Protesters take aim at piggery

ANIMAL Liberation Australia has launched a petition calling on the Goondiwindi Regional Council to block Cameron Pastoral SP Northern Farming proposed expansion of its piggery operation.

The proposal is for the company to expand its growing capacity from 76,820 standard pig units to 131,000.

When complete it will be capable of producing 3325 weaners each week.

Most of the stock for these units will be sourced from SP Northern Farming breeding sheds near Pittsworth.

In documents submitted to the Goondiwindi Regional Council, SP Northern Farming said it would expand the existing effluent treatment works at its current growing sheds to accommodate the extra load.

It would see the company hire an additional eight staff, bringing its total workforce to 38.

The development application estimates the expanded operation would use about 350 megalitres of clear water each year.

This will be sourced from the company’s existing 950 megalitre groundwater licences.

Animal Liberation Australia’s intensive farming campaign manager Amanda Holly called on the public to voice its opposition to the project.

“This will have a detrimental impact on the environment, the local ecosystem, as well as resulting in the confinement and suffering – and ultimately the slaughter – of hundreds of thousands of animals every year,” she said.

The application will come before the council for a vote at a date to be set.

Goondiwindi Mayor Lawrence Springborg declined to comment on the petition but did back the family business behind the application.

“The Cameron’s are well respected and highly regarded citizens that have contributed enormously to our community,” he said.

“Our council officers make their deliberations based on town planning considerations and not matters that are external to that.”