Nearby residents of the site of a proposed intensive duck farm at Howes Valley claim that have not been notified that the matter will go before Singleton Council on Monday night.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The 188-hectare Putty Road property, which could to house up to 22,000 ducks in 12 poultry sheds, has been the subject of controversy since first proposed in 2008.
Howes Valley residents and animal welfare groups has objected to the development on a number of fronts including health, odour, pollution and other adverse environmental factors.
After having a number of development applications knocked back, Sydney-based businessman Ray Shepherd has engaged Central Coast firm Aconsult to prepare a submission, including an environmental impact statement, to the council.
Their latest development application will be considered by the council on Monday night.
Sue Gleeson, who lives less than two kilometres from the site and made one of 35 submissions in opposition to the proposal, is unhappy at what she called a lack of transparency from the council.
Ms Gleeson said she only learnt of the meeting on Wednesday when she was informed by a neighbour who had received notification.
“This meeting has been brimming for three or four months and we’ve checked and checked without getting an answer,” she said.
“Most people who have objected are local so it means that people are not going to respond, which is enormously disappointing.
“We’re the ones that are going to be impacted and we don’t even have a chance to do anything about it.”
Since being informed of the meeting Ms Gleeson has since obtained the publically available report from the Singleton Council website.
She said she disagreed with the report’s findings, and accused Aconsult of “manipulating” the environmental impact statement.
Principal for Aconsult, Lorelle Fitzpatrick, disputed that assertion and said her firm had consulted with the council to address community concerns.
“We’ve worked with the council on this in terms of addressing any concerns the council or the community may have,” she said.
“I think that is evidenced by the significant detail that has been put into the documentation lodged.
“That is information from quality experts in their field who are presenting fact-based, and not opinion-based, evidence.”
Ms Fitzpatrick said Aconsult had met with concerned residents and was satisfied that those concerned had been addressed.
“I can’t comment on any specific submission but I haven’t been presented with any technical contents that challenge any of the findings,” she said.
The council’s report concludes with the recommendation that “conditional consent be issued” for the application.
Ms Gleeson said she was still optimistic that the council would reject the proposal.
“I think the councillors know what the impacts of this (proposal) will be… I don’t think they will make a poor decision.”