TEN days have been set aside to hear a legal challenge against approval of Baiada Poultry’s controversial plans for a $82 million broiler farm at Manilla.
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The Woolcott Group, a Manilla-based grain company, is appealing Tamworth Regional Council’s decision in July last year to approve the development.
Proceedings in the NSW Land and Environment Court will commence on October 26, with two days set aside for the judge to make a site visit to Manilla.
Baiada is determined to build about 70 sheds housing up to three million birds across the five Strathfield farms it purchased for $3.6 million in 2012.
The broiler operation would be the largest of its kind in Australia and could pave the way for the company to build a new $100 million processing plant in Tamworth.
However, a group of Manilla residents against the development maintains the operation poses unacceptable risks to human health and safety, as well as to the environment.
Namoi River Community Group president Matthew Fletcher said members had been fighting against the project for the best part of two years.
He said he was pleased the Woolcott Group, headed by publicity-shy Narrabri businessman Robert Moore, would finally get its day in court on behalf of the community.
A key concern raised about the project is how to prevent the transmission of disease-producing pathogens contained in the manure the birds will produce.
“We definitely think there is a very strong case against this development,” Mr Fletcher told The Leader.
