Council voices concern over farm takeover
THE Surf Coast Shire is set to throw its support behind one of Victoria’s oldest farms, as it fights against the “ruthless” compulsory acquisition of a large chunk of its land.
Councillors will tonight vote on a proposed submission to the Government Land Standing Advisory Committee raising a host of concerns with the proposed acquisition.
The State Government has earmarked 61ha of the 455ha Waurn Ponds farm for compulsory acquisition to make way for a $115 million train maintenance and stabling facility.
But the Larcombe family, who have operated the farm for 116 years, are in the midst of a desperate bid to convince the government to consider an alternative site — warning their merino sheep farm could be rendered unviable by the land grab.
A proposed Surf Coast Shire submission raises concerns the current plan “will have a significant and irreversible adverse impact on a longstanding, sustainable and successful farming business”.
“The owners of the selected land and the operation of the existing farm will be significantly impacted by the use and development of the facility and council is concerned that the implications of these impacts have been underestimated,” the proposed submission notes.
“Council is also concerned about the impacts resulting from noise and light spill on residents beyond the subject land and acknowledges the advisory committee’s invitation to the Environmental Protection Authority to attend the hearing.”
The proposed submission estimates an annual additional cost to the farm of $100,000 as a result of the loss of its agricultural land for fodder production.
It also lists concerns around potential water contamination from the wash-down of trains, the impact of noise and light on the farm’s merino sheep and the lack of a plan for alternative water access for the sheep.
“In summary, this council is concerned that should the train maintenance and stabling facility proceed in its current form, the function and viability of the existing farming operation at 255 Reservoir Rd will be irrevocably compromised,” it concludes.
Last month a public hearing into the planned acquisition was adjourned until February 2020.
At the directions hearing the advisory committee’s chair Lester Townsend signalled the public release of a report on alternative site options for the rail facility. The committee is charged with completing the planning process of the Waurn Ponds Train Maintenance and Stabling Facility Project on the Larcombes’ land.