Mangrove Mountain residents have ramped up their opposition to a feedlot development proposed on the corner of Ironbark and Hershon Rds.
With submissions on the controversial proposal set to close on June 6, community members gathered at the Mangrove Mountain Hall on May 27 to reiterate their concerns and facilitate the lodging of submissions.
The Mangrove Mountain Computer Club opened to support community members to make their submissions online to Central Coast Council and Member for Gosford Liesl Tesch dropped by to lend an ear and provide technological support to those who needed it.
In true community style, the CWA supplied scones and tea to keep hunger at bay.
The development would house up to 400 cattle in two sheds with many saying it would be unsustainable and unsuitable for the local community.
Tesch said the community forum provided great insight into what the residents think.
John Dickinson, who owns the lot adjoining the proposed development site, has urged fellow residents to make submissions.
“It is essential that the community comes together and that these objections are put to Council,” he said.
The gathering followed a community meeting held early in May, where business owner and meeting facilitator Alex Stewart said the proposal was “completely unsuitable” for a rural and residential area.
“Many established surrounding houses and approved building envelopes would be severely and detrimentally affected by noise, water, dust and odour pollution,” he said.
“While we appreciate the property owners’ right to lodge a development application, this particular proposal is completely unsuitable for this area and needs to be refused.
“Community members are very open to meeting with the property owner to see if we can discuss other viable options for this parcel of land.
“We wouldn’t put a rocket launching pad in a residential area, so why would we allow a cattle feedlot in one?”
Concerns raised by residents included possible stench and the biosecurity risk of such a high density feed station.
A Statement of Environmental Effects (SEE) lodged with the application says the development, on a mostly cleared and elevated vacant parcel of rural land, would have a design capacity for 400 head of cattle at a maximum pen density of about 6.5sqm per head.
It says detailed drainage design and effective erosion and sedimentation controls would ensure all surface water runoff generated was effectively diverted, captured and released.
The SEE says the development proposal meets all recommended noise, dust and odour impacts to surrounding potentially sensitive receptors.
A petition objecting to the proposal, which currently has more than 1,820 signatures, is available at https://www.change.org/p/stop-an-intensive-cattle-feedlot-proposal-mangrove-mountain-nsw?source_location=search.
The petition can also be hand-signed at the Mangrove Mountain chemist or saddlery.
Submissions can be made at https://eservices.centralcoast.nsw.gov.au/ePathway/Production/Web/GeneralEnquiry/EnquiryDetailView.aspx?Id=1452859.
Terry Collins