Proposed Napier piggery up for discussion by City of Albany committee following capacity reduction

City of Albany officers have recommended the council grant conditional approval for a free-range Napier piggery that will have a maximum capacity of 700 sows. The application for the Rotational Outdoor Piggery at 1028 Yungup Road will be considered by the City’s Development and Infrastructure Services Committee on Wednesday before coming before the full council on March 28. The officer’s report recommends the council attach nine conditions to the piggery’s development approval. The proposal’s Environmental Assessment and Management Plan notes a previous application had been made for a 1000 sow ROP in 2021, but the capacity was revised to 700 after several submissions raised concerns. The proposed piggery would comprise three rotational areas of about 43ha each, which equates to about 16 sows/ha. Each area would be used for two years before being turned over for cropping for four seasons in order to utilise the nutrients. The proposal was published on the City of Albany website for public comment between November 30 and December 23, and advertised through a mail out to landowners within a 1500m radius of the site, including some in the Shire of Plantagenet. Five submissions from landowners were received, raising concerns in relation to the proposal. The concerns mainly related to impact on the amenity of the area, noise and odour, environment, future development of neighbouring sites, visual aesthetic, sites of Aboriginal significance, and insufficient access for additional traffic. The officers’ report said staff considered the proposal “has satisfactorily demonstrated that any impacts on adjoining landowners from the proposal will be adequately addressed and mitigated”. “Furthermore, DWER has advised that the proposal will not have an unacceptable risk on public health or the environment, with management measures contained under the EAMP satisfactorily mitigating potential impacts on the environment and adjoining sensitive land uses,” it said. “In summary, the proposal is not considered to be out of character with the surrounding predominant agricultural setting and functions, with appropriate methods identified to manage and mitigate potential impacts on the environment and surrounding properties. “Staff consider the proposal is consistent with the objectives of the priority agricultural zone in this instance and is unlikely to have a detrimental impact on the amenity of the area.” In response to concerns about additional traffic accessing the property, officers have noted it is expected there would be 14 truck movements per week via Settlement and Elliot roads. The Shire of Plantagenet, which manages Elliot Road, has requested the proponent enter a contribution arrangement with the Shire to ensure the road is upgraded to a suitable standard. Concerns about the impact on Aboriginal heritage were referred to the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage, which advised it was satisfied “there were not any registered Aboriginal heritage sites on or near the site”. Other objections raised during the public comment period included concerns about any anaerobic ponds possibly leaking, animal welfare and property valuation. The officers’ report notes the concerns “are not considered relevant planning matters” as there are no such ponds proposed for use, and animal welfare and property values are not matters to be considered under the relevant planning regulations.