By VICTORIA STONE-MEADOWS
A company’s controversial plans for a goat farm and milk processing plant near Geelong has hit back at allegations of animal cruelty in the industry.
Geelong’s council administrators have approved Nuchev’s application to house up to 14,000 goats in barns at Moorabool and a further 4500 at the milk-processing plant at Lara.
City Hall received more than 400 objections while an online petition to ban the dairy attracted over 2000 signatures.
Objectors mostly cited animal welfare concerns such as the goats’ living conditions.
Nuchev chief executive officer Ben Dingle denied the development would be cruel to goats.
“We’re farmers ourselves and all farmers know to be a good farmer you need to love your animals,” he said.
“That’s the core value of our stringent animal welfare policies that we have in place.”
The barns met Australian goat-farming standards and allowed natural behaviours, Mr Dingle said.
“The goats will be protected from predation and parasites that they’re exposed to when grazing.
“Our goats will be in large, spacious barns that allow them ample space to roam, to act naturally and to socialise with herd mates.
“Our approach is commonplace across dairy operations worldwide. However, our facility exceeds the facilities of most others in operation and we have gone a step further.”
Mr Dingle said he understood concerns about agricultural practices but said systems were changing due to consumer demand.
“Agriculture as a sector is responding to the enormous demand for trusted food and I want to make it clear this is certainly not a battery-farming situation.
“I’m confident that, once we’re up and running and do what we say we’re going to do and people do business with us and see how we behave, those concerns will dissipate.”
Objectors have 21 days to appeal at the state planning tribunal.
