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Stench from large-scale chicken farms concerns Scenic Rim residents
Saturday, 24 Sep 2016 12:21:31 | Ellie Sibson
Free range chooks can face more disease problems compared to caged chooks, says Darren Letton from Glenview Poultry Farm. (Steven Schubert)
Objections to the development of large-scale poultry farms are becoming increasingly vocal among land owners in the Scenic Rim region, south-west of Brisbane.
Residents are worried about the potential impacts on their health, the environment and a burgeoning tourism industry.
In the past week, the Scenic Rim Council has assessed three development applications for large poultry farms.
Two were rejected, but one chicken farm was given the green light to add 300,000 birds to its operation.
Laravale residents John Archer and Peter Bryant launched a petition to hand to State Parliament and have begun letter box drops in the area to gather more support.
Almost half of Mr Archer's property, south of Beaudesert, is certified organic.
He told the ABC he was worried that organic status would be lost if poultry farms were built nearby.
"Anyone that's within a kilometre or so of those sheds will smell them — 700 metres away we've got potentially 360,000 birds and nine sheds," he said.
"There's a lot of beautiful scenery, fresh air, camping, good quality food and the whole industry is developing.
"These chicken sheds have the potential to destroy that industry because no-one wants to go on a scenic drive and pass the smell of chicken sheds or even see chicken sheds."
Mr Bryant said at least five major poultry farms have been built in the six years he has been living in the Scenic Rim.
"They are just getting bigger and bigger and it's not just housing 100,000 birds, you're looking at 700,000 plus birds at any time," he said.
"They should be in their own area by themselves, so there's no effect to other residents who came out here for like what came out here for."
Scenic Rim Mayor Greg Christensen said council had been trying to strike a fair balance.
"We're not saying no more poultry farms, what we are saying is we have some great poultry farms in this area that operate really well and no-one notices they are there because they don't impact on their neighbours," he said.
"Let's look at how we get to that situation for all poultry farms."
Acting on community concern, Councillor Christensen said he was seeking a review of the state's meat chicken farm guidelines so there could be more accurate odour assessment guidelines.
"When we drive down sections of the road, it knocks your head off your shoulders when you're driving along at various times of the day," he said.
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