Woodlands’ 452,000-chicken farm expansion plan

Woodlands expansion plans.

WOODLANDS poultry farm at Beerburrum could soon house more than 450,000 chickens under huge expansion plans that aim to capitalise on the booming demand for chicken products.

A proposal just lodged with Sunshine Coast Council reveals Woodlands wants to increase its Red Road, Broiler Farm 12 shed numbers from four to 10, which would allow an increase in chicken numbers from about 172,500 to 452,640.

Woodlands has been operating in the region since the 1970s and employs about 180 people across the company.

The proposal seeks to change the original approval for the Red Rd farm to incorporate additional sheds and the extension of an internal driveway.

In an application by Plan A Town Planning on behalf of Woodlands, it said the poultry farm had been operating in the area for decades and that “due to increased demand, the applicant seeks to construct additional sheds onsite to accommodate additional birds”.

The proposal argued that there would be a minimum adverse impact on surrounding properties, with independent reports on odour and noise, recommending the proposal be approved.

“The proposed sheds have been purposefully designed and located to integrate with the existing development and minimise the potential for any adverse impacts for surrounding land or properties,” the report stated.

“The sheds are of a similar scale to that which lawfully exists onsite and are within proximity of the existing development footprint as much as reasonably possible to minimise any clearing.”

The development application also argued that given the current use of the site, it is considered that the proposed extensions are “in accordance with community expectations of the site”.

An environmental report found that the “proposed site would not lead to any exceedances of the odour criterion at the nearest sensitive locations”.

“The modelling has also demonstrated that the risk associated with particulate matter is low as there will not be exceedances at the receptors.”

The independent assessor recommended the development be approved.

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