General News
25 April, 2025
Plea to VCAT for broiler farm
A broiler farm, which began public notice almost 12 months ago, is likely to be heard by VCAT following a recent application.
The applicants for the broiler farm at 705 Baringhup Road Carisbrook, Ian and Robert Hurse, have made an application to VCAT because the Central Goldfields Shire Council are yet to make a decision on the permit.
The hearing is expected to begin on July 28 and go for eight days, although the dates are subject to change.
The pair also have another broiler farm application which began public notice in May last year, the same time as the Baringhup Road application, which hasn’t been taken to VCAT.
Their application to the tribunal is under section 79 of the Planning and Environment Act 1987, where an applicant can apply to the tribunal for review if the responsible authority, in this case the council, don’t “grant the permit within the prescribed time”.
Earlier this year council shared their intention in The Maryborough District Advertiser to “determine the outcome of the applications in the first quarter of 2025”.
Last month council told The Advertiser they were waiting on further information from the applicant.
Michael Vukadinovic, owner of Pavilion Farms, said at the time the requests were for “two immaterial issues”.
“One has been responded to. [The] only outstanding item is immaterial and will be provided to council in the next week,” he said.
Mr Vukadinovic declined to comment on the current VCAT application.
A VCAT hearing is now scheduled for early August and comes just before council had planned to make a decision regarding the application at its May meeting, the organisation stated.
Council also said that given the planning decision is now with VCAT, this has removed council’s decision-making power for the permit application.
A further broiler farm permit application has been made to council last week for 394 Bald Hill Road, Carisbrook. The permit application consists of six sheds and nine feed silos.
Council said the applicant has been contacted for further information and the application will be advertised in due course.