Re: Objection to Grenfell Poultry Breeder Farm SSD-13855453

Dear Mr Peng,

I am writing on behalf of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) with regard to major project application SSD-13855453, which seeks permission for the construction and operation of 40 poultry sheds to house 570,000 birds at 1130 Gooloogong Road, Grenfell.

Please see the attached petition outlining the concerns of PETA Australia and 4,227 supporting signatories in relation to the proposed facility. Please do not publish the contact information of the petitioners within, including their email and street addresses.

Thank you in advance for reading the submission. We look forward to hearing from you regarding this issue.

Yours sincerely,

Laura Weyman-Jones
PETA Australia
[email protected]

Dear Major Projects, DPIE

I write to respectfully object to the Grenfell Poultry Breeder Farm DA ("the project"), and certainly in its current form.
Noting the enormous scale of the project, my objection is based upon the following:
1. That the expected water usage of 1 million liters will have a material or significant impact upon water supply for Grenfell and its surrounds, particularly with forecasts for decreased rainfall in the years ahead due to climate change.
2. The substantial dust, odour and other forms of air pollution that would be generated by a project expected to house up to 570,000 chickens, and my concerns that this is not properly addressed by the DA.
3. The clearing of local vegetation including woodland, derived native grassland and exotic grassland, for the project. I understand that the EIS identifies a number of threatened species within the project land. The vulnerable, threatened and even critically threatened state of woodland communities in NSW, and numerous species living within it (such as woodland birds), is notorious and well established on the scientific evidence.
4. Animal welfare concerns. I have significant concerns as to whether high and rigorous welfare standards can in fact be maintained for so many birds, with serious questions about the conditions in which broiler chickens are raised based on the science.

I do not support this proposal. The proposal is completely unacceptable for an area which is renowned for its natural heritage and has a clean and green image. Please see attachment for further comments.

Re: Grenfell Poultry Breeder Farm SSD-13855453
We the undersigned are writing to object to a major project application SSD-13855453, which seeks permission for the construction and operation of 40 poultry sheds to house 570,000 birds at 1130 Gooloogong Road, Grenfell.

We object to this proposal for the following reasons:

Water Use
The proposed development would require 1 million litres of water per day from the Gooloogong–Grenfell Water Pipeline. Water scarcity is a persistent issue in Australia, and like all forms of animal agriculture, poultry farming is a thirsty industry. Chicken flesh requires over 1.5 times more water per gram of protein than pulses to produce, according to the Water Footprint Network. Planning to expand such operations in an area so susceptible to droughts is senseless. Water is essential to life – eating chicken is not.

Clearing of Native Vegetation
If these plans went ahead, approximately 1.17 hectares of box gum grassy woodland would be cleared, comprising 0.09 hectares of woodland and 1.08 hectares of native grassland. A further 0.21 hectares of fuzzy box woodland would also be removed. The clearing of these areas is considered to have “serious and irreversible impacts”. The direct impact of the development would be a total loss of 1.42 hectares of native vegetation. This native vegetation is vital for habitat for woodland birds, many of which are endangered in NSW. Damaging habitats affects vital ecosystems which we must protect to save species.

Disturbance of Aboriginal Cultural Heritage
The site is home to an Aboriginal cultural heritage site, near Wallah Wallah Creek, which intersects the property. The area is located within the impact footprint of the proposed access track and would be partially affected by the project. This is disrespectful to First Nations People to build a poultry farm on land of cultural significance.

Visual Impact
Issues concerning visual impact were raised by one nearby landholder during consultation. While a landscape buffer has been proposed to help mitigate this visual impact for the neighbour, such a buffer would take time to mature and grow large enough to conceal the huge structure, as the tallest silos would be 7.6 metres.

Zoonotic Disease Risk
Constructing more intensive poultry sheds while Australia continues to grapple with COVID-19 would be irresponsible. Much like COVID-19, bird flu is a zoonotic disease, and the Australian poultry industry has experienced several outbreaks of it – one as recently as 2020. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 75% of recently emerged infectious diseases affecting humans began as diseases in animals. Such an outbreak would affect not only the human population but also local native bird populations. Baiada’s waste management plan does not deal properly with this eventuality, other than to say that diseased birds would be removed for processing, rendering, or disposal. The report fails to specify which slaughterhouse and authorised landfill birds would be taken to in this event or how their transport would be managed in order to stop the spread of disease. In the event of such an outbreak, more than half a million birds would need to be killed and disposed of – a matter that needs more serious consideration. The NSW government should be stopping this proposal based on this issue alone- look at what is happening in NSW now with the COVID pandemic and a mutated form of the virus-omicron. This is a terribly reckless proposal simply based on our health.

Odour
Ammonia gas – commonly emitted from poultry farms – has a sharp and pungent odour and can act as an irritant when present in elevated concentrations, as it would be around a facility housing 570,000 birds. Ammonia can cause breathing issues and exacerbate some people's asthma as well as irritate eyes for the local community or indeed the workers.

Flies and Rats
Flies are an additional common concern for residents living near poultry facilities. Research conducted by the Ohio Department of Health indicated that residences that were located within 800 metres of poultry facilities had 83 times the average number of flies. While the nearest rural dwelling is 1.5 kilometres from the closest poultry shed in the proposed development, the impact could still be considerable. Rats are also associated with poultry production and can be a vector for disease transmission.

Hazardous Materials
A screening assessment of the dangerous goods to be stored on site found that the bulk storage of liquefied petroleum gas (a class 2.1 flammable gas) would exceed the storage thresholds listed in the State Environmental Planning Policies, so the site would be regarded as potentially hazardous. A definite Work, Health and Safety issue and breaches safety guidelines. The NSW government must not accept this proposal if it breaches State Environmental Planning Policies. Policies are in place to protect and prevent disasters.

Animal Welfare
Chickens are intelligent, social animals, who feel pain and distress. In 2019, a PETA exposé of Baiada – the proponent of the Grenfell proposal – found widespread cruelty in its breeding facility and abattoir. Despite the presence of CCTV cameras at the abattoir, workers punched chickens in the head and bashed them against metal railings before shackling them by the legs. One worker told the eyewitness that he would “just start smashing birds”. The eyewitness saw another worker repeatedly tearing birds’ heads off – and even putting a severed head on his finger and wiggling it about like a finger puppet. We have just completed a submission paper for improved Animal Welfare Reforms in NSW which also includes factory farming. The government is attempting to initiate improved animal welfare outcomes in our state. For the government to accept this proposal knowing that Baiada – the proponent of the Grenfell proposal has been responsible for animal cruelty in the past would be sending the wrong message to the community. It would be a backward step in animal reforms. Say no to this proposal, otherwise you are supporting and condoning animal cruelty in our state.

Weddin Local Environmental Plan
The proposed site is a primary production zone. According to the Weddin Local Environmental Plan 2011, the objectives of the zone are, most notably, as follows:

• To encourage sustainable primary industry production by maintaining and enhancing the natural resource base

• To encourage diversity in primary industry enterprises and systems appropriate for the area

There is nothing sustainable or diverse about cramming half a million non-native birds into sheds on the site. While the project would provide 50 people with employment, this is nowhere near enough incentive to overlook the catastrophic damage it would cause to residents in the area, the environment, and the animals it warehouses.

We hope you’ll take our objections, along with the comments made by local residents, into account when making a decision on this application.
The Grenfell Poultry Breeder Farm must be refused on all the above grounds.

Yours sincerely,
Janice Haviland Martin Derby Marie Humphries

I OBJECT strongly to this project.
This proposed development is totally irresponsible for the following reasons:
*The sheer number of animals in one area. 750,000! Way too many.
*This number of animals together raises concerns about zoonotic disease outbreaks.
* Water security for people already living in the area. Is there going to be enough water for them if it has to be now shared with 750,000 animals? This number of animals will also generate a huge amount of pollution.
*Animal welfare is a major concern with this number of animals in close quarters.
Colleen Wysser - Martin

See attached submission.