SUBMISSIONS for the proposed Howes Valley duck farm close on Monday.
The Singleton Argus yesterday understands several submissions have been received by council objecting to the live duck egg production site proposed for lot 1254, 5756 Putty Road.
The development application will be dealt with by the Joint Regional Planning Panel because it is within the criteria for a designated development.
The proposal for a duck farm went on public exhibition early December.
The farm will house roughly 22,000 ducks on the 218 hectare site that is proposed to include 12 sheds, a cool room and machinery shed, a shaving shed, an office and amenities building and car parking with 12 spaces.
Each of the 12 sheds will be able to house 1850 birds with a maximum capacity of 22,000 with a weekly production of 50,400 eggs.
Eggs from the farm will be transported to Pepe’s Hatcheries at Windsor.
Pepes Ducks processing plant general manager John Houston, said the industry is expanding and growing at a rate of about 12 per cent a year and new farms were needed to keep on top of demand.
“At the present we are sourcing products from four breeder farms and distributing Australia wide,” he said.
High biosecurity standards in Australia allow eggs only to be imported as opposed to some countries accepting week-old birds.
“The genetics comes from France and arrive as a fertile egg,” he explained.
“Once they arrive they are put into government quarantine for the first 12 weeks after hatching.
“Ducks begin to lay at 30 weeks maturity and continue until 60 weeks, after that they are removed from the farm and taken for slaughter.”
According to Mr Houston the lay conditions for ducks are quite different to chickens.
“The animals demand space otherwise they will not perform, so on average each bird requires about five square feet of space,” he explained.
Mr Houston said he understands some in the community have been concerned about some processes that would be expected to take place on the farm proposed for Howes Valley including removal of dead birds and cleaning processes.
“Like any farm mortalities are possible and Mr Shepherd will be required to put those on a report sheet, place the bird in a plastic bag and freeze it before removal,” he said.
“The cleaning process is actually very recycle friendly as the sheds are cleaned after a 30-week cycle and the litter used for things such as fertilisers for turf farms and nurseries.
“The processing plant currently undergoes a Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP) Australian Food Safety Standard Accreditation audit and we are looking to expand that to hatcheries and breeder farms.”
Once submissions close on Monday the development application will be assessed by Council.
The Hunter and Central Coast Region Joint Planning Panel will then hold a meeting to make the determination on the application. Proponents and persons who make a submission may address the meeting.
The JRPP will make their determination and Council will then issue a notice of determination and make the decision public.
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