State behind removal of farm’s buffer zone

Andrew Mathieson
Councillors have accused State Government of leaving them in the dark when it removed a traditional buffer zone between a chicken farm and proposed residential development at Armstrong Creek.
Council’s planning portfolio-holder Andrew Katos said he would demand a briefing on the “whole situation”, which threatens the viability of the Balog family farm at Mount Duneed.
“I wasn’t aware of the buffer issues but I’m certainly seeking to find out what the issue is,” Cr Katos said.
The Independent revealed early this month that planners had scrapped a 1000-metre broiler code buffer to prevent noise, dust and odours from the farm impinging on future residents of Armstrong Creek.
Removal of the buffer means residents could end up living within 80 metres of 200,000 chickens on the other side Mt Duneed Road.
The Balogs’ fear loss of the buffer will make their farm worthless and that eventual complaints from neighbours will drive them off their land.
Cr Katos said council was waiting for a panel reviewing Armstrong Creek plans to hand down a verdict.
Planning Minister Justin Madden, who appointed the panel, will have final say on the plans.
“My problem is that it (the buffer removal) is already part of the panel process at the moment,” he said.
“I don’t want to make comment prejudicing the panel’s findings, so we (council) are in a sort of no-man’s land.”
The farm’s ward councillor, Andy Richards, revealed that State Government was responsible for removal of the buffer.
“When council officers prepared a submission to the panel, they used State Government guidelines in regard to chicken farms and the buffer zones required,” he said.
“Council officers have advised me that these guidelines were changed by the State Government in 2009, hence the change in buffer zone.”
A media adviser for Member for South Barwon Michael Crutchfield said the Independent was “best off talking to council on that one”.
Mr Crutchfield later released a statement, saying he believed the process had gone “very well to date”.
“There has been no seizing of planning powers but the City of Greater Geelong had requested the fast-tracking process and that is what we are doing,” he said.