Councillors support Longwarry saleyards
by Yvette Brand
A $13 million state of the art saleyards facility at Longwarry is another step closer.
Baw Baw Shire Council has supported the application from private consortium Longwarry Saleyards Pty Ltd.
Additional permit conditions were included at the eleventh hour in an attempt to lessen the impact on residents in the surrounding Thornell and Sand Rds area.
In their final meeting before elections this weekend, councillors supported the approval eight votes to one, with Tricia Jones opposing the development.
Council deferred the matter in April so it could consider the outcome of the Environment Protection Authority’s works approvals process.
The EPA offered no objection to the application.
Additional conditions included on the permit will include a complaint handling process and reduced operating hours.
Sale times will be 8am to 4pm every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday; every second Thursday of the month; and the first and third Fridays of the month.
The owners will be required to prepare a complaints evaluation and response plan that will include a protocol for responding to complaints.
The truck wash will be only used between 7am and 10pm.
No truck movements will be permitted on weekends.
While acknowledging the significant level of objections, councillors agreed there needed to be a saleyards in Baw Baw Shire.
Cr Peter Kostos said the shire needed a saleyards and that was evident by the supporting submissions.
He said a major benefit of having the saleyards at Longwarry was the access to the Princes Fwy via the overpass.
“This is allowed in the farm zone and it will create jobs.
“The booby calf and dairy sales are very important to this area.
Cr Kostos said not allowing truck movements on weekends would address one of the major objections.
“I implore the developers to continue to talk with the surrounding neighbours and address their ongoing issues,” he said.
Cr Darren Wallace said “this simply makes too much common sense to ignore.”
He said the shire was built on the back of its agricultural sector which had delivered economic benefit and jobs for years.
“For Baw Baw Shire to not have a saleyards is failing to support our farmers,” he said.
Cr Jessica O’Donnell said the complaints handling process was extremely important “if there are times when the smell or noise is unbearable, and residents have to get in touch with someone.”
She said the amendments addressed some of the concerns for residents and was the best of a bad situation for them.
Cr Michael Leaney said council had been forced to weigh up the residents’ concerns and the needs of the farming community.
“This is a dramatic change for this area but we have to accept this needs to happen,” he said.
Cr Keith Cook said he was concerned about the impact on residents but the additional conditions would help.
He said the economic impact for the shire was huge.
Cr Joe Gauci said it was important for council to set some conditions that would protect residents rather than it being taken out of council’s hands at VCAT.
“I hope the developer in good faith accepts these conditions and it’s not challenged at VCAT,” he said.
Cr Danny Goss acknowledged the many amicable discussions councillors and staff had with surrounding residents.
“It’s been a long, arduous journey for those people.
“The Warragul saleyards is smack in the middle of town and I’ve never had a complaint about noise or smell. There’ a lot of people closer in Warragul than there is in Longwarry,” he said.
Cr Jones said she understood closure of the Warragul saleyards had impacted farmers and individuals.
“While I agree we need a local saleyard and I am pleased these many conditions have been included, I still do not think the site is appropriate.
Cr Jones said the application had caused significant stress and anxiety to many Longwarry residents.
“The revised plans respond to concerns but not nearly enough. This application has merit, is needed but it is not in the right location,” she said.