It was a sentiment shared by many of the community members who turned out for the meeting, which was held to explain GrainCorp’s objections and allow parties involved to have their say.

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Representatives from GrainCorp and the MAC Services Group and about 100 community members were present.

GrainCorp corporate affairs manager David Ginns told the meeting the company took legal action with the Land and Environment Court after the project was approved on the basis the development was residential and therefore not permissible on its proposed site, which was zoned as agricultural land.

He also said dust and noise from its storage and transport facility could impact village residents, and subsequently restrict its operations.

But most residents expressed support for the village’s development and were dubious the reasons GrainCorp put forward for their objection were the entire truth.

Local residents said dust and noise issues had been worse in previous years, and impacted more on residents of the town than those staying at the MAC village.

One resident suggested the objection from GrainCorp had a hidden political agenda, a claim Mr Ginns denied but the MAC Group agreed with.

MAC Group chief executive officer Ron Green said he had tried to organise talks with GrainCorp’s chief executive officer, but had been refused.

In response to a resident’s question, he also said there was no evidence MAC accommodation facilities in other areas had impacted on the operations of other businesses, and added they considered it to

be a commercial

development.

GrainCorp requested a number of conditions be agreed to by the MAC Group before the development proceeds, but the MAC Group said it would not agree to some, although these were not divulged to the

community.

Meeting organiser Peter Cunningham felt the meeting was very positive, with community members able to have their say and have questions answered, and the two companies able to gauge how the community felt.

Further legal proceedings are planned for May 15 and 16.