Chicken farm outcome thanks in part to de-amalgamation

The end result of the long-running battle over a proposal for an intensive chicken farm at Cooroy is in part thanks to de-amalgamation, says Noosa Mayor Tony Wellington.

"This is an excellent example of why we fought to put the 'local' back into our local government," Mayor Wellington said. "Were it not for de-amalgamation, this inappropriate development would have proceeded, in spite of fierce local opposition.

"The original application for a Top Forestry Road intensive chicken factory first came before the Sunshine Coast Council when I was councillor for Division 12. After careful consideration, I moved a motion of refusal at the Ordinary Meeting of November 2013. The vast majority of southern councillors clearly wanted to approve the development. My refusal motion failed, however the matter was deferred to the December meeting so that more information could be gathered.

"That December meeting was the last meeting of the big council prior to de-amalgamation. I argued that the matter should be left to the incoming Noosa Council to decide. Thankfully my deferral motion got up. Had it not, the development would have proceeded, and there would have been nothing Noosa Council could have done to prevent it.

"Eventually, of course, the development application came before the new Noosa Council to decide. It was refused. This was a case of local councillors deciding on a local issue of considerable importance to local residents. Credit must go to the large number of residents who rallied to the cause. Most were opposed to the development, though I do want to acknowledge that there were some who preferred to see it proceed.

"When the Council decision was appealed by the applicant, Noosa Council opted to defend their decision in the Planning & Environment Court. Now that the applicant has withdrawn that appeal, the three and a half year-long battle is finally over. Many a nearby resident can finally breathe a sigh of relief.

"Having the matter decided by a truly local council, with councillors having direct and continual access to public meetings and resident viewpoints, is exactly why we fought to get our council back. The issues surrounding this development were never about limiting economic development in the hinterland, but rather about the appropriateness of the proposal, the living amenity for nearby residents and safety on our rural road network.

"While I acknowledge that the applicant also had to experience much frustration, and of course considerable expense, I do believe we achieved the best outcome for our community. 

"This adds to a long string of successful results the new Noosa Council has experienced in recent legal actions." 

11 April 2017