Concerned residents have raised issues surrounding the proposal by Avon Valley Poultry Ltd for a free-range broiler poultry farm to be developed in Northam.
The proposed area for the farm is between Muluckine Road and Rogers Road on Lot 13, Northam-Cranbrook Road.
The chickens will be grown for the company Ingham’s.
The community has raised issues with the application including noise, devaluation of properties, smell, traffic and pollution.
The proposal comprises of four free-range chicken broiler farms, each comprising of four sheds (a total of 16 sheds), spread across the 2877 hectare site.
The site will hold a maximum of approximately 720,000 chickens at any given time.
When the chickens reach an age between 42 and 56 days old, they will be transported to Ingham’s processing plant in Osborne Park.
An environmental report has been completed addressing concerns relating to the natural environment and odour emissions, which can be accessed online at the Northam Shire website under closed consultations.
The report is based on 24 sheds, with the proposal stating, “a long-term view was taken in the chance that consumer demand changed and Ingham’s required additional sheds in free range poultry”.
The proposal was out for public comment for over two weeks until April 27, 2017.
There are three stages to the proposal with an estimated two-three year time frame for completion of building.
Northam Shire chief executive officer Jason Whiteaker said Shire staff were currently reviewing the application submitted by the proponent and were not in a position to make any comment at this time about the detail of the proposal.
“Based on the location of the proposal, on a very large property zoned ‘Rural’ and the fact that each broiler shed is proposed to be setback a minimum of one kilometre from the closest property boundary, it was determined that the public consultation process would consist of sending letters to a total of 32 land owners located directly abutting or opposite Lot 13 Northam-Cranbrook Road, Muluckine (the subject site),” he said.
He said notices were also placed on the Shire’s website from the April 4, 2017 and in the Avon Valley Advocate on April 5, advertising the proposal and inviting public submissions.
“The proposal has been referred to external agencies including Department of Water, Department of Agriculture and Food, Main Roads WA, Department of Environment Regulation, Environmental Protection Authority and Department of Health,” he said.
Mr Whiteaker said no decision had been made yet and comments received would be utilised in officer’s formulating a recommendation to Council on the proposal.