By JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
THE BACKERS of a $320 million sustainable vegetable farm at Avalon fear state government caretaker mode could delay its planning processes.
The government goes into caretaker mode on 4 November prior to the 29 November election, shelving major decisions.
Sustainable Farms’ Andrew Rofe said Geelong’s council had requested Planning Minister Matthew Guy become the responsible authority for the development.
“Mr Guy has indicated verbally he will agree to that request but we haven’t had the formal notification yet,” Mr Rofe said.
“We’ve had a similar undertaking from shadow planning minister Brian Teague, so we know whoever wins the state election will support us.
“But Christmas is not far after the election when things slow down again, so we could face a three-month delay.
“We’re putting in a lot of dollars, so we want to make sure we have a defined timeline instead of it being open ended.
“We’d like the minister to appoint a planning panel before caretaker mode begins so at least we can continue with the planning requirements.”
Mr Rofe said a number of planning assessments were already under way.
Studies and assessments of air quality, noise, flora and fauna, cultural heritage, traffic and flood management were all “on the go”.
Mr Rofe said the Civil Aviation Safety Authority had been contacted because of the development’s proximity to Avalon Airport and a recycling strategy was being prepared.
“We have to be on the ball without being ahead of ourselves. It’s a bit of a juggling act,” he said.
“The city has given us lots of support and the mayor, Darryn Lyons, and (ward councillor) Tony Ansett have been fantastic.”
Sustainable Farms proposes a high-tech facility featuring the largest glasshouses in the Southern Hemisphere, using renewable energy from recycling waste products.
The development, on a 150-hectare site off Old Melbourne Rd at Avalon, would create 1000 jobs.
Consortium partner Michael Mifsud, of Paulmar Hydroponics, said Sustainable Farms had received international interest since the Independent revealed the proposal in August.
“We’ve had expressions of interest from the aquaculture industry, adding another possibility to the way we produce food sustainably,” Mr Mifsud said.
Paulmar Hydroponics designed and constructed its own automated hothouse system to produce the first hydroponically grown lettuce in the Southern Hemisphere.
“As leaders in hydroponics, we’ve already developed the base experience and knowledge. We just need to be able to work within the planning requirements to determine the final design.”
