ANIMAL rights activists have lashed out at a $16 million proposal to double the size of Manilla's poultry farm.
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PETA claims more than 6000 emails have been sent to Tamworth Regional Council (TRC) to oppose a development application that would see an additional 776,000 birds "crammed into another 16 sheds".
The council should consider concerns for animal welfare, the environment, and the health of the community, PETA spokeswoman Emily Rice said.
"Building more factory farms at a time when Australians are increasingly taking steps towards eating vegan isn't a smart long-term investment for Tamworth or the state as a whole," she said.
The organisation claims Australia's poultry industry forces birds to live in "filthy sheds" where "extreme crowding frequently leads to disease".
Public submissions on the Fairglen Farms application for 16 more broilers closed at 5pm on Thursday.
With the new sheds, the farm could host 1.5 million birds.
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The farm, previously owned by Russell Chickens, was sold in October last year to a new company headed by Fairfax media baron John Fairfax.
The development application is still being assessed and the council will consider all matters raised in submissions or petitions, a TRC spokeswoman said.
"Matters raised such as water security will also be considered in the council's assessment of the development application," she said.
"Council is the determining authority for this proposal and therefore it will be reported at a future meeting."
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