have adequate infrastructure to contain the production within the facility, with some sows required to go off to a grower unit, which she described as “quite outdated”.
Ms Price argued that two new sheds would allow the whole production to be done under the same management and also up to 2025 environmental standards.
Cr John Zobec posed a question regarding where effluent would be disposed of and in what manner.
Ms Price said they had been monitoring water levels and determining nutrient management needs for the effluent. They had also built an additional area for nutrient storage where soil would be tested.
Cr Adrian Weston asked if the applicant was confident that the current levy would be able to withstand a flood event as the farm is adjacent to the Mansfield Swamp Wildlife Reserve, to which Ms Price answered she was confident it could.
Discussion between councillors then started, with the motion to approve the application moved by Cr Zobec and seconded by Cr Weston.
Cr Zoe Cook spoke against the approval and expressed concern with the statutory processes, saying they did “not go far enough” to protect the environment.
Councillors Paul Jarman and Adrian Weston spoke to the detail in the reports and care taken by the applicants to consult the community and the sole local objector.
Cr Jarman also mentioned that it was a “good outcome” if council could help bring an existing piggery up to a modern standard.
Cr Rob Amos said applications such as these "speak volumes" about the forecast economic investment in Campaspe Shire.
“It’s just great to see that we have farmers and businesses investing in our local community — and this is a significant investment,” Cr Amos said.
When put to the vote, the motion carried 8-1, with Cr Cook the sole vote against.
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