A chicken broiler farm near Meredith has applied for a $1.8 million expansion.
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According to planning documents submitted to Golden Plains Shire Council, Valley Park Farm, which owns and operates a poultry farm on the Midland Highway, is seeking to almost double its capacity.
The documents note the currently permitted number of chickens is 200,000 in four sheds, and the company is aiming to expand this to 370,000 with two additional poultry sheds, three new feed silos, and a new LPG tank.
If approved, the use of the land would change from a broiler farm "to a poultry farm for raising pullets", with access roads built for the new sheds.
The development is estimated to cost $1.8 million.
The company was contacted through the planning consultant but no response was received.
IN THE NEWS
Golden Plains Shire was the subject of a strict poultry quarantine in 2020 due to an outbreak of avian influenza.
Birds were finally allowed outside of coops in September, with farms around Lethbridge under restrictions until October.
Avian influenza was confirmed at four farms near Lethbridge, one near Bairnsdale and an emu farm near Kerang. Thousands of birds were culled to prevent its spread.
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