Council conditionally approves Goondiwindi cattle feedlot

Goondiwindi Regional Council has conditionally approved the development of a cattle feedlot of up to 999 standard cattle units (SCU) on Scudamores Road in Goondiwindi in its Ordinary Meeting this morning.

The application site is in the designated rural zone of the Goondiwindi Region Planning Scheme, and cattle feedlots could only be approved within this zoning. As the approval could be conditioned in accordance with the Planning Scheme, Council found no grounds to refuse the application.

Goondiwindi Regional Council chose to require all applications for ‘Intensive Animal Industries’ such as feedlots to undergo an impact assessment under its Planning Scheme. Impact assessments are the highest level of assessment available, and allow Council to take into consideration the entire Planning Scheme, including the zoning of the land and its proposed impacts on neighbours and other interested parties.

There were 40 conditions associated with the approval, including requirements to mitigate potential nuisances such as dust, noise and odour, site access and overall management of the development.

Concerns around such potential nuisances are also addressed through standard conditions of the Queensland Government’s Department of Agriculture and Fisheries Environmental Authority and will be subject to ongoing monitoring by the State.

Council’s role in the approval of development applications is to ensure that conditions are fair and reasonable for all - and consistent with the Planning Scheme. It also ensures that, as much as possible, the concerns of neighbours and the local environment are addressed.

The decision may be appealed to the Planning and Environment Court by the applicant and each properly made submitter (objector or supporter).