Crying foul over odour claims

ODOUR experts have inspected the site of a proposed chicken farm in the Southern Downs. Carr Farming Trust has appealed a Southern Downs Regional Council decision in the Planning and Environment Court to establish a poultry farm at Elbow Valley, west of Warwick, with "unreasonable" conditions. Council approved the chicken facility application but only for 28 chicken sheds, down from the development application request of 48 sheds. Each shed would house 60,000 chickens at any time, with neighbouring property owners objecting on the grounds of odour, dust, vehicle movements and water contamination issues. An expert report, tended to the court, on the potential impact of odours to surrounding properties found one property, in particular, would be a "critical receptor" to odours. The Carr Farming Trust claimed the conditions imposed on their venture were too onerous. In particular, the trust believed a council-imposed condition the company amalgamate surrounding properties unreasonable. The matter was listed in the Planning and Environment Court in Brisbane on Friday for an on-site inspection. Site neighbours had granted permission for officials to use their property during the inspection, court documents show. According to documents filed to the court, Judge Philip Robin ordered odour experts for council and Carr Farming Trust to finalise another report by 5pm on Friday.