COUNCIL SHOULD BE APPLAUDED FOR GOAT ‘NO’

SHOULD we be bagging our new councillors who voted to right a bad planning decision?

Our councillors discussed and decided in favour of a well-argued submission on why the City of Greater Geelong should apply to VCAT to cancel the Lara goat farm permit that they have previously granted.

Two key pieces of information appear to be missing in front page news, cartoon and editorial (GA 29/3).

First — that circumstances changed since the CoGG’s initial decision. The Q fever risk management plan that was a condition for the massive goat farm in Moorabool was deemed unacceptable by VCAT (Knol v EPA Greater Geelong CC [2018] VCAT 33).

The same Q fever risk management plan was submitted for the intensive goat farm at 240 Forest Rd in south Lara. So, if it’s unacceptable by VCAT, why should it be acceptable for Lara where the site is even closer to residences and schools?

Second — the Lara VCAT appeal hearings did not proceed as the objector capitulated at the VCAT compulsory conference automatically affirming the CoGG’s notice to grant the permit. To do nothing with this changed circumstance would expose the CoGG to much bigger compensation and litigation.

What if the goat farm proceeds and we have an outbreak of the highly infectious Q fever infecting those vulnerable in our community, our visitors and causing death?

Would the Lara welcome sign “Rural living at its best” be replaced by “Enter at own risk, highly infectious Q fever area” as Forest Rd is one of the main entry points into Lara.

Let’s commend our councillors for being courageous in reaching this informed decision. Fides Kapteina, Lara