The site of a Hivesville piggery which has been given Council approval to almost double in size
SBRC Mayor Wayne Kratzmann
South Burnett Mayor Wayne Kratzmann (Photo: SBRC)

October 8, 2015

A piggery on the Wondai Proston Road at Hivesville has been given approval to almost double its size from 2533 to 5000 standard pig units.

Councillors gave an application by Anderlea Pty Ltd – the company which owns the property – unanimous approval at Wednesday’s South Burnett Regional Council meeting, in line with a recommendation by Council officers.

Councillors were told Anderlea Pork was a family-owned business that had been operating in the South Burnett since 1988.

The company’s proposed “Blue Ridge” expansion was in line with the existing Wondai Shire IPA Planning Scheme.

Public notification of the proposal was undertaken between August 31 and September 18, and only one submission objecting to the development had been received.

Officers advised the Department of Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning had approved the development subject to conditions on September 3, and the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries had issued an Environmental Authority Permit the same day.

This being so, officers recommended the development be approved subject to normal provisions.

Mayor Wayne Kratzmann said it was encouraging to see a business which had faith in the future of the region’s pork industry.

* * *

The South Burnett Pistol Club have been given approval to build an indoor air pistol range adjacent to their outdoor pistol range in Redmans Road, Kingaroy.

At Wednesday’s SBRC meeting, Councillors were told that the club’s land was zoned Rural and they had been operating on the site for 63 years.

Only three complaints about the outdoor pistol range had ever been received, all of them in the last 18 months.

Councillors were also told:

  • the new indoor range would have a maximum floor area of 195 sq.m.
  • it would operate no more than two nights per week between 7:00pm-9:00pm, Saturdays from 7:00am-7:00pm and Sundays from 8:00am-7:00pm
  • it would not generate a noise level at the property boundary any higher than 95 decibels during its operating hours
  • 15 car parking spaces would be provided

Mayor Wayne Kratzmann noted the car parking spaces would reduce or eliminate the problem of some patrons parking on the side of the road near the club.

Councillors agreed, and approved the proposal unanimously.

* * *

The Blackbutt Tennis Club has had its request for $1605 in overdue rates to be waived, though the decision provoked some discussion at Wednesday’s Council meeting.

Council officers had recommended the Tennis Club’s application be rejected because the club – which went into recess several years ago – had failed to discuss its situation with Council or made any effort to reduce the debt.

But Deputy Mayor Keith Campbell moved a counter motion for the overdue rates to be waived.

Cr Campbell said the situation where sports groups or other non-profit community organisations winked out of existence for a few years was not uncommon.

And very often – when this happened – those groups failed to notify Council about their changed circumstances.

But later when locals wanted to reform the groups, outstanding debts owing to Council were a burden that could prevent them coming back to life.

He thought it was in the best interests of the community that volunteer groups be encouraged.

“Really, $1600 out of a $57 million budget is not a lot,” Cr Campbell said

Mayor Kratzmann agreed, saying he was aware there had been a recent revival of interest in tennis in the Blackbutt area following a visit by famous tennis player (and former Blackbutt resident) Roy Emerson in January.

He noted the courts at 61 Hart Street would need to have money spent to restore them to full working order after many years of disuse, and the outstanding rates bill was a burden which might prevent that happening.

Cr Damien Tessmann agreed the situation wasn’t uncommon, and seeing the tennis courts brought back into use was of greater value to the community than recovering the amount of money involved.

Cr Barry Green, who had seconded Cr Campbell’s motion, said he’d done so for completely a different reason, and that was established Council precedent.

“If we let the Murgon Sports Association off the hook for $32,000 we can hardly insist this club pay us,” Cr Green said, referring to a decision the Council made in June.

All the same, Cr Green warned the current policy was costing the Council a significant amount and was not entirely in the long-term interests of ratepayers.

He suggested Council look at developing a better policy in the future.


 

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