Environmental Impact Statement MAIN REPORT Livestock Agriculture The Ranch Poultry Production Complex Farm 3 Environmental Impact Statement MAIN REPORT Prepared by: VOAG 3 Pty Ltd

Intensive Livestock AgricultureThe Ranch Poultry Production Complex

Farm 3

Environmental Impact Statement

MAIN REPORT

Prepared by:

VOAG 3 Pty Ltd

SUBMISSION OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT Prepared under Part 4 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979

Prepared By: Name: Adam Williams, Associate Environmental Scientist

Qualifications: Bachelor of Environmental Science

Graduate Certificate of Environmental Management

Company: SLR Consulting Australia Pty Ltd

Address: 10 Kings Road, New Lambton, NSW, 2305

Development Application Applicant Name: VOAG 3 Pty Ltd

Applicant Address: 131 Fogarty Road, Tynong North VIC 3813

Land to be Developed: Lot 78 in Deposited Plan 720258

“The Ranch Farm 3”, Back Hillston Road, Tabbita NSW

Parish of Denny County of Sturt Local Government Area of Carrathool

Development Description: Intensive Livestock Industry - Poultry Broiler Production Farm (refer Section 3)

Declaration We hereby certify that we have prepared the contents of this document and to the best of our knowledge:

• It has been prepared in accordance with Schedule 2 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2000;

• It addresses the Secretary’s Environmental Assessment Requirements (953) dated 14 August 2015 provided by the NSW Department of Planning and Environment;

• It contains all available information that is relevant to the environmental assessment of the proposed development to which the environmental impact statement relates; and

• The information contained in the environmental impact statement is neither false nor misleading.

Name: Adam Williams SLR Consulting Australia Pty Ltd

Signature:

Date: 20 October 2015 Note: Cover page images courtesy of Australian Chicken Meat Federation and VOAG 3 Pty Ltd

SLR Consulting Australia Pty Ltd

The Ranch Poultry Production Complex - Farm 3 Environmental Impact Statement

Page i Executive Summary

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY INTRODUCTION

VOAG 3 Pty Ltd (VOAG 3) seeks development consent under Part 4 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (EP&A Act) to develop an intensive poultry broiler production farm (The Ranch Farm 3 (the “Development”)) within a rural property in the area known as Tabbita approximately 26 kilometres (km) northwest of Griffith in south-western New South Wales (NSW).

The Development falls within the bounds of “local development” that is both “designated” and “integrated” under the provisions of Part 4 of the EP&A Act. It will require development consent from Carrathool Shire Council (Council), along with an environment protection licence (EPL) from the Environment Protection Authority (EPA).

A project briefing paper and an application for the Secretary’s Environmental Assessment Requirements (SEARs) was lodged with the Department of Planning and Environment (DP&E) on the 29 June 2015, with SEARs 953 received on 14 August 2015. Consultation has been undertaken with other relevant State and local government agencies, surrounding residents and other relevant stakeholders.

This Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) has been prepared to address the SEARs and accompany the development application under Part 4 of the EP&A Act for the Development. In addition to describing the Development, this EIS contains a comprehensive and focused assessment of the associated planning and environmental matters to a level of detail commensurate with the scale of the Development, industry standards and the legislative framework under which it is permissible.

Concurrent Applications

Three new farms, including the Development (the subject of this EIS) and two additional farms known as The Ranch Farm 1 and The Ranch Farm 2, are being proposed as part of the “The Ranch Poultry Production Complex”. Each of these three farms is the subject of separate development applications (and separate EISs). The EIS and development application for The Ranch Farm 1 was lodged with Council on 21 September 2015, with The Ranch Farm 2 and The Ranch Farm 3 applications now being lodged concurrently on 20 October 2015. Cumulative impacts associated with The Ranch Poultry Production Complex have been addressed in this EIS.

PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT

VOAG 3 seeks development consent under Part 4 of the EP&A Act for The Ranch Farm 3, where broiler birds will be grown for human consumption. Figure A shows the proposed location and configuration of the Development, and Table A contains a summary of some of the key elements of the Development.


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Notes and Cautions:(1) Background satellite image sourced from Google Earth.(2) All boundaries and areas shown on this plan are approximate only and subject to survey verification.

Development Layout

FIGURE A

See Inset

INSET

0N

M450 900

LEGENDDevelopment SiteProposed lot subdivisionsDerelict dwelling to be demolishedExisting farm damsDrainage lines

Proposed poultry shed

Proposed water storage dam

Proposed project related residence

Proposed internal access road

Proposed water mains pipeline

Proposed powerline





Proposed powerline





Proposed powerlineE

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The Ranch Farm 2

The Ranch Farm 1 (DA 2016/017)

The Ranch Farm 3

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Page iii Executive Summary

Table A – Summary of Proposed Development

Aspect Details Purpose Birds grown for human consumption

Number of poultry production units (PPUs) One

Number of poultry sheds Eight, each measuring 172 metres (m) long by 18 m wide

Type of poultry sheds Tunnel-ventilated, fully-enclosed, climate-controlled

Maximum shed population 50,000 birds

Maximum farm population 400,000 birds

Maximum bird density within sheds 18 birds per square metre (m2) (and will not exceed a density of 34 kilograms (kg)/m2)

Hours of operation 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

Production cycle length Approximately 9 weeks (63 days), comprising 7.5 weeks (53 days) of bird occupation and a 1.5 week (10 days) cleaning phase

Number of production cycles per year On average, approximately 5.7

The Development will comprise one poultry production unit (PPU) with eight tunnel-ventilated fully-enclosed climate-controlled poultry sheds. Each shed will have the capacity to house 50,000 birds, equating to a site population of up to 400,000 birds.

In addition to poultry shedding, the Development also includes:

• Two new residences to house the farm manager and assistant farm manager;

• Various other infrastructure items to support the poultry production operation;

• Extension of water and electricity infrastructure to service the Development;

• The construction of a large on-site water storage dam (with associated water tanks, pumping and pipeline infrastructure), with a capacity of approximately 60 megalitres (ML); and

• Extension of the internal vehicular access road from The Ranch Farm 2 site to the Development Site.

The disturbance footprint (including access roads, servicing infrastructure and support infrastructure) will be relatively small at approximately 9.75 hectares (ha) and the commercial activities associated with the poultry operation will be largely confined to the PPU. It is intended to continue using the land outside of the disturbance footprint within the Development Site for continued agricultural production purposes under some form of lease or share farming arrangement.

KEY ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

The assessment of environmental issues associated with the Development has been multi-disciplinary and involved an environmental risk assessment and consultation with relevant State and local government agencies. As facilitated by the risk assessment, where a potential environmental impact/risk was considered unacceptable, or where a knowledge gap was identified, a specialist impact assessment was commissioned and appropriate management responses nominated. While the risk assessment did not identify any high ranking environmental risks, one medium ranking risk was identified relating to potential odour emissions.

Neither the Development in isolation or the Ranch Poultry Production Complex as a whole are anticipated to pose any significant or long-term adverse impact to the local environment or surrounding populace. Table B provides a summarised overview of the assessment findings for the key environmental issues, including cumulative impacts.



Page iv Executive Summary

Table B - Overview of Environmental Assessment Issues

Environmental Aspect Key Assessment Findings Land Use Conflict • The potential for conflict between the Development and the existing surrounding

agricultural land uses is considered very low. The disturbance footprint (including access roads, servicing infrastructure and other support infrastructure) will be relatively small at approximately 9.75 ha and the commercial activity associated with the poultry operation will be largely confined to the PPU.

• It is intended to continue using the land outside of the development footprint within the Development Site for continued agricultural production purposes (crop cultivation and/or livestock grazing) under some form of lease or share farming arrangement. On this basis, the Development will not deny access to large areas of viable agricultural lands nor significantly reduce the land area available for agricultural production.

Odour • Odour concentrations are predicted to meet the EPA’s criterion at all identified sensitive receptors for the Development in isolation and cumulatively with other proposed poultry developments.

Particulate Matter • A screening assessment using a continuous worst-case PM10 (particulate matter with a diameter of equal to or less than 10 microns) emission rate predicted a maximum 24-hour PM10 concentration at the nearest sensitive receptor well below the EPA criterion. Based on these initial screening level results and the identified level of risk associated with particulate matter from other similar studies, any further detailed modelling is not considered to be warranted.

Noise • Predicted operational noise levels are significantly below the most conservative applicable criteria.

• Any sleep disturbance noise impacts associated with the Development Site are considered negligible.

• The calculated road traffic noise level at the nearest roadside residential receivers meets the applicable criteria under all prediction scenarios.

• Noise levels from proposed construction activities are predicted to meet the “noise affected construction noise goals at all assessed sensitive receivers.

Traffic and Transport • Construction traffic is expected to be low and will be for only six months. The impacts arising from construction traffic are therefore expected to be low and the mitigation measures to be implemented to address operational traffic impacts are expected to be sufficient to also address construction traffic.

• The additional traffic to be generated by the Development is not expected to have any operational impacts on the external road network.

• The heavy vehicle routes are suitable for the types of vehicle movements that will be generated by the Development and have sufficient facilities to accommodate the additional traffic.

• Cumulative traffic from existing and proposed poultry developments in the area can be accommodated by Kidman Way.

Water Resources • Given the controlled environment in which the Development will operate, along with the environmental licensing conditions it will need to comply with, it poses a low risk to local water resources and no detectable impact is expected.

• Given that the disturbance footprint will comprise a relatively small portion of the Development Site, changes to the existing runoff/recharge pattern will be minor. This, combined with the depth of the water table, which according to the Department of Primary Industries Water (DPI Water) database records for the closest registered groundwater bore (GW002984) located approximately 1.1 km north-west of the Development has a standing water level of 89.3 m below ground level in the general area, leads to the conclusion that no detectable impacts to groundwater levels, yields or quality are expected. The nature of the strata and the water table depth will provide an adequate buffer against infiltration of any potential pollutants, such as turbidity and/or hydrocarbons.

• While the construction phase will include some excavation activities, there will not be any interaction with groundwater given the relatively shallow excavations and the depth of the water table.

• Based on the design of the surface water management system and the relatively low volume and quality of the surface water to be managed, there is negligible



Page v Executive Summary

Environmental Aspect Key Assessment Findings risk to local water resources as a result of runoff.

• There will not be any on-site stockpiling or disposal of waste materials and, therefore, no opportunities for the leaching of nutrients or other pollutants to surface water and groundwater.

• No detectable impact to surface water or groundwater is anticipated as a result of on-site sewage management. Aerated systems will be used and relatively low volumes of sewage will be generated by the on-site staff amenities and residences.

Biodiversity • The Development Site is a highly modified area of land with limited elements of the natural environment or remnant native vegetation, with the exception of an area of vegetation in the north-eastern corner of the Development Site and a narrow corridor of vegetation along the eastern lot boundary. Existing available vegetation mapping and on-line database searches failed to identify any threatened species, populations or communities or their habitats within the Development Site. There is, however, vegetation mapped along Huxleys Road (Sand Plain Mallee Woodlands) to the west of the Development Site and immediately north and east of the Development Site (Inland Rocky Hill Woodlands) (refer Figure 7). Neither of these communities are listed as endangered ecological communities (EECs) in NSW under the TSC Act.

• The Development would be predominantly located within areas that are already cleared. An exception is the narrow strip of woodland vegetation along the ephemeral drainage line north of The Ranch Farm 2 site and adjacent to the Back Hillston Road corridor, which would be removed to allow for construction of the internal access road, culvert and infrastructure corridor (powerline and water pipeline) from The Ranch Farm 2 site to The Ranch Farm 3 site). Approximately 0.07 ha of native vegetation will be cleared. It is most likely that the vegetation community to be cleared would be one of these two vegetation communities identified adjacent to the Development Site, and therefore not EEC. Clearing will be compensated for by the extensive landscaping to be undertaken for the development using naturally occurring plant species.

• Based on the level of existing site disturbance and the strategic positioning of development infrastructure, the risk of adverse impact on any threatened species, populations, ecological communities or on local biodiversity in general within the surrounding environment is considered negligible. Furthermore, the Development is highly unlikely to substantially modify, destroy or isolate an area of important habitat, disrupt the lifecycle of local or migratory species, or result in an invasive species that is harmful to the local or migratory species.

Aboriginal Heritage • A search of the Office of Environment and Heritage’s Aboriginal Heritage Information Management System (AHIMS) did not yield any records for Aboriginal sites recorded in or near the Development Site. No Aboriginal places have been declared in or near the Development Site.

• Assessment in accordance with the Due Diligence Code of Practice for the Protection of Aboriginal Objects in New South Wales (Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water 2010) removed the Development from the due diligence process at Step 2, meaning an Aboriginal Heritage Impact Permit (AHIP) is not necessary.

Non- Aboriginal Heritage • There are no items of heritage significance located within the Development Site.

Visual Amenity • The proposed PPU is setback from Kidman Way by over 4,300 m, Tysons Road by over 3,600 m, and from the adjoining Back Hillston Road by around 250 m. The nearest privately-owned residences are located approximately 3,900 m away.

• Analysis of topography reveals that there is a moderate change in elevation between the PPU and the nearest privately owned residences (10 m to 38 m) and there is significant intervening vegetation between the PPU and surrounding residences. Vegetation screens will be planted around the perimeter of the PPU, which, once established, will visually screen the Development.

• There should not be any issues in terms of adverse lighting impacts (for example, light spill).



Page vi Executive Summary

JUSTIFICATION AND CONCLUSION

This EIS has assessed the proposed Development (i.e. The Ranch Farm 3) in accordance with the environmental planning context of the EP&A Act and its regulations and in accordance with the SEARs issued on 14 August 2015. All relevant regulatory requirements, the findings and conclusions of the specialist impact assessments and the findings of the stakeholder consultation activities have been considered and addressed in this EIS.

The potential for adverse impact on the local environment and surrounding populace has been minimised by selective siting of the PPU and adoption of various development design features, best management practices and mitigation measures. While the Development may result in some externalised impacts associated with air quality, noise emissions and traffic generation, the specialist impact assessments predict that the Development will comply with all relevant impact assessment criteria and can co-exist with the surrounding land uses. Additionally, the specialist impact assessments have also assessed the cumulative air quality, noise emissions and traffic generation from The Ranch Poultry Production Complex (i.e. The Ranch Farms 1, 2 and 3), with predictions concluding that these operations will also comply with all relevant impact assessment criteria. The impact to social amenity will be minimal, with no change to the day-to-day life of surrounding residents as a result of the Development and no additional demand for services or facilities.

It is considered that the Development can proceed without resulting in significant or long-term adverse impacts to the local environment and surrounding populace. It will be managed on a day-to-day basis in accordance with a site-specific Operational Environmental Management Plan (OEMP), which will ensure that the commitments made in this EIS, along with relevant statutory obligations and conditions of development consent (including environmental licensing requirements), are fully implemented and complied with.

The Development is justified in socio-economic terms as a catalyst for increased economic activity within the Carrathool Local Government Area (LGA) and wider Griffith region, including positive employment and flow-on benefits.



Page vii Table of Contents

Table of Contents

1 INTRODUCTION 1

1.1 Background 1

1.2 Document Purpose 1

1.3 The Applicant 1

1.4 Development Site 1

1.5 Development Overview 4

1.6 Development Rationale and Objective 4

1.7 Consent Pathway 5

1.8 Secretary’s Environmental Assessment Requirements 6

1.9 Development Team 7

2 SITE DESCRIPTION 8

2.1 Overview 8

2.2 Zoning 8

2.3 Land Ownership and Proposed Subdivision 11

2.4 Vehicular Access and Road Network 11

2.5 Existing Land Use 13

2.6 Surrounding Land Use and Residences 13

2.7 Surrounding Poultry Operations 14

2.8 Meteorology 15

2.9 Soil and Land Capability 18

2.10 Water Resources 18 Surface Water 18 2.10.1 Groundwater 18 2.10.2 Flooding 19 2.10.3

2.11 Vegetation 19

2.12 Land Contamination 19

2.13 Bush Fire 19

3 PROPOSED POULTRY DEVELOPMENT 21

3.1 Overview 21

3.2 Concurrent Applications 24

3.3 Frequently Asked Questions 24

3.4 Separation Distances 26

3.5 Construction Activities 27

3.6 Poultry Shedding 28 Design 28 3.6.1 Stocking Density 28 3.6.2 Bedding Material 28 3.6.3



Page viii Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Feed and Water Lines 30 3.6.4 Lighting 30 3.6.5 Ventilation 30 3.6.6

3.7 Supporting Infrastructure 31 Farm Manager’s Accommodation 31 3.7.1 Ancillary Farm Improvements 32 3.7.2 Water Storage Dam 32 3.7.3

3.8 Hours of Operation 33

3.9 Production Cycle 33

3.10 Vehicular Access 34 Kidman Way – Tysons Road Intersection 34 3.10.1 Access to the Development Site 34 3.10.2 Wheel Wash 35 3.10.3

3.11 Traffic 35 Traffic Generation 35 3.11.1 Heavy Vehicle Route 37 3.11.2

3.12 Servicing 39 Electricity 39 3.12.1 Gas 39 3.12.2 Water Supply 39 3.12.3 Feed Supply 40 3.12.4

3.13 Chemical Use and Management 40

3.14 Waste Management 41 General Waste 41 3.14.1 Chemical Containers 41 3.14.2 Poultry Litter 42 3.14.3 Dead Birds 42 3.14.4 Sewage 42 3.14.5

3.15 Surface Water Management 42

3.16 Revegetation 43

3.17 Landscaping 44

3.18 Site Maintenance 44

3.19 Pest Control 45

3.20 Workplace Health and Safety 45

3.21 Animal Health and Welfare 45

3.22 Biosecurity 48

3.23 Mass Mortality Disposal Strategy 49

3.24 Operational Environmental Management Plan 51

3.25 Socio-Economic Aspects 51 Operational Employment 51 3.25.1 Capital Investment 51 3.25.2



Page ix Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Consumables and Flow-On Benefits 51 3.25.3

4 REGULATORY FRAMEWORK 53

4.1 Permissibility 53

4.2 Consent Pathway 53

4.3 Commonwealth Legislation 54 Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 54 4.3.1

4.4 NSW State Legislation 56 Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 56 4.4.1 Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 56 4.4.2 Roads Act 1993 56 4.4.3 Water Management Act 2000 56 4.4.4 Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 57 4.4.5

4.5 State Environmental Planning Policies 57 Infrastructure SEPP 57 4.5.1 SEPP 55 – Remediation of Land 57 4.5.2 SEPP 33 – Hazardous and Offensive Development 58 4.5.3

4.6 Carrathool Local Environmental Plan 2012 58

4.7 Draft Carrathool Development Control Plan 2012 58

4.8 Other Considerations 59 Draft Riverina Regional Strategic Plan 59 4.8.1 Carrathool Sustainable Settlement Strategy 2007 59 4.8.2

5 STAKEHOLDER CONSULTATION 60

6 ENVIRONMENTAL RISK ASSESSMENT 62

7 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT 63

7.1 Land Use Conflict 63 Mitigation Measures 63 7.1.1

7.2 Odour 64 Existing Environment 64 7.2.1 Assessment Criteria 65 7.2.2 Impact Assessment 66 7.2.3 Mitigation Measures 73 7.2.4

7.3 Particulate Matter 74 Existing Environment 74 7.3.1 Assessment Criteria 74 7.3.2 Impact Assessment 74 7.3.3 Mitigation Measures 75 7.3.4

7.4 Noise 76 Existing Environment 76 7.4.1 Assessment Criteria 76 7.4.2 Impact Assessment 78 7.4.3



Page x Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Mitigation Measures 87 7.4.4

7.5 Traffic and Transport 88 Existing Environment 88 7.5.1 Impact Assessment 89 7.5.2 Mitigation Measures 92 7.5.3

7.6 Water Resources 93 Existing Environment 93 7.6.1 Impact Assessment 93 7.6.2 Mitigation Measures 95 7.6.3

7.7 Biodiversity 96 Existing Environment 96 7.7.1 Threatened Biota 97 7.7.2 Impact Assessment 98 7.7.3 Mitigation Measures 99 7.7.4

7.8 Aboriginal Heritage 100 Existing Environment 100 7.8.1 Due Diligence Assessment 100 7.8.2 Mitigation Measures 101 7.8.3

7.9 Non-Aboriginal Heritage 102 Existing Environment 102 7.9.1 Impact Assessment 102 7.9.2 Mitigation Measures 102 7.9.3

7.10 Visual Amenity 102 Existing Environment 102 7.10.1 Impact Assessment 102 7.10.2 Mitigation Measures 102 7.10.3

7.11 Greenhouse Gas 103 Emission Sources 103 7.11.1 Mitigation Measures 103 7.11.2

7.12 Socio-Economic Considerations 104 Overview 104 7.12.1 Economic Activity 104 7.12.2

7.13 Cumulative Impacts 105 Odour 105 7.13.1 Particulate Matter 107 7.13.2 Noise 107 7.13.3 Traffic and Transport 107 7.13.4 Socio-Economic Considerations 107 7.13.5

8 MANAGEMENT AND MITIGATION MEASURES 109

9 JUSTIFICATION AND CONCLUSION 114

9.1 Ecologically Sustainable Development 114



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Table of Contents

The Precautionary Principle 115 9.1.1 Intergenerational Equity 115 9.1.2 Conservation of Biological Diversity and Ecological Integrity 115 9.1.3 Improved Valuation, Pricing and Incentive Mechanisms 115 9.1.4

9.2 Analysis of Alternatives 116 General 116 9.2.1 Alternative Sites and Farm Layout 116 9.2.2 Consequences of Not Carrying Out the Development 117 9.2.3

9.3 Conclusion 117

10 REFERENCES 119

11 ABBREVIATIONS, ACRONYMS AND UNITS 121

TABLES Figure 1 Regional Locality 2 Figure 2 Regional Locality Zoom 3 Figure 3 The Development Site 9 Figure 4 Zoning 10 Figure 5 Proposed Subdivision 12 Figure 6 Predicted Annual and Seasonal Wind Roses for the Development Site 17 Figure 7 Vegetation 20 Figure 8 Development Layout 22 Figure 9 Poultry Production Unit Layout 23 Figure 10 The Ranch Poultry Production Complex 25 Figure 11 Conceptual Poultry Shed Design 29 Figure 12 Heavy Vehicle Route 38 Figure 13 Proposed Landscaping 46 Figure 14 Predicted 99th Percentile Odour Concentrations for The Ranch Farm 3 71 Figure 15 Predicted 99th Percentile Cumulative Odour Concentrations 72

FIGURES Figure 1 Regional Locality 2 Figure 2 Regional Locality Zoom 3 Figure 3 The Development Site 9 Figure 4 Zoning 10 Figure 5 Proposed Subdivision 12 Figure 6 Predicted Annual and Seasonal Wind Roses for the Development Site 17 Figure 7 Vegetation 20 Figure 8 Development Layout 22 Figure 9 Poultry Production Unit Layout 23 Figure 10 The Ranch Poultry Production Complex 25 Figure 11 Conceptual Poultry Shed Design 29 Figure 12 Heavy Vehicle Route 38 Figure 13 Proposed Landscaping 46 Figure 14 Predicted 99th Percentile Odour Concentrations for The Ranch Farm 3 71 Figure 15 Predicted 99th Percentile Cumulative Odour Concentrations 72



Page xii Table of Contents

Table of Contents

APPENDICES Appendix A Secretary’s Environmental Assessment Requirements Appendix B Air Quality Impact Assessment (SLR 2015a) Appendix C Noise and Vibration Impact Assessment (SLR 2015b) Appendix D Traffic Impact Assessment (RoadNet 2015a) Appendix E Engineer Design Drawings Appendix F Flora and Fauna Database Search Results Appendix G Environmental Risk Register Appendix H AHIMS Search Results



Page 1 Introduction

1 INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background

VOAG 3 Pty Ltd (VOAG 3), a subsidiary of Vojplumb Pty Ltd (Vojplumb), seeks development consent under Part 4 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (EP&A Act) to develop an intensive poultry broiler production farm (The Ranch Farm 3) within a rural property in the area known as Tabbita, approximately 26 kilometres (km) north-west of Griffith in south-western New South Wales (NSW). This Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) has been prepared to support an application by VOAG 3 for development consent.

The Ranch Farm 3 (herein referred to as the Development) comprises the development of eight tunnel-ventilated fully-enclosed climate-controlled poultry sheds, where broiler birds will be grown for human consumption, with associated support infrastructure and staff amenities. Each shed will have the capacity to house a maximum of 50,000 birds at any one time, equating to a total farm population of 400,000 birds. The Development will employ a total of four full-time employees, two of whom will live on site as a farm manager and assistant manager.

Three new farms, including the Development (the subject of this EIS), and two additional farms known as The Ranch Farm 1 and The Ranch Farm 2, are being proposed as part of “The Ranch Poultry Production Complex”. Each of these three farms is the subject of separate development applications (and separate EISs). The development application for The Ranch Farm 1 (DA 2016/017) was lodged with Carrathool Shire Council (Council) on 21 September 2015, with The Ranch Farm 2 and The Ranch Farm 3 applications (DA 2016/022 and DA 2016/023, respectively) lodged concurrently on 20 October 2015. Cumulative impacts associated with The Ranch Poultry Production Complex have been addressed in this EIS.

1.2 Document Purpose

The purpose of this EIS is to enable consideration of the implications of proceeding with the Development. This EIS has been prepared in accordance with the EP&A Act and the Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2000 (EP&A Regulation) and to meet the Secretary’s Environmental Assessment Requirements (SEARs 953) for the Development, which were issued by the Department of Planning and Environment (DP&E) on 14 August 2015 (refer Section 1.8).

In addition to describing the Development, the EIS presents a comprehensive and focussed assessment of the associated planning and environmental issues to a level of detail commensurate with the scale of the development and the legislative framework under which the Development is to be assessed and determined. The matters dealt with within the EIS are presented in a manner that addresses the specific requirements of the SEARs, as well as the requirements of other consulted government agencies and stakeholders.

1.3 The Applicant

The Applicant for The Ranch Farm 3 is VOAG 3, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Vojplumb. Vojplumb operates a poultry broiler farm in Tynong North, Victoria, which has been operational for 14 years.

1.4 Development Site

The Development Site is located approximately 28 km north-west of Griffith and 19 km south-east of Goolgowi in the Riverina region of south-western NSW. It is positioned within Lot 78 in Deposited Plan (DP) 720258 and comprises approximately 50.3 hectares (ha) of vacant rural land within the Carrathool Local Government Area (LGA). The general locality of the Development Site is shown on Figure 1 and Figure 2.


CARRATHOOL - LGA

GRIFFITH - LGA

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Farm 61 PoultryProduction Complex


Jeanella PoultryProduction Complex

Rothdene PoultryProduction Complex

Proposed MaylandsPoultry Farm

ChickenHatchery

Poultry Processing ComplexPoultry Feedmill

DEVELOPMENT SITE

Proposed Jeanella SouthPoultry Production Complex

Tabbita

Proposed Tabbita Farm 2


Proposed The Ranch Farm 1

DEVELOPMENT SITEProposed The Ranch Farm 2

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To be printed A4

FIGURE 1

Regional Locality

2512.5KM

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Sydney

Newcastle

Wollongong

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Canberra

Broken Hill

Mudgee

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Development Site

Bathurst

Narrandera

Wagga Wagga

N

Goolgowi

KIDMAN

BURLEY GRIFFIN WAY

GRIFFITHHANWOOD

WAY

GOOLGOWI

MIDWESTERN

HWY

RANKINS SPRINGS

GRIFFITH - LGA

CARRATHOOL - LGA

LAKEWYANGAN

YOOGALI

NERICON

TABBITA

BEELBANGERA

BILBUL

YENDA

MID WESTERN

KIDMANW

AY

CARR

ATHO

OL

ROA

D

McKI

NLEY

ROAD

ROAD

RANK

INS

SP

RING

S R

OAD


Jeanella PoultryProduction Complex


Rothdene PoultryProduction ComplexProposed Maylands

Poultry Farm

Wah

Wah

Creek

HWY


Chicken Hatchery

DEVELOPMENTSITE

Wah

Creek

Poultry Processing ComplexPoultry Feedmill



GRIFFITH

MirroolCreek

Proposed Jeanella SouthPoultry Production Complex

Proposed The RanchFarm 1

Proposed The Ranch Farm 1Proposed The Ranch Farm 2

FIGURE 2

0

N

KM

7.5 15Notes and Cautions:(1) Background satellite image sourced from Google Earth.(2) All boundaries and areas shown on this plan are approximate only and

subject to survey verification.

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Regional Locality Zoom


Page 4 Introduction

The long-standing and existing use, of the Development Site, as well as surrounding lands, is traditional agricultural production. The site is largely devoid of significant vegetation, primarily comprising treeless paddocks that have been consistently cropped and grazed for many years.

The Development Site is bounded to the east by Back Hillston Road, which is an unsealed Council road.

1.5 Development Overview

VOAG 3 seeks development consent under Part 4 of the EP&A Act to develop an intensive poultry broiler production farm (the Development), comprising eight poultry sheds where broiler birds will be grown for human consumption. Table 1 contains a summary of the key elements of the development.

Table 1 Summary of Proposed Development Aspect Detail Purpose Birds grown for human consumption


Number of poultry sheds Eight, each measuring 172 metres (m) long by 18 m wide




Maximum bird density within sheds 18 birds per square metre (m2) (and will not exceed a density of 34 kilograms (kg)/m2)




The Development will comprise one poultry production unit (PPU) with eight tunnel-ventilated fully-enclosed climate-controlled poultry sheds. Each shed will have the capacity to house 50,000 birds, equating to a site population of up to 400,000 birds.

In addition to poultry shedding, the Development also includes:

• Two new residences to house the farm manager and assistant farm manager;

• Various other infrastructure items to support the poultry production operation;

• Extension of water and electricity infrastructure to service the Development;

• The construction of a large on-site water storage dam (with associated water tanks, pumping and pipeline infrastructure), with a capacity of approximately 60 megalitres (ML); and

• Extension of the internal vehicular access road from The Ranch Farm 2 site to the Development Site.

1.6 Development Rationale and Objective

According to statistics published by the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES 2015), the popularity of chicken meat has grown enormously over the last 30 years to the extent that it is currently the most consumed meat in Australia. Chicken meat production in Australia has increased from approximately 380,000 tonnes in 1989-90 to around 1.08 million in 2013-14, and it is expected to continue increasing to around 1.32 million tonnes in 2019-20.



Page 5 Introduction

Over 95 percent (%) of the chicken meat produced in Australia is consumed domestically. In 2012-13 Australians ate an average of 44.6 kg of chicken meat per person, compared to 36 kg in 2008-09 and just 13 kg in 1975. ABARES (2015) estimates that chicken meat consumption in Australia will continue to rise, reaching 49.2 kg per person in 2019-20. This trend is closely associated with price, nutrition and the industry’s innovation to provide a variety of chicken meat products.

Around 525 million broiler birds were processed in 2011 to satisfy domestic consumption needs, with NSW enjoying a significant portion of this production. Based on current growth projections, it is estimated that by 2019 this well need to rise to close to 650 million birds per year.

VOAG 3’s primary objective is to develop an intensive broiler production farm within the Griffith region, adopting best practice in design, operation and management, to meet the immediate and projected long-term demand for broiler/meat chickens.

A number of key factors need to be considered when identifying a suitable property for the development of an intensive poultry operation. The property needs to have access to a reliable water and power supply, be within reasonable distance from a chicken hatchery, feedmill and processing facility, and be sufficiently removed from sensitive receptors in consideration of potential odour emissions. Finding land suitable for the development of an intensive poultry operation can therefore be difficult.

The Development Site has been chosen following an extensive search by VOAG 3 for a suitable property in consideration of the above factors. The poultry industry has a high recognition factor in the Griffith region and provides a significant contribution to the economy. It includes Baiada’s chicken hatchery, poultry feedmill and poultry processing facility.

It is imperative that poultry broiler farms, such as the proposed Development, be allowed to exist in close proximity to the grain belt, a reliable water supply and interdependent hatchery, feedmill and processing facilities. The Development Site meets all of these requirements and has therefore been chosen by VOAG 3 as an appropriate site to establish an intensive poultry production farm to assist in meeting the demand for broiler chickens within the Australian market.

1.7 Consent Pathway

The proposed poultry development is classified as “intensive livestock agriculture”, which is defined in the Carrathool Local Environmental Plan 2012 (Carrathool LEP) as:

the keeping or breeding, for commercial purposes, of cattle, poultry, pigs, goats, horses or other livestock that are fed wholly or substantially on externally-sourced feed, and includes any of the following: a) dairies (restricted), b) feedlots, c) piggeries, d) poultry farms, but does not include extensive agriculture, aquaculture or the operation of facilities for drought or similar emergency relief.

The Development Site is zoned RU1 Primary Production under the provisions of the Carrathool LEP. Intensive livestock agriculture is permissible with development consent within this zone, as such, the Development (as presented in this EIS) is permissible with development consent. The Development falls within the bounds of “local development” that is both “designated” and “integrated” under the provisions of Part 4 of the EP&A Act. The development proposal will require development consent from Council, along with an environment protection licence (EPL) from the Environment Protection Authority (EPA).



Page 6 Introduction

1.8 Secretary’s Environmental Assessment Requirements

A project briefing paper and an application for SEARs was lodged with the DP&E on 29 June 2015, with SEARs 953 received on 14 August 2015 outlining the general requirements and key issues to be addressed within this EIS. In preparing the SEARs, the DP&E consulted with the following agencies and sought their input:

• EPA;

• Roads and Maritime Services (RMS); and

• Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH).

The SEARs and input received from the consulted agencies are contained within Appendix A. Table 2 lists the SEARs and references which section in this EIS these have been addressed.

Table 2 Secretary’s Environmental Assessment Requirements Secretary’s Environmental Assessment Requirements EIS Section General Requirements

The EIS must meet the minimum form and content requirements in clauses 6 and 7 of Schedule 2 of the EP&A Regulation.

Cover Pages, Executive Summary and main body of EIS

Key Issues

Strategic Context – including: • a detailed justification of the proposal and suitability of the site for the

development; • a demonstration that the proposal is consistent with all relevant

planning strategies and environmental planning instruments, development control plans (DCPs), or justification for any inconsistencies;

• a description of how the proposed development would interact with any other nearby poultry operation; and

• a list of any approvals that must be obtained under any other Act or law before the development may be carried out.

Section 1.6 and Section 9 Section 4 Section 7.13 Section 4

Waste management - including: • details of waste handling including, transport, identification, receipt,

stockpiling and quality control including off-site reuse and disposal; and

• the measures that would be implemented to ensure that the proposed development is consistent with the aims, objectives and guidelines in the NSW Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Strategy 2014-2021.

Sections 3.14

Animal welfare, bio-security and disease management – including: • details of how the proposed development would comply with relevant

codes of practice and guidelines; • details of all disease control measures; and • a detailed description of the contingency measures that would be

implemented for the mass disposal of livestock in the event of disease outbreak.

Sections 3.21 (animal health & welfare) and 3.22 (biosecurity) Section 3.23

Air quality and odour - including: • a description of all potential sources of air and odour emissions; • an air quality impact assessment in accordance with the relevant EPA

guidelines; and • a description and appraisal of air quality impact mitigation and

monitoring measures.

Sections 7.2 (odour), Section 7.3 (particulate matter) and Appendix B



Page 7 Introduction

Secretary’s Environmental Assessment Requirements EIS Section Noise and vibration - including:

• a description of all potential noise and vibration sources during construction and operation, including road traffic noise;

• a noise and vibration assessment in accordance with the relevant EPA guidelines; and

• a description and appraisal of noise and vibration mitigation and monitoring measures.

Section 7.4 and Appendix C

Soil and water - including: • a description of local soils, topography, drainage and landscapes; • the details of stormwater, leachate and wastewater management; • the details of sediment and erosion controls; • the details of water usage including water supply and licences; • details of the proposed water storage and stormwater detention basin

including dimensions, type, location, purpose and impacts arising from any groundwater interaction;

• an assessment of impacts to surface and groundwater resources, flooding impacts, and impacts to groundwater dependent ecosystems;

• a description and appraisal of impact mitigation and monitoring measures.

Sections 2.9 (soil and land capability), 3.12.3 (water supply), 7.6 (water resources)

Traffic and transport - including: • details of road transport routes and access to the site; • road traffic predictions for the development during construction and

operation; and • an assessment of impacts to the safety and function of the road

network; and details of any road upgrades required for the development.

Section 7.5 and Appendix D

Biodiversity – including: • accurate predictions of any vegetation clearing on site or for any road

upgrades; • an assessment of the potential impacts on any threatened species,

populations, endangered ecological communities or their habitats, groundwater dependent ecosystems and any potential for offset requirements; and

• a detailed description of the measures to avoid, minimise, mitigate and offset biodiversity impacts.

Section 7.7

Visual – including an impact assessment at private receptors and public vantage points.

Section 7.10

Heritage – including Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal cultural heritage. Section 7.8 and 7.9 Bushfire and Incident Management Section 2.13

1.9 Development Team

SLR Consulting Australia Pty Ltd (SLR) has been engaged to project manage the development application and prepare the EIS for the Development. The following specialist studies were also conducted to assist in the assessment of the Development:

• SLR – Air Quality Impact Assessment;

• SLR – Noise and Vibration Impact Assessment; and

• RoadNet – Traffic Impact Assessment.



Page 8 Site Description

2 SITE DESCRIPTION

2.1 Overview

The Development Site is located in the area known as Tabbita on Back Hillston Road approximately 26 km north-west of Griffith and 19 km south-east of Goolgowi in the Riverina region of south-western NSW. It is positioned within Lot 78 in DP 720258 and comprises approximately 50.3 ha of vacant rural land within the Parish of Denny, County of Sturt and in the Carrathool LGA.

The nearest major town to the Development Site is Griffith, which is the service centre for the western area of the Riverina region. The Carrathool LGA covers approximately 1.9 million ha and has a population of approximately 2,600, residing in the town of Hillston, and villages of Goolgowi, Merriwagga, Carrathool and Rankin Springs. Rural land within the LGA is primarily used for agriculture, comprising traditional grazing as well as cropping, irrigated cropping and horticulture.

The topography of the Development Site is relatively flat, ranging between approximately 149 m Australian Height Datum (AHD) and 153 m AHD. As evident in Plate 1 and Figure 3, the visual amenity of the Development Site is that of a rural property that has been significantly modified by historic land clearing and long-term agricultural production activities. The majority of the Site is devoid of significant vegetation, primarily comprising paddocks that have been consistently cropped and grazed for many years. The exception is an area of vegetation in the north-eastern corner of the Development Site and a narrow corridor of vegetation along the eastern lot boundary (refer Figure 3).

Plate 1 The Development Site

2.2 Zoning

Under the provisions of the Carrathool LEP, the Development Site and all surrounding land is zoned RU1 Primary Production, as shown on Figure 4 . Intensive livestock agriculture is permissible with development consent within this zone.


Kidman

Way

TABBITA

Huxl

eys

Road

Back

Hi

llsto

n R

oad

Tabbita Silo(closed)

Tysons Road

Privately OwnedSilo


Tabbita

Channel

R1

R2

R3

R5

R6 R7

R8

R10

R11

R12

R9

R13

Lot 77DP720257

Lot 78DP720258

Lot 79DP720259

Lot 2DP1157611

Lot 40DP756045 Lot 54

DP756045Lot 2

DP1037422

Lot 47DP756045

Lot 26DP756045

Lot 48DP756045

Lot 25DP756045

Lot 22DP756045

Lot 28DP756045

Lot 14DP756061

Lot 2DP1157807

Lot 25DP756045

Lot 2DP1157807

Lot 47DP658038

Lot 1DP1086493

Lot 28DP756064

Lot 1DP48742

Lot 1DP756064

Lot 2DP756062

Lot 7003DP94902

Lot 1DP1157807

Lot 14DP756064

Lot 2DP48742

Lot 13DP756064Lot 2

DP1086493

Lot 2DP788532

Lot 47DP658038

Lot 23DP756061

Lot 32DP756045

R4

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FIGURE 3

Development Site

LEGENDDevelopment SitePrivately-owned dwellingDerelict dwelling to be demolishedCommercial premisesLocal Government Area boundaryRoadsLot boundaryWetland (Griffith LEP)Irrigation channelDrainage line

See Inset

INSET

KidmanWay

TABBITA

Lot 77DP720257

Lot 32DP756045

Lot 78DP720258

Lot 79DP720259

Lot 2DP1157611

Lot 40DP756045

Lot 54DP756045

Lot 2DP1037422

Lot 47DP756045

Huxle

ys

R

oad

Back

Hi

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n R

oad

Lot 26DP756045

Lot 48DP756045

Lot 25DP756045

Lot 22DP756045 Lot 28

DP756045

Lot 14DP756061

Lot 2DP1157807

Lot 25DP756045

Lot 2DP1157807

Lot 47DP658038

Lot 1DP1086493

Lot 28DP756064

Lot 1DP756064

Lot 7003DP94902

Lot 1DP1157807

Lot 14DP756064

Tysons Road

Lot 2DP48742

R1

R2

R3

R5

R6 R7

R8R10

R11

R12

R9

R4 Lot 13DP756064

R13

Lot 2DP1086493


Lot 2DP788532

Lot 1DP48742

Lot 23DP756061

Lot 39DP756045

Lot 52DP756062

Lot 7DP756064

Lot 30DP756061

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FIGURE 4

Zoning

LEGENDDevelopment SitePrivately-owned dwellingDerelict dwelling to be demolishedCommercial premisesLocal Government Area BoundaryLot boundaryRoads

Environmental ConservationPrimary ProductionForestryInfrastructure

ZoneE2

RU1RU3SP2



2.3 Land Ownership and Proposed Subdivision

A development application has been lodged with Council to subdivide Lot 78 in DP 720258 into three separate lots:

• Proposed Lot 3 with an area of approximately 40.5 ha (The Ranch Farm 2 site);

• Proposed Lot 4 with an area of approximately 50.3 ha (the Ranch Farm 3 Development Site); and

• Proposed Lot 5 containing the residual area of approximately 232.4 ha. This lot will continue to be used for traditional agricultural production purposes and also will contain part of the internal access road to service The Ranch Farm 3.

The conceptual layout of the proposed subdivision is illustrated on Figure 5.

VOAG 3 has entered into a conditional contract for the purchase of the Development Site (i.e. proposed Lot 4) from the current owner, with settlement subject to receiving development consent.

2.4 Vehicular Access and Road Network

Vehicular access to the Development Site (refer Plate 2) is currently gained via a driveway from Back Hillston Road running along the eastern boundary of The Ranch property (Lot 79 DP 720259). Back Hillston Road and Tysons Road connect the Development Site to Kidman Way (NSW State Route B87), which provides access to Griffith (the area’s major centre) and to the poultry industry service facilities (hatchery, feedmill and processing complex) located near Griffith and in Hanwood.

Plate 2 Existing Vehicle Access to The Ranch (Back Hillston Road)

Kidman Way is a State-controlled highway that is a designated B-double route and also an approved road train route. In the vicinity of the Development Site it is a two-lane, two-way rural highway with 3.5 m sealed lanes, sealed shoulders and grassed verges and table drains either side. It has a speed limit of 100 kilometres per hour (km/h).

Tysons Road is a local rural road extending in an east-west direction from Kidman Way at its western end to Back Hillston Road at its eastern end, a total distance of approximately 2.6 km. The first 285 m of Tysons Road from Kidman Way is sealed and not line marked. Beyond this point it is an unsealed (dirt) road up to its intersection with Back Hillston Road. Tyson Road has a width of approximately 7 m (sufficient to accommodate two-way traffic) except near the intersection with Kidman Way where it widens out to 11 m or more to accommodate the turn paths of larger vehicles. There is no posted speed limit on Tysons Road and the open road speed limit of 100 km/h therefore applies. RoadNet (2015a) observed the section of Tysons Road between the Kidman Way and the Development Site to be in good condition, and of a width suitable to enable large heavy vehicles up to the size of B-doubles to safely pass each other.


Kidman

Way

TABBITA

Huxl

eys

Road

Back

Hi

llsto

n R

oad

DP756045

Lot 1DP1086493

Lot 1DP48742

Lot 2DP756062

Tysons Road

R5

R6 R7

R8

R10R9

R13

Tabbita

Lot 77DP720257

Lot 32DP756045

Lot 78DP720258

Lot 2DP1157611 Lot 54

DP756045

Lot 2DP1037422

Lot 66DP39646

DP756045

Lot 25DP756045

Lot 47DP658038

DP48742

Lot 1DP48742

Lot 63DP39646

Lot 47DP756045

Lot 25DP756045

Lot 26DP756045

Lot 48DP756045

Lot 2DP1157807

Lot 2DP1157807

Lot 57DP756045




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FIGURE 5

Proposed Subdivision

LEGENDProposed subdivisionProposed poultry shedProposed water storage damPrivately-owned dwellingDerelict dwelling to be demolishedCommercial premisesRoadLot boundary



Back Hillston Road is a local rural road extending in a north-south direction from Kidman Way near Tabbita to Rankins Springs Road near Hillston at its northern end, a total distance of approximately 67 km. It crosses the State-controlled Mid-Western Highway (NSW State Route B64) at a point approximately 15 km northeast of Goolgowi, but otherwise intersects with only a few local rural roads, including Tysons Road at its southern end. It appears to have a similar formation width to Tysons Road and is an unsealed (dirt) road. There is no posted speed limit on Back Hillston Road and the open road speed limit of 100 km/h therefore applies.

2.5 Existing Land Use

The long-standing and existing use of the Development Site is traditional agricultural production, with the site comprising paddocks that have been consistently cropped and grazed for many years.

2.6 Surrounding Land Use and Residences

The land surrounding the Development Site is characterised by traditional agricultural production (refer Plate 3). Additional land uses within the area include a privately-owned and operational silo on Tysons Road located approximately 3.6 km south-west of the Development Site, the GrainCorp Tabbita Silo, which is currently closed, located approximately 3.8 km to the south-west of Development Site, and JBS Australia’s Tabbita Feedlot (cattle feedlot) approximately 13.5 km to the west. These developments are identified on Figure 3.

Plate 3 Surrounding Land Use

The Development Site is removed from any major urban areas and, as evident on Figure 3, there is a very low density of surrounding residential dwellings. Council has advised that Tabbita, which is located approximately 3.9 km south-west of the Development Site, comprises five residences (R6 to R10). The nearest privately-owned residence outside of Tabbita is identified as R1 (Wilga Vale Property), located approximately 3.9 km south-west of the Development Site.

The locations of sensitive receptors in the vicinity of the Development Site are shown on Figure 3 and listed in Table 3.

Table 3 Sensitive Receptors in the Vicinity of the Development Site Receiver ID Location Receptor Type Approximate Distance

from Development Site (km)

R1 Tysons Road, Tabbita Residential 3.9

R2 Back Hillston Road, Tabbita Residential 4.7

R3 Back Hillston Road, Tabbita Residential 6.6

R4 Kidman Way, Tabbita Residential 5.9




Receiver ID Location Receptor Type Approximate Distance

R5 Tabbita Lane, Tabbita Residential 6.2







R12 Youngs Lane, Tabbita Residential 5.6

R13 Kidman Way, Tabbita Commercial/Industrial 4.5

The dwelling identified on Figure 3 approximately 2 km to the south-west of the Development Site is derelict and uninhabitable. A complying development certificate was issued by Council on 15 June 2015 for the demolition of this dwelling (CDC 2015_016). This dwelling will be demolished prior to operation of the facility and has therefore been excluded from any assessments undertaken as part of this EIS.

2.7 Surrounding Poultry Operations

The Griffith region, including and increasingly the Carrathool LGA, is one of the major poultry centres for Australia. At the time of preparing this EIS, the following poultry developments were either existing or proposed (i.e. development application lodged) within the vicinity of the Development Site:

Existing

• Jeanella Poultry Production Complex (ProTen) - approved by Council in 2012 under Development Consent DA 2013/005 and constructed in 2013. It is located approximately 23 km to north-west of the Development Site on the northern side of the Mid Western Highway. The Jeanella Complex comprises two PPUs, each with 12 poultry sheds (i.e. 24 poultry sheds in total), and accommodates up to 1,284,000 birds.

Approved (i.e. development consent issued but not yet constructed)

• Tabbita Farm 1 (NMS Enterprises) – approved by Council in August 2015 under Development Consent DA 2015/040. This development will comprise 20 poultry sheds to accommodate up to 1,020,000 birds and will be located approximately 8.7 km west of the Development Site; and

• Maylands Farm A (Lemic Holdings) – approved by Council in August 2015 under Development Consent DA 2015/041. This development will comprise 24 poultry sheds to accommodate up to 1,360,800 birds and will be located approximately 17 km north-west of the Development Site to the east of Goolgowi.

Proposed (i.e. development application lodged)

• The Ranch Farm 1 (VOAG 1) – poultry production complex proposed approximately 550 m south of the Development Site. The proposal comprises eight poultry sheds to accommodate up to 400,000 birds;

• The Ranch Farm 2 (VOAG 2) – poultry production complex proposed approximately 1.3 km south of the Development Site. The proposal comprises eight poultry sheds to accommodate up to 400,000 birds;

• Tabbita Farm 2 (NMS Enterprises) – poultry production complex proposed approximately 9.5 km west of the Development Site. The proposal comprises 20 poultry sheds to accommodate up to 1,020,000 birds;

• Maylands Farm B (Lemic Holdings) – poultry production complex proposed approximately 14 km north-west of the Development Site to the east of Goolgowi. The proposal comprises 24 poultry sheds to accommodate up to 1,360,800 birds; and




• Jeanella South Poultry Production Complex (ProTen) – poultry production complex proposed approximately 23 km north-west of the Development Site. The proposal comprises 16 poultry sheds to accommodate up to 856,000 birds.

The locations of these existing and proposed poultry operations are shown on Figure 1.

As advised in Section 1.1, The Ranch Farm 3 (i.e. the subject of this EIS) is the third of three adjacent poultry farm developments proposed as part of The Ranch Poultry Production Complex. Each of the three farms are subject to separate development applications. The development application for The Ranch Farm 1 (DA 2016/017) was lodged on 21 September 2015, with The Ranch Farm 2 and The Ranch Farm 3 applications (DA 2016/022 and DA 2016/023, respectively) lodged concurrently on 20 October 2015. This document addresses the cumulative impacts associated with the three farms (i.e. The Ranch Poultry Production Complex).

2.8 Meteorology

The Development Site is situated within the Riverina region of south-western NSW, which is generally dominated by a dry semi-arid climate and characterised by hot summers and cool winters. Rainfall levels are generally low, with the highest levels typically occurring in May and September. Summer rainfall tends to occur mainly from localised thunderstorms, with more consistent rainfall occurring in winter.

Long-term average data for temperature, rainfall and relative humidity has been sourced from the Bureau of Meteorology’s (BoM) automated weather station at the Griffith Airport (AWS 075041), while long-term average evaporation data has been sourced from the BoM’s automated weather station at the Griffith CSIRO (AWS 075028). While AWS075028 ceased operation in 1989, it appears to be the only BoM weather station within the area with evaporation data recorded and available. While daily evaporation rates may have changed slightly, the data provided between 1962 and 1989 provides a reasonable indication of typical rates.

Table 4 summarises this long term temperature, rainfall, humidity and evaporation data.

Table 4 Long-Term Meteorological Conditions Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Annual

Mean Monthly Maximum Temperature (°C) for Years 1970 to 20151

32.9 32.1 28.6 23.9 19.2 15.5 14.5 16.6 20.0 24.0 28.1 30.9 23.9

Mean Monthly Minimum Temperature (°C) for Years 1970 to 20151

17.1 17.5 14.2 10.1 7.1 4.5 3.5 3.8 5.9 9.0 12.7 15.2 10.0

Mean Monthly Rainfall (mm) for Years 1958 to 20151

33.6 29.9 36.6 27.8 35.0 33.4 33.2 35.2 32.1 38.5 34.2 32.4 402.0

Mean Number of Days of Rain (>=1mm) for Years 1958 to 20151

2.9 2.7 2.9 3.1 4.1 4.7 5.5 5.6 4.7 4.5 3.4 3.3 47.4

Mean Monthly Evaporation (mm) for Years 1962 to 19892,3

269.7 224.0 186.0 105.0 62.0 42.0 49.6 71.3 102.0 151.9 213.0 251.1 1727.6

Mean Monthly 9 am Relative Humidity (%) for Years 1972 to 20101

49 58 60 66 78 87 88 79 70 56 56 49 66

Mean Monthly 3 pm Relative Humidity (%) for Years 1979 to 20101

28 34 37 41 53 63 62 54 47 37 35 31 43 1 Sourced from BoM AWS 075041 at Griffith Airport. Red = Highest Value Blue = Lowest Value 2 Sourced from former BoM AWS 075028 at Griffith CSIRO . 3 Based on mean daily rates.




Temperature

The local climate is characterised by very warm to hot summers and cool to mild winters. Mean monthly maximum temperatures range between 14.5 and 32.9 degrees Celsius (°C), with January being the warmest month. Mean monthly minimum temperatures range between 3.5 °C and 17.5 °C, with July being the coolest month. Autumn and spring are generally mild with sporadic temperature fluctuations.

Rainfall

Rainfall is, on average, relatively evenly distributed throughout the year, with October being the wettest month. Rainfall levels in the Riverina are generally low with the area also quite susceptible to periods of drought.

Evaporation

It is apparent that mean monthly evaporation exceeds mean monthly rainfall throughout the year. Evaporation is greatest during the warmer months of November through to February (inclusive), with mean monthly rates over this period exceeding 200 mm.

Relative Humidity

The area has a moderate relative humidity, with the winter months tending to be slightly more humid than other times of the year. The mean annual 9.00 am and 3.00 pm relative humidity is 66% and 43%, respectively.

Wind

The annual and seasonal wind roses generated for the Development Site by SLR (2015a) (refer Section 7.2) are presented in Figure 6. The annual wind rose in Figure 6 indicates that the Development Site experiences predominantly light to moderate winds (between 1.5 metres/second (m/s) and 8 m/s). Calm wind conditions (wind speed less than 0.5 m/s) are predicted to occur approximately 1% of the time.

The seasonal wind roses indicate that typically:

• In summer, winds are moderate to high and are experienced almost evenly from all quadrants with the exception of the north-western quadrant from which a low percentage of winds are experienced. Calm winds are experienced approximately 0.4% of the time during summer.

• In autumn, winds are moderate to high and are experienced almost evenly from all quadrants, with a slightly higher percentage of winds from the north-eastern and south-eastern quadrant and a lower percentage of winds from the north-western quadrant. Calm winds are experienced approximately 1.0% of the time during autumn.

• In winter, winds are moderate to strong and are experienced predominantly from the north-western quadrant, with very few winds from the eastern quadrant. Calm winds are experienced approximately 0.7% of the time during winter.

• In spring, winds are moderate to strong predominantly from the north-eastern and south-western quadrants with very few winds from the eastern and west-north western quadrant. Calm winds are experienced approximately 1.3% of the time during spring.




Figure 6 Predicted Annual and Seasonal Wind Roses for the Development Site




2.9 Soil and Land Capability

There is no specific soil profile information or soil landscape mapping within the vicinity of the Development Site. Information on land and soil capability (LSC) has been sourced from the NSW Soils and Land Information System (SALIS) managed by the OEH. The LSC dataset consists of eight classes (1 to 8) representing a decreasing capability of the land use based on a number of criteria, including biophysical characteristics and soil erosion hazard. Class 1 represents land capable of sustaining most land uses, including those that have a high impact on the soil (for example, regular cultivation), while Class 8 represents land that can only sustain very low impact land uses (for example, nature conservation).

The Development Site is broadly mapped by OEH as being LSC Class 4 land (moderate capability land). Class 4 land is defined as ‘land which has moderate to high limitations for high-impact land uses’, which will restrict land management options for regular high-impact land uses such as cropping, high-intensity grazing and horticulture. These limitations can be managed by specialist management practices.

2.10 Water Resources

Surface Water 2.10.1

The Development Site is located within the catchment of the Lachlan River (BoM 2015). The Lachlan River catchment occupies an area of around 90,000 km2 and begins in the Great Dividing Range near Gunning, flowing 1,400 km across western NSW to its junction with the Murrumbidgee River (Office of Water, 2011). The catchment supports numerous regional cities and towns including Cowra, Forbes and Young. The Development Site is situated on the southern edge of the catchment, near its boundary with the neighbouring catchment of the Murrumbidgee River. The Development Site is located approximately 71.5 km south-east of the Lachlan River at its closest point from, and approximately 46 km north of the Murrumbidgee River at its closest point (refer Figure 1).

At a more local level, an ephemeral drainage line runs on a north-east to south-west orientation through the northern end of the Development Site. A small farm dam is also located outside the northern boundary as is evident on Figure 8. The nearest notable natural waterway is Mirrool Creek, approximately 11.5 km south-west of the Development Site. A number of formed irrigation channels are a feature of the wider region; with the nearest significant channel; Tabbita Channel, located approximately 4.3 km from the Development Site (refer Figure 3).

No wetlands exist within the Development Site. The nearest area identified as a wetland in the Carrathool LEP is Barron Box Storage and Wetland (refer Figure 3), which is approximately 5.9 km to the south of the Development. Baron Box Storage and Wetland is the main irrigation and drainage water recycle point for the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area (MIA).

Groundwater 2.10.2

The Development Site is located on the south-western edge of the Lachlan Fold Belt Groundwater Management Area (GMA), which is part of the NSW Murray-Darling Basin Fractured Rock Groundwater Sources Water Sharing Plan (BoM 2015). The site lies within the Cobar Plains province of the Darling Geological Region (ASRIS 2015). The Lachlan Fold Belt GMA covers an area of 167,220 km2. It consists of Cambrian to Lower Carboniferous rock successions. Groundwater within the area is primarily used irrigation purposes.

A search of the Department of Primary Industries Water (DPI Water) on-line groundwater database identified 12 registered groundwater bores recorded within a 5 km radius of the Development Site. There are no bores within the Development Site, with the closest bore (GW002984) located approximately 1.1 km north-west. This is an old bore, drilled in 1931, and according to DPI Water database records has a standing water level of 89.3 m. The records in the BoM Australian Groundwater Explorer indicate that this bore is not currently functional. The remaining 11 bores are all old bores from the 1920-1930s with an “unknown” status and have standing water levels ranging from 33 m to 127 m.




The records associated with bores in the vicinity of the Development Site therefore suggest groundwater is relatively deep in the area.

Flooding 2.10.3

The Development Site is not considered flood prone land, with significant separation from the nearby waterways (refer Section 2.10.1 ).

2.11 Vegetation

Significant disturbance of the natural environment has occurred as a result of historic clearing and long-term agricultural production activities. The Development Site is highly modified and disturbed, primarily comprising treeless paddocks that have been consistently cropped and grazed for many years. The exception, is an area of vegetation in the north-eastern corner of the Development Site and a narrow corridor of vegetation along the eastern lot boundary (within the Back Hillston Road corridor).

The vegetation mapping compiled for the Murrumbidgee Catchment Management Authority (now part of the Riverina Local Land Services) in 2011 by Eco Logical Australia covers the Development Site. This mapping is based on the “best available” vegetation mapping data sets. As shown on Figure 7, all land within the Development Site and in the general vicinity is mapped as “cleared/greater than 0.7 modified”.

There is no land within or adjoining the Development Site that is mapped as “biodiversity” in the Carrathool LEP.

2.12 Land Contamination

A detailed testing and examination of soil samples from the Development Site has not been undertaken as it is held that the circumstances of this matter do not require such. The risk of discovering significant land contamination within the Development Site is considered to be minimal given the following:

• The long-term and existing use of the Development Site and adjoining lands is traditional agricultural production, primarily comprising cropping with some livestock grazing;

• There are no identified previous or existing land use activities that may have caused or attributed to significant soil contamination;

• The site is not listed on the EPA’s Contaminated Lands Register; and

• There are no known areas within the Development Site where toxic wastes, poisons or the like have been dumped or buried to cause or attribute to soil contamination.

On this basis, we believe that land contamination is unlikely to be an issue within the Development Site and further investigation is not warranted.

2.13 Bush Fire

The Development Site is not mapped as bush fire prone land on the Carrathool Bush Fire Prone Land Map. The majority of the land within the Development Site and surrounding properties comprises treeless paddocks that have a low fuel level.


GRIFFITH - LGA

CARRATHOOL - LGA

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Notes and Cautions:(1) Background satellite image sourced from Google Earth.(2) All boundaries and areas shown on this plan are approximate only and

subject to survey verification.(3) Vegetation sourced from Eco Logical (2011)

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F13_Inland Floodplain Woodlands

F14_Inland Rocky Hill Woodlands

F14_Sand Plain Mallee Woodlands

F14_Semi-arid Sand Plain Woodlands

F14_Western Peneplain Woodlands

LEGEND:


Page 21 Proposed Poultry Development

3 PROPOSED POULTRY DEVELOPMENT

3.1 Overview

VOAG 3 seeks development consent under Part 4 of the EP&A Act to develop an intensive poultry broiler production farm (The Ranch Farm 3) within the Development Site described in Section 2. The proposed location and configuration of the Development is shown on Figure 8, and Table 5 contains a summary of some of the key elements of the Development.

Table 5 Summary of the Proposed Development Aspect Details Purpose Birds grown for human consumption


Number of poultry sheds Eight, each measuring 172 m long by 18 m wide




Maximum bird density within sheds 18 birds/m2 (and will not exceed a density of 34 kg/m2)




The Development will comprise one PPU with eight tunnel-ventilated fully-enclosed climate-controlled poultry sheds, where birds will be grown for human consumption. Each shed will have the capacity to house 50,000 birds, equating to a site population of up to 400,000 birds. Figure 9 illustrates the configuration of the proposed PPU.

In addition to the poultry shedding, the Development also includes:

• Two new residences to house the farm manager and assistant farm manager (refer Section 3.7.1);

• Various other infrastructure items to support the poultry production operation (refer Section 3.7.2);

• Extension of water and electricity infrastructure to service the Development (refer Section 3.12);

• The construction of a large on-site water storage dam (with associated water tanks, pumping and pipeline infrastructure), with a capacity of approximately 60 ML (refer Section 3.7.3); and

• Extension of the internal vehicular access road from The Ranch Farm 2 site to the Development Site (refer Section 3.10).

The disturbance footprint (including access roads, servicing infrastructure and support infrastructure) will be relatively small at approximately 9.75 ha and the commercial activities associated with the poultry operation will be largely confined to the PPU. It is intended to continue using the land outside of the disturbance footprint within the Development Site for continued agricultural production purposes under some form of lease or share farming arrangement.

Engineer design drawings for the Development have been provided as Appendix E.


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FIGURE 8

Development Layout

See Inset

INSET

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LEGENDDevelopment SiteProposed lot subdivisionsDerelict dwelling to be demolishedExisting farm damsDrainage lines



Proposed project related residence



Proposed powerline





Proposed powerline





Proposed powerlineE

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The Ranch Farm 2

The Ranch Farm 1 (DA 2016/017)

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PROPOSED 60 mlWATER STORAGEDAM

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(25.0 X 15.0m)

PROPOSED

WORKSHOP

(30.0 x 20.0m)

PROPOSED

COOL ROOM

(14.4 x 7.2m)

LANDSCAPE

BUFFER 10m

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LANDSCAPE BUFFER

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ACCESS ROAD

PASSING BAYS AT

400.0m INTERVALS

3.0m WIDE BY 35.0m

LONG (TYP.)

PASSING BAYS AT

400.0m INTERVALS

3.0m WIDE BY 35.0m

LONG (TYP.)

CUT-OFF

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FIGURE 9

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(1) Drawing sourced from Land Management Surveys (Melbourne) and editedfor report presentation by SLR.

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Poultry Production Unit Layout



3.2 Concurrent Applications

Three new farms, including The Ranch Farm 3 (the subject of this EIS) and two additional farms known as The Ranch Farm 1 and The Ranch Farm 2, are being proposed as part of the “The Ranch Poultry Production Complex”. Each of these three farms is the subject of separate development applications (and separate EISs). The development application for The Ranch Farm 1 (DA 2016/017) was lodged on 21 September 2015, with The Ranch Farm 2 and The Ranch Farm 3 applications (DA 2016/022 and DA 2016/023, respectively) lodged concurrently on 20 October 2015. Cumulative impacts associated with The Ranch Poultry Production Complex are addressed in this EIS.

A conceptual layout of The Ranch Poultry Production Complex is provided as Figure 10.

3.3 Frequently Asked Questions

Some important, and possibly contentious, facts about modern poultry broiler production, which have been verified by the Australian Chicken Meat Federation, are presented below.

Housing

Broiler birds are run in large open poultry sheds on bedding material. They are not kept in cages.

Feed

Broiler feed comprises between 65% and 90% grains, such as wheat, sorghum, barley, oats, lupins, soybean meal, canola and other oilseed meal and grain legumes.

Hormones

Hormones are not added to chicken feed or administered to commercial meat chickens in Australia. Hormone supplementation is a practice that has been banned internationally for over 40 years.

Growth

Chickens are NOT genetically engineered or modified. Around 50% to 60% of the improvement in broiler growth rates over the last 50 years is due to improved breeds of chicken. A further 20% to 25% is due to improved nutrition, with feed being specifically formulated to match the chicken’s precise nutritional requirements throughout its lifecycle, thereby optimising growth. Other gains made in meat chicken growth and performances are due to better husbandry techniques and health management.

Antibiotics

Antibiotic use is important in chicken meat production to ensure the overall health and wellbeing of the flock. Only antibiotics approved by Australia’s regulatory authorities are used and they are administered in accordance with strict regulatory guidelines. Antibiotics are usually delivered via drinking water (not in feed) and only a veterinarian can authorise and supervise these treatments.

Avian Influenza

Avian influenza and human pandemic influenza are different diseases. Surveillance continues to show that the H5N1 avian influenza virus is NOT present in Australia and Australia’s strict quarantine measures prevent the disease coming into Australia (Department of Agriculture 2015, Department of Health 2015).


Kidman Way

TABBITA

Lot 14DP756057

Lot 32DP756045

Lot 78DP720258

Lot 2DP1157611

Lot 54DP756045

Lot 2DP1037422

Lot 4

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Lot 1DP48742

Lot 2DP1157807

The RanchFarm 1

The RanchFarm 2

The RanchFarm 3

Lot 14DP756057

Lot 26DP756045

Lot 25DP756045

Lot 48DP756045

Lot 79DP720258

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FIGURE 10

The Ranch Poultry Production Complex



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LEGENDDevelopment SitesProposed poultry shedProposed water storage damPrivately-owned dwellingDerelict dwelling to be demolishedLot boundary



3.4 Separation Distances

Separation distances are used to reduce the potential for adverse impacts upon the environment and surrounding receptors, including odour, noise and biosecurity, and traditionally extend across adjoining properties that are not owned by the poultry complex operator.

In terms of biosecurity, the Best Practice Management for Meat Chicken Production in NSW (Department of Primary Industries (DPI) 2012) recommends:

• Locating new poultry farms as far apart as possible to minimise the risk of disease transfer between farms. There should be a minimum of 1,000 m to other intensive poultry farms (500 m when there are extenuating circumstances such as farms with a common owner or farms supplying the same processor); 3,000 m to commercial duck farms; and 5,000 m to poultry breeder farms; and

• Preferably locating new farms away from waterways and wetlands (ideally 3,000 m) that are used extensively by waterfowl, as these birds can carry avian diseases.

Table 6 lists the minimum separation distances afforded between the proposed PPU and notable surrounding features in the natural and built environments. The separation distances are approximate only and have been scaled from satellite imagery and topographic mapping as the shortest distances between the edge of the PPU (including catch drains) and edge of the feature being measured to.

Table 6 Separation Distances Feature Minimum Distance from

Proposed farm (m) Comments

Urban / residential area

3,900 Tabbita, south-west of the Development Site.

Surrounding residences

3,900 The nearest privately-owned residences are to the south-west of the Development Site.

Property boundaries 25 Northern boundary of Lot 78 in DP 720258.

Public road 250 Back Hillston Road (65 m to the road corridor)

Other poultry farm not owned by the applicant

8,600 Proposed Tabbita Farm 2 (refer Section 2.7) located to the west of the Development Site.

Other poultry farm owned by the applicant

540 Proposed The Ranch Farm 2 (refer Section 2.7) to the south of the Development Site.

Natural waterways 11,500 Mirrool Creek located approximately 11.5 km south-west of the Development Site.

Wetland 5,850 The Barron Box Storage and Wetland is located to the south of the proposed poultry sheds location.

Notable vegetation 140 Vegetation within north-east corner of lot.

As evident, the proposed Development is in accordance with the recommended best practice separation distances, being suitably removed from other intensive poultry operations (existing and proposed), sensitive receptors, waterways and wetlands. These separation distances will assist in minimising the potential for conflict between the poultry development and the local environment and surrounding populace over the life of the operation.

While other PPU locations were considered within the Development Site, the proposed layout is considered optimal in terms of required earthworks construction requirements and maximising the separation distance from the proposed The Ranch Farm 2 (refer Figure 10).




3.5 Construction Activities

A construction program will be developed to cover the required civil, structural, electrical and building works. Construction will involve the erection of temporary buildings and facilities, including light and heavy vehicle access and parking areas, equipment storage compounds, diesel generators, diesel compressors, services and amenities.

It is anticipated that the construction program will span approximately six months, commencing in February 2016, and involving around 30 personnel. Construction activities will include:

• Site preparation (including erosion and sediment control) and earthworks;

• Extension of the internal vehicular access road from The Ranch Farm 2 site to the Development Site;

• Construction of the poultry sheds and ancillary infrastructure;

• Construction of the water storage dam (refer Section 3.7.3);

• Construction of two residences to house the farm manager and the assistance farm manager;

• Installation and/or extension of the required servicing infrastructure (water, electricity and gas);

• Construction of the surface water management system; and

• Site landscaping.

All construction activities will be undertaken during standard daytime construction hours, which in accordance with the Interim Construction Noise Guideline (ICNG) (Department of Environment and Climate Change (DECC) 2009) are:

• Monday to Friday - 7.00 am to 6.00 pm;

• Saturday - 8.00 am to 1.00 pm; and

• No construction work on Sunday and public holidays.

Traffic generated by the construction activities will travel along Kidman Way and Tysons Road and access the Development Site via the new site access (refer Section 3.10.2) to be constructed off Tysons Road and the new internal access road. Approval of the new site access and access road is being sought as part of The Ranch Farm 1 development proposal (DA 2016/017). The Ranch Farm 2 development proposal (DA 2016/022) is seeking approval for the extension of the internal access road from The Ranch Farm 1 site to The Ranch Farm 2 site. The Ranch Farm 3 development proposal (DA 2016/023) includes extension of the internal access road from The Ranch Farm 2 site to The Ranch Farm 3 site (refer Figure 8), which will be undertaken at the commencement of the construction phase.

Once site preparation works have been undertaken, it is anticipated that the construction works will generate a low volume of traffic. This is expected to comprise a small number of light vehicle trips each day associated with construction workers, mostly concentrated around the construction shift start and finish times, and the occasional truck delivering materials throughout the course of a typical day.

Appropriate erosion and sediment control measures will be installed in accordance with Managing Urban Stormwater: Soils and Construction Volume 1 (Landcom 2004, also referred to as the “Blue Book”) and Erosion and Sediment Control on Unsealed Roads (OEH 2012) to ensure no off-site impacts. Disturbed areas will be promptly rehabilitated and revegetated to a stable landform as described in Section 3.16.




3.6 Poultry Shedding

Design 3.6.1

Each poultry shed will measure approximately 172 m long by 18 m wide, with a bird space of approximately 3,096 m2. They will have a wall height (to under the eaves) of approximately 2.7 m and will measure approximately 4.7 m to the ridge of the roof. The conceptual poultry shed design is illustrated on Figure 11 and engineering drawings are provided in Appendix E.

The poultry sheds will be separated laterally by a distance of approximately 15 m. Construction will comprise steel framework, zincalume corrugated iron roofs and cool room sandwich panel walls (two metal faces with a fully insulted core) using a non-reflective colour-bond type material in an appropriate shade, such as eucalyptus green. The sheds will have fully-sealed concrete flooring and will be surrounded by a dwarf concrete bund wall to prevent rainwater and runoff entering the sheds and to allow for the controlled discharge of wash down water from the sheds.

Stocking Density 3.6.2

The broiler “pick-ups” (shed thinning) will be governed by customer bird weight specifications and maintaining a maximum stocking density of 34 kg/m2 to align with the RSPCA Approved Farming Scheme Standards – Meat Chickens (RSPCA 2013).

Bedding Material 3.6.3

A relatively thick layer of clean and fresh floor bedding material, such as rice hulls, soft wood shavings or chopped straw, will be spread over the floor of the sheds prior to the placement of day old chicks. The bedding material will be delivered to the Development Site from a storage facility near Hanwood, to the south of Griffith. A new shed will be constructed within the Development Site to store floor bedding material upon delivery (refer Section 3.6.3).

(Source: Australian Chicken Meat Federation)

Plate 4 Fresh Bedding being Spread on the Shed Floor prior to Arrival of a New Batch of Chicks

Moisture levels within poultry sheds can potentially be a significant odour source. On this basis, the bedding material will be inspected daily to identify, remove and replace any areas with excess moisture, such as beneath water lines.

At the end of each poultry production cycle (refer Section 3.9) the spent bedding material (poultry litter) will be promptly removed from the sheds and transported off site in covered trucks. When possible, the handling of poultry litter will be avoided during adverse climatic conditions (such as strong winds). The shed ventilation systems will not be used during the removal of poultry litter.


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Conceptual Shed Design



Feed and Water Lines 3.6.4

Feed and water lines, as evident on Plate 5, will run the length of each poultry shed and will be automatically supplied by external silos and water storage tanks. Feed pans and water nipple drinkers (with drip cups) will be spaced along these lines at regular intervals so that the birds are never more than a few metres from food and water.


Plate 5 Interior of Typical Broiler Shed

Lighting 3.6.5

The primary source of external lighting will comprise one light fixture mounted at a height of approximately 3 m over the front and rear loading-unloading areas of each poultry shed. The light fixtures will be aimed downwards and only used during times of low light and/or heavy fog.

Uniform lighting will be provided within the poultry sheds to enable the birds to see the feed pans and water drinkers, with dark periods provided each day to allow the birds to rest. Reduced light has been found to minimise livestock stress and, as such, low lux internal lighting will be provided to promote calm. Control of light intensities will be via dimmer controls.

Ventilation 3.6.6

The use of tunnel ventilated sheds has grown to steadily replace poultry housing that conventionally relied on natural ventilation. Tunnel ventilation is easier to manage then natural ventilation and enables the grower to provide close to optimum conditions for bird health, growth and performance throughout the year. An additional benefit includes control over shed moisture, which is directly related to odour production, and reduced consumption of power and water.

The poultry sheds will be fully-enclosed climate-controlled and tunnel-ventilated. The likely configuration of fans on each shed will be eight 40 to 55 inch ventilation fans at one end of the shed, and approximately two tunnel ventilation fans installed at one end of the sheds.

Water line

Feed line




A number of shed configurations and exhaust systems were investigated to identify the optimum design to minimise potential odour impacts at surrounding sensitive receptors. The final fan configuration will be dependent on availability and transport logistics during construction, and as such the configuration of fans may differ slightly, utilising a larger number of smaller fans for tunnel ventilation. This has been considered in the air and noise assessments, with the worst case results presented at the nearest receptors. The final fan configuration will provide optimised design for the proposed farm operation and will be within the predicted air quality and noise results presented in this EIS.

The extraction fans will uniformly draw air into the shed through minivents along the sides of the shed and later in the growing cycle across cooling pads (refer Plate 6) and through tunnel vents. The air is pulled over the chickens and exhausted through the extraction fans.

Temperature sensors within the sheds will allow the ventilation to be adjusted as required. Heating, which is anticipated to be required for up to 14 days of each production cycle, will be provided by wall mounted gas heaters.


Plate 6 Typical Broiler Shed Showing Ventilation Fans

3.7 Supporting Infrastructure

Farm Manager’s Accommodation 3.7.1

The scale and 24-hour nature of the operation will necessitate a farm manager and assistant farm manager to live on site. On this basis, and as shown on Figure 9, the Development includes the construction of two residential dwellings within the Development Site.

Vehicular access to the residences will be provided via the new access road to be constructed from Tysons Road to The Ranch Farm 1 site (refer Section 3.10.2). Approval for this internal access road is being sought as part of The Ranch Farm 1 development proposal (DA 2016/017). The Ranch Farm 2 development proposal (DA 2016/022) is seeking approval for the extension of the internal access road from The Ranch Farm 1 site to The Ranch Farm 2 site. The Ranch Farm 3 development proposal (DA 2016/023) includes extension of the internal access road from The Ranch Farm 2 site to The Ranch Farm 3 site (refer Figure 8).

Overhead electricity infrastructure will be extended to service the dwellings, and potable water supply will be via rainwater collection (tanks) from the dwelling roofs. Sewage will be treated and disposed of via separate on-site aerated wastewater management systems installed and operated in accordance with relevant standards/guidelines and required Council approvals.




While the indicative location of these houses within the Development Site is shown on Figure 9, the final location and construction of the houses will be subject to the necessary Council approvals.

Ancillary Farm Improvements 3.7.2

In addition to the poultry shedding, ancillary improvements will be required at the Development Site to support the poultry production operation. This infrastructure will comprise:

• Staff amenities, including office space, toilets and change rooms;

• Dead bird chiller/chiller room (located near the site entrance for biosecurity reasons);

• Chemical storage;

• Generator shed;

• Workshop;

• Wheel wash facility (at the entrance to the Development Site);

• Feed silos, which will automatically dispense the feed into the poultry sheds (refer Plate 7)

• Water storage tanks and associated piping and pumps;

• Poultry shed floor bedding material storage shed;

• Servicing infrastructure (electricity, gas and water supply);

• An engineered surface water drainage and management system; and

• Vehicular access roads.

The indicative locations of some of these infrastructure items are shown on Figure 9 and the engineering drawings in Appendix E. The final location of these infrastructure items will be subject to engineering design and the necessary Council approvals for construction.


Plate 7 Typical Feed Silos Servicing Poultry Sheds

Water Storage Dam 3.7.3

As explained in Section 3.12.3, the Development will involve the construction of a 60 ML water storage dam (with associated pumping and pipeline infrastructure) within the Development Site to ensure the operational water requirements of the Development can be readily met. The proposed location of this dam is shown on Figure 9. The final location and construction of the dam will be subject to site survey, engineering design and the necessary Council approvals.




3.8 Hours of Operation

While the PPU will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, the majority of activity will be carried out between 7.00 am and 7.00 pm. As the birds reach their desired processing (slaughter) weight they will be removed from the sheds and transported from the Development Site between the hours of 8.00 pm and 2.00 pm, although for reasons of livestock welfare they will generally be removed overnight and in the morning when it is cooler and the birds are more settled.

There will typically be one daily shift for farm workers commencing at 7.00 am and finishing at 4.00 pm.

3.9 Production Cycle

The farm will have a growth cycle of approximately 63 days, with a maximum bird occupation of 53 days and a ‘down-time’ of around 10 days for shed clean out and preparation for the next batch of birds. There will be approximately 5.7 production cycles per year, with each cycle typically comprising the following steps:

1. Delivery of Bedding Material - clean and fresh bedding material, such as soft wood shavings, rice hulls or chopped straw, will be delivered to the PPU from a storage facility near Hanwood and spread over the floor of the poultry sheds.

2. Delivery of Chicks - day-old chicks will be transported from Baiada’s hatchery facility on the western outskirts of Griffith to the Development Site in ventilated chick boxes in specially designed air-conditioned rigid trucks. On arrival, the day-old chicks will be placed onto the floor of the poultry sheds, where they will initially be confined to a smaller area within the sheds (the ‘brooding area’) and given supplementary heating from gas heaters.

3. Chick Nurturing - chicks will be nurtured and grown within the poultry sheds, with their period of service depending on the live-weight of the birds. The desired processing age will primarily be determined by customer weight specifications, however it is normally achieved between five and eight weeks of age.

4. Removal of Birds - as birds reach their desired processing weight, they will be removed from the poultry sheds and transported to Baiada’s processing complex near Hanwood in plastic crates designed for good ventilation and bird welfare. Shed thinning (partial depopulation) will occur at various times during the production cycle depending on the live-weight of the birds. Chickens will typically be harvested between 8.00 pm and 2.00 pm, although are generally harvested overnight and in the early morning when the air is cooler and the birds are more settled.

5. Removal of Poultry Litter - when all birds have been removed, after about eight weeks, the spent bedding material (poultry litter) will be removed from the sheds and transported off-site for disposal or re-use (refer Section 3.14.3).

6. Cleanout – the poultry sheds will be cleaned and sanitised to reduce the risk of pathogens and disease using high pressure water in preparation for the next batch of chicks. Additional activities will include scrubbing feed pans, cleaning out water lines, cleaning the feed silos and scrubbing fan blades and other equipment.

The maximum broiler density for tunnel ventilated sheds is typically 0.055 m2 of floor space per bird. VOAG 3 will conduct shed thinning (depopulation) to maintain stocking density below 34 kg/m2 of floor area in compliance with the maximum stocking density for domestic poultry in tunnel ventilated sheds recommended in the RSPCA Approved Farming Scheme Standards – Meat Chickens (RSPCA 2013). On this basis, shed thinning will typically occur on three occasions, these being at around day 32, day 38 and day 44 of the production cycle, with the final bird collection at day 53.

The average mortality rates for broiler poultry housed within tunnel-ventilated sheds are:

• Week 1 of production cycle (1 to 7 days of age) - 1.5% of population; and

• Weeks 2 to 8 of cycle (7 to 56 days of age) - 0.6% of population per week.




3.10 Vehicular Access

Kidman Way – Tysons Road Intersection 3.10.1

The traffic impact assessment prepared for The Ranch Farm 1 by RoadNet (2015b) examined the potential traffic impacts of The Ranch Farm 1 in isolation and cumulatively as part of The Ranch Poultry Production Complex. As recommended by RoadNet (2015b) the Kidman Way – Tysons Road intersection will be upgraded as part of The Ranch Farm 1 development (DA 2016/017) to include a basic left turn treatment (BAL). This upgrade will ensure that the lane widths of Kidman Way are maintained commensurate with the roads designation as an approved B-double and road train route. The final configuration of the intersection upgrade will be subject to site survey, engineering design and Council approval (with RMS concurrence). Upgrade of the intersection to include BAL treatment is expected to take 2 to 3 weeks.

The following recommendations of RoadNet (2015b) will also be implemented as part of The Ranch Farm 1 development (DA 2016/017):

• If found necessary during the design, Tysons Road will be widened at the intersection to accommodate the turn paths of vehicles up to the size of B-doubles; and

• Tysons Road will be linemarked on its approach to the intersection to include a centreline and hold line for the existing Give Way control, thereby encouraging orderly driver behaviour at the intersection.

Access to the Development Site 3.10.2

All operation traffic will travel along Kidman Way and Tysons Road and access the Development Site via the new access to be constructed from Tysons Road and the new internal access road. Approval of the new site access and access road to The Ranch Farm 1 is being sought as part of The Ranch Farm 1 development proposal (DA 2016/017) and will be constructed at commencement of the construction phase for The Ranch Farm 1 (refer Figure 8).

The Ranch Farm 2 development proposal (DA 2016/022) includes the extension of the internal access road from The Ranch Farm 1 site to The Ranch Farm 2 site. The Ranch Farm 3 development proposal (DA 2016/023) includes extension of the internal access road from The Ranch Farm 2 site to The Ranch Farm 3 site (refer Figure 8). These works will be undertaken at the commencement of the construction phase for The Ranch Farm 2 and The Ranch Farm 3, respectively.

The internal access road from The Ranch Farm 2 site to The Ranch Farm 3 site will cross an ephemeral drainage line. Subsequently a culvert will be necessary, with relevant design (including surface water management) to be addressed with Council prior to the commencement of construction works). These proposed works will require the clearing of approximately 0.07 ha of existing vegetation (refer Section 7.7).

The internal access road will be aligned in an offset position from the adjacent Back Hillston Road so that the existing corridor of vegetation along this road will not be disturbed.

A one-way system will be established around the PPU to enable traffic to enter, exit and manoeuvre around the poultry sheds for loading-unloading and servicing activities in a forward direction to minimise the potential for traffic conflict and noise.

The internal roads will be constructed as all-weather rural-type roads able to accommodate the expected heavy vehicle movements and their turn path requirements.

The Development will not generate any construction or operational traffic along Back Hillston Road.




Wheel Wash 3.10.3

The potential for mechanical transmission of disease pathogens will be reduced through the installation of a wheel wash facility on the internal access road to The Ranch Poultry Production Complex. All vehicles wishing to enter the Development Site will be required to pass through the wheel wash to remove dust particles from the wheels and chassis.

The wheel wash facility will be designed as a self-contained unit in order to minimise the potential for runoff. It is anticipated that a chemical sanitiser will be added to the wash water. Sensors will detect the vehicle and the wheel wash will automatically commence operation.

It is proposed to construct a turkey nest dam below the wheel wash facility to contain the full volume of water from the facility, captured rainfall, accidental overfill and/or periodic cleanouts. It is anticipated that the dam’s capacity will be around twice that of the wheel wash. Subject to soil sampling and engineering design, if necessary, the turkey nest dam will be compacted or lined to achieve a permeability of 10-9 metres per second.

3.11 Traffic

Traffic Generation 3.11.1

The majority of traffic generated by the Development will travel between the Development Site, Griffith and Hanwood (approximately 6 km south of Griffith on Kidman Way). The primary operational activities that will generate traffic are:

• Delivery of the poultry shed bedding material in rigid trucks from a storage facility located near Hanwood;

• Delivery of day-old chicks from Baiada’s hatchery facility located approximately 3 km west of Griffith on Snaldero Road in insulted pantechnicon trucks;

• Delivery of feed from Baiada’s feedmill facility located approximately 1 km south of Hanwood on the corner of Kidman Way and McWilliams Road in semi-trailers;

• Delivery of bulk liquid petroleum gas (LPG) from Griffith in rigid tankers;

• Removal of birds to Baiada’s processing complex located approximately 1 km south of Hanwood on the corner of Kidman Way and Murphy Road in semi-trailers;

• Removal of shed floor litter (spent bedding material) in semi-trailers to various locations;

• Removal of dead birds to Baiada’s processing complex, which includes a protein recovery/rendering plant, located approximately 1 km south of Hanwood on the corner of Kidman Way and Murphy Road in rigid trucks;

• Removal of general garbage in rigid trucks to disposal facilities located within the vicinity of Griffith; and

• Staff visits by cars (noting that a farm manager and assistant farm manager will live on-site).

Table 7 lists the anticipated traffic volumes to be generated by the Development over a typical nine week production cycle and over a typical year comprising 5.7 production cycles.




Table 7 Estimated Traffic Generation for the Ranch Farm 3 - Production Cycle and Annual Activity Vehicle Type Vehicles (Two Way Vehicle Trips)

Production Cycle (approx. 9 weeks)

Annual (approx. 5.7 cycles)

Heavy Vehicles Delivery of shed bedding material Twin axle rigid truck 15 (30) 86 (172)

Delivery of chicks Twin axle rigid truck 6 (12) 34 (68)

Delivery of feed Semi-trailer 46 (92) 262 (524)

Delivery of fuel Rigid tanker 1 (2) 6 (12)

Delivery of gas (LPG) Rigid tanker 2 (4) 11 (22)

Removal of birds Semi-trailer 40 (80) 228 (456)

Removal of birds – catching equipment transporter

Semi-trailer 11 (22) 63 (126)

Removal of birds – catching staff Bus 11 (22) 63 (126)

Removal of shed litter material Semi-trailer 20 (40) 114 (228)

Shed wash down equipment transporter Semi-trailer 2 (4) 11 (22)

Removal of dead birds Twin axle rigid truck 13 (26) 74 (148)

Removal of garbage Rigid truck 9 (18) 51 (102)

Heavy Vehicle Sub-Total 176 (352) 1,003 (2,006) Light Vehicles Staff visits Car 192 (384) 1,094 (2,188)

Tradesman Ute/Van 9 (18) 51 (102)

Catching equipment maintenance Van 4 (8) 23 (46)

Shed litter material removal contractors Car 10 (20) 57 (114)

Shed wash down contractors Car 4 (8) 23 (46)

Light Vehicle Sub-Total 219 (438) 1,248 (2,496) TOTAL 395 (790) 2,251 (4,502)

Table 8 lists the anticipated daily traffic volumes and hourly traffic volumes during peak generating times, as calculated by RoadNet (2015a).

Table 8 Estimated Traffic Generation for the Ranch Farm 3 - Daily and Peak Hours Vehicle Type Vehicles per Day

(Vehicle Trips) AM Peak Hour Movements

PM Peak Hour Movements

Light Vehicles 4 (8) 3 (2 in, 1 out) 3 (1 in, 2 out)

Heavy Vehicles 3 (6) 1 (1 in, 0 out) 1 (0 in, 1 out)

Total 7 (14) 4 (3 in, 1 out) 4 (1 in, 3 out)

Table 9 lists the expected daily traffic volumes and hourly traffic volumes generated by The Ranch Poultry Production Complex during peak generating times, as calculated by RoadNet (2015a).




Table 9 Estimated Traffic Generation for The Ranch Poultry Production Complex - Daily and Peak Hours

Vehicle Type Vehicles per Day (Vehicle Trips)

AM Peak Hour Movements

PM Peak Hour Movements

Light Vehicles 12 (24) 9 (6 in, 3 out) 9 (9 in, 6 out) Heavy Vehicles 9 (18) 3 (3 in, 0 out) 3 (0 in, 3 out) Total 21 (42) 12 (9 in, 3 out) 12 (3 in, 9 out)

The following points should be noted in terms of traffic volumes listed in Tables 7 to 9:

• It is estimated that close to 55% of the total traffic will be generated by light vehicles (car/ute/van);

• With the exception of live bird removal, which will generally occur between the hours of 8.00 pm and 2.00 pm, all transport activities will occur during daylight hours;

• There will typically be one daily shift for farm workers between 7.00 am and 4.00 pm each day;

• Heavy vehicle trips will be mostly spread over the nine week production cycle and will be distributed relatively evenly over the predicted delivery hours;

• There will be on average 14 vehicle movements a day associated with the Development, 6 of which will be heavy vehicles; and

• There will be on average 42 vehicle movements per day associated with The Ranch Poultry Production Complex, 18 of these movements will be heavy vehicles.

It is also noted that the traffic volume calculations used in the traffic assessment are based on the largest vehicle servicing the development being a semi-trailer, which provides a conservative estimate of traffic movements to and from the site. However, it is possible that future contractors may use B-doubles to service the site, which would result in less heavy vehicle movements. The current heavy vehicle routes servicing the Development Site are suitable for this purpose.

At this point in time there is no intention to service the Development using road trains. The applicant will consult with Council and RMS if this situation changes in the future.

Heavy Vehicle Route 3.11.2

Heavy vehicles will travel between the Development Site and facilities located near Griffith and Hanwood on a daily basis via Kidman Way. The designated B-double route, including through Griffith, is shown on Figure 12.

Day old chicks from Baiada’s hatchery facility located approximately 3 km west of Griffith on Snaldero Road will be delivered to the site in rigid trucks via Kidman Way. It is expected these vehicles can be accommodated on the local road network through Griffith.

Vehicles travelling to facilities near Hanwood will travel south to Griffith along Kidman Way, through Griffith via Kookora Street and Willandra Avenue, and back on to Kidman Way to Hanwood. The reverse will occur when travelling from Hanwood to the Development Site. This is currently a designated B-double route, an approved road train route and has adequate capacity to accommodate the heavy vehicles generated by the Development (RoadNet 2015a).


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3.12 Servicing

Electricity 3.12.1

Reticulated electricity will be the Development’s principal source of energy and will be used to operate the tunnel ventilation systems, shed lighting, cooling pads, water pumps and staff amenities. Consultation with Essential Energy is underway to ensure appropriate arrangements are made for the extension and upgrade (if necessary) of the existing power supply infrastructure to service the requirements of The Ranch Poultry Production Complex.

The extension of overhead electricity infrastructure from the existing infrastructure in Tabbita to The Ranch Farm 1 site is being sought under DA 2016/017. The Ranch Farm 2 development (DA 2016/022) includes extension of the infrastructure from The Ranch Farm 1 site to The Ranch Farm 2 site. The Ranch Farm 3 development (DA 2016/023) is seeking approval to extend the power supply infrastructure from The Ranch Farm 2 site to The Ranch Farm 3 site. The indicative location of power supply infrastructure has been shown on Figure 8 and is subject to Essential Energy approval.

Emergency standby diesel generators will be installed for when power from the electricity grid is lost. They will be appropriately sited and housed to minimise noise emissions.

Gas 3.12.2

Heating of the poultry sheds, which is anticipated to be required for up to 14 days of each production cycle, will be provided by wall mounted gas heaters. LPG will be delivered to the Development Site in rigid tankers from Griffith and stored on-site in bulk tanks adjacent to the poultry sheds.

Water Supply 3.12.3

Poultry broilers are like any other livestock in that they need to drink water each day of their life-cycle. Water lines, with nipple drinkers and drip trays, will run the length of each poultry shed and will be automatically supplied by external water storage tanks.

Each shed will be temperature controlled by tunnel ventilation during the hotter months, with evaporative cooling pads used once the external air temperature reaches approximately 30 °C.

Based on industry acknowledged figures, the poultry operation will require a total water supply of around 50 ML per annum. This includes water supply for shed ventilation, bird consumption, shed cleaning and landscaping. The water requirement for The Ranch Poultry Production Complex (i.e. the three poultry farms) will amount to approximately 150 ML per annum. This water requirement will be soured via Murrumbidgee Irrigation under a high security water access licence (WAL), the purchase of which is currently being negotiated. Water will be pumped from a supply channel (the Tabbita Channel) located within Lot 1 in DP 1086493 on the western side of Kidman Way, for The Ranch Farm 3, into a 60 ML water storage dam to be established within the Development Site (refer Figure 8). The final constructed capacity and dimensions will be subject to engineering design and the required Council approvals.

The infrastructure required to convey water from the Tabbita Channel to The Ranch Farm 1 site is being sought as part of The Ranch Farm 1 development proposal (DA 2016/017). The Ranch Farm 2 development (DA 2016/022) includes extending the infrastructure from The Ranch Farm 1 to The Ranch Farm 2 site. The Ranch Farm 3 development (DA 2016/023) will involve extending the water pipeline from The Ranch Farm 2 site to The Ranch Farm 3 site (refer Figure 8).

As outlined in Section 3.7.3, the water storage dam will also collect surface water runoff (stormwater runoff from the poultry shed roofs and hardstand surfaces and operational runoff during shed clean out at the end of each production cycle) from the PPU. While the volume of surface water runoff entering the dam is anticipated to be minimal, it will augment water supply.




A 300 mm polyethylene (PE) pipe or polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipe laid within a 0.5 m trench will convey the stored water from the storage dam to an on-site treatment plant where the water will be filtered and chlorinated prior to being pumped in to the water storage tanks. Figure 9 shows the locality of the water treatment plant and water storage tanks.

If the water requirement cannot be met via the water access licence, for example during times of drought, this is a commercial risk of the operator. If such a time presents itself, several options will be available including the purchase/transfer of additional water and/or reducing the operating capacity of the Development until the required water supply can be obtained.

Water Supply for the Residences and Staff Amenities

Potable water supply for the two residences and staff amenities will be via rainwater collection (tanks) from the roofs of the dwellings and amenities/office building.

Feed Supply 3.12.4

Broiler feed will be supplied from Baiada’s feedmill facility located approximately 1 km south of Hanwood on the corner of Kidman Way and McWilliams Road. Silos will be located between the poultry sheds and will automatically dispense feed into the sheds. Feed lines, with feed pans, will run the length of each poultry shed and will be automatically supplied by the external grain silos. The feed pans will be spaced at regular intervals so that the birds are never more than a few metres from feed.

The dietary formulation will vary with changes in the availability, price and quality of specific feed ingredients, season of the year and broiler flock age. The optimum and most economical combination of feed ingredients that meets the strict nutritional specifications at any particular time will be selected.

As previously mentioned, broiler feed comprises between 65% and 90% grains, such as wheat, sorghum, barley, oats, lupins, soybean meal, canola and other oilseed meal and grain legumes. Hormones are not added to chicken feed or administered to commercial meat chickens in Australia. Hormone supplementation is a practice that has been banned internationally for over 40 years.

3.13 Chemical Use and Management

The only chemicals that will be used at the Development Site will be for the following purposes:

• Sanitisation of the poultry sheds during the cleaning phase at the end of each production cycle;

• Sanitisation of vehicles passing through the wheel wash;

• Disinfection of the water supply;

• Pest and vermin control (when necessary); and

• Weed control (when necessary).

These chemicals will be purchased from a local chemical supply company and/or will be delivered to the site by the operator. It is common practice for shed sanitisation chemicals to be delivered to the Development Site a few days prior to the commencement of the cleaning phase to minimise on-site chemical storage requirements and time.

There will also be ten bulk LPG tanks on site (refer Section 3.12.2), along with one diesel tank which will be located at the generator shed (refer Figure 9).

The following management practices and mitigation measures will be employed to manage chemical use and storage within the Development Site:

• Staff members will be instructed in the proper use and handling of all chemicals used on site. If appropriate, this will include completion of training such as SMARTtrain or ChemCert (or similar).

• All chemical use will be undertaken in full compliance with the relevant statutory requirements, including the Pesticides Act 1999.




• Where appropriate, chemicals used will be approved by the Australian Pesticide and Veterinary Medicine Authority as safe and fit for that particular use.

• A chemical storage container/shed that is appropriately sealed and bunded, and with appropriate signage, will be installed for the limited volumes of chemicals to be stored on site.

• The diesel and petrol will be stored in bunded tanks with overflow containers. These overflow containers will be regularly inspected and, when required, removed by a licenced contractor to prevent overflow and replaced. Any excess water collected in the bunded areas will also be removed by the contractor.

• Copies of the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for each chemical and fuel used on site will be kept within the chemical storage facility and in the site office.

• Empty chemical containers will be returned to the chemical supply company and/or the operator for recycling, reuse or appropriate disposal. Alternatively a licensed contractor will be engaged to provide a chemical container pickup service for recycling, reuse or appropriate disposal. Any non-returnable chemical containers can be collected and managed via the drumMUSTER program.

Incident Management • A Pollution Incident Response Management Plan (PIRMP) will be prepared as part of the

Operational Environmental Management Plan (OEMP) (refer Section 3.24).

• The actions specified on the chemical’s SDS will be implemented in the event of a minor chemical spill.

• In the event of a major spill, which is considered highly unlikely given the low volumes of chemicals to be stored on site and the above management measures, the following procedure will be implemented:

- The EPA and/or other appropriate regulatory authority will be contacted and advised of the nature of the chemical spill or incident, and any instructions issued by the authority will be strictly adhered to.

- Where possible, spilled material will be contained using vermiculite or similar absorbing material, and/or recovered using suitable containers.

- Any contaminated soil and/or absorption material will be collected, managed and disposal of as advised by the regulatory authority.

- Clean soil will be brought in once all contaminated material has been removed.

3.14 Waste Management

Appropriate systems will be implemented to ensure that each waste stream generated by the Development are effectively managed and/or disposed of off-site. No waste material will be disposed of on-site.

General Waste 3.14.1

Day-to-day general waste will be placed into enclosed skips and removed from the Development Site by a licensed contractor on a regular basis. This type of waste will be transported to and disposed of at a local landfill site. No waste material will be disposed of on-site.

Chemical Containers 3.14.2

The only chemicals that will be used at the Development Site will be for sanitisation and disinfection of the poultry sheds during the cleanout phase at the end of each production cycle, pest/vermin control and weed control.




Chemicals will be purchased from a local chemical supply company and/or will be delivered to the site by the operator. Empty chemical containers will be returned to the chemical supply company and/or the operator for recycling, reuse or appropriate disposal. Alternatively a licensed contractor will be engaged to provide a chemical container pickup service for recycling, reuse or appropriate disposal. Any non-returnable chemical containers can be collected and managed via the drumMUSTER program.

Poultry Litter 3.14.3

At the end of each production cycle a typical poultry shed of the size proposed will have around 225 cubic metres (m3) of poultry litter (spent bedding material), comprising around 100 m3 of soft wood shavings/rice hulls/chopped straw and 125 m3 of manure accumulated over the 7.5 weeks of bird occupation. The feed and water lines will be raised to the roof of the poultry sheds to allow the poultry litter to be removed by a contractor using a front-end loader or bobcat and loaded in to trucks for transport off site. The sheds will then be blown and swept to collect any remaining litter, before being washed (using high-pressure low-volume sprays), sanitised and disinfected. The management of the wash down water from the cleanout phase is discussed in Section 3.15.

Poultry litter is highly sought after as an organic fertiliser and/or rehabilitation agent for agricultural lands. On this basis, the litter collected from the sheds will likely be sold as a commercial raw product and/or directly to regional farmers.

For sound farm management and biosecurity reasons, it is not in VOAG 3’s interest to stockpile poultry litter near the poultry sheds due to the vulnerability of the younger birds coming in to commence cycle. As such, to ensure minimum opportunity for disease transfer, the litter will not be stored within the bounds of the Development Site and preferably not within close proximately of the Development Site. However this is largely out of VOAG 3’s control, with the destination and safe handling of the litter the responsibility of the transport contractor and/or end-user. The product does not pose a health threat to the community.

VOAG 3 will make every effort to ensure truck loads leaving the Development Site are covered to minimise emissions of odour and particulate matter.

Dead Birds 3.14.4

Dead birds will be collected from the poultry sheds on a daily basis and stored in an on-site chiller. A rigid truck will visit the site on a regular basis to collect the dead birds and transport them to Baiada’s protein recovery plant (rendering plant), which is part of the poultry processing complex, near Hanwood on Kidman Way. Dead birds will not be allowed to stockpile within the Development Site for biosecurity reasons.

Sewage 3.14.5

Sewage generated by the on-site staff amenities and residences will be treated and disposed of via separate on-site aerated wastewater management systems installed and operated in accordance with relevant standards/guidelines and Council approvals.

3.15 Surface Water Management

An engineered surface water management system will be installed and maintained throughout the life of the operation to mitigate the potential offsite impact of surface water runoff. The main water sources from the Development will be:

• Wash down water from within the poultry sheds at the end of each production cycle (approximately 5.7 times per year);

• Rainfall runoff from the shed roofs; and

• Rainfall runoff from the ground surfaces around the poultry sheds and additional improvements.




As outlined in Section 3.14.3, the sheds will be blown and swept (i.e. dry cleaning practices) before being washed using high-pressure low-volume sprays, sanitised and disinfected. Each poultry shed will be surrounded by a dwarf concrete bund wall to prevent rainwater and runoff entering the poultry sheds and to allow for the controlled discharge of wash down water from the sheds. The concrete bunds will have strategically located seepage holes to convey excess wash down water from the sheds into grassed swale drains between each of the sheds. Rainfall runoff from the shed roofs and from some of the surrounding surfaces will also be directed into these swale drains.

The swale drains will be designed to allow infiltration of the water into the topsoil for nutrient uptake by the grass, which will be regularly slashed. During heavy rainfall events, the swale drains will overflow to a perimeter table drains surrounding the sheds. The perimeter table drains will carry flow to the proposed 60 ML water storage dam (refer Figure 8). This series of drains will ensure all rainfall runoff from maintained on site and managed accordingly, mitigating any potential offsite impact to local water resources.

While the water captured in the drains will have some level of nutrients, the levels are predicted to be low given that the poultry sheds will be thoroughly blown and swept prior to being washed and the grassed swale drains will provide a very effective means of nutrient capture.

3.16 Revegetation

The most effective means of controlling erosion and sedimentation is through the establishment and maintenance of a healthy vegetation cover. General disturbance areas, that will not be sealed or actively utilised for operational activities, will be promptly rehabilitated to a stable landform and revegetated following completion of the construction/disturbance activities. Revegetation will generally be undertaken in accordance with the following steps:

• Where possible, topsoil will be re-spread to a minimum depth of 100 mm in the reverse sequence to its removal so that the organic layer containing any seed or vegetation is returned to the surface. Re-spreading on the contour will aid runoff control and increase moisture retention for subsequent plant growth. The re-spread topsoil will be levelled to achieve an even surface (avoiding a compacted or an over-smooth finish) and tilled.

• Re-vegetation will commence as soon as practicable, with a suitable pasture seed mix being spread over the disturbance area using a broadcast seeding method. For critical areas requiring quick re-vegetation or for areas where poor re-vegetation is identified, more intensive revegetation methods, such as hydromulching, may be considered.

• Appropriate fertiliser will be applied during the seeding operation.

A suitable pasture grass and legume mix for the Development Site has been provided in Table 10.

Table 10 Pasture Specification

Species Rate (kg/ha)

Spring/Summer Autumn/Winter Japanese Millet 20 5

Ryecorn/Oats 5 20

Couch Grass 10 8

Wimmera Ryegrass 5 10

White Clover 8 -

Lucerne 5 -

Sub Clover - 8

Serradella - 10

Consol - 2

All legumes (clovers and lucerne) will be inoculated with Rhizobia and lime pelleted to promote nodulation and facilitate subsequent nitrogen fixation.




3.17 Landscaping

As shown on Figure 13, appropriate landscaping will be undertaken to improve the visual and environmental amenity of the PPU. Additional benefits of landscaping at poultry production complexes include:

• Protecting the poultry sheds against any spray drift or off-target applications of chemicals from neighbouring agricultural land users;

• Reducing the magnitude and frequency of any adverse air quality impacts by effectively filtering air movement, which will enhance dust deposition and odour dispersion; and

• Providing a high level of light screening.

The proposed landscaping will comprise suitable tree and shrub species that are naturally occurring within the area and of differing growth habits strategically planted around the general perimeter of the PPU. The plantings will be based on relevant recommendations in Planning Guidelines Separating Agricultural and Residential Land Uses (Queensland Department of Natural Resources 1997), these being:

• A biological buffer of a minimum total width of around 40 m;

• Contain consistent, yet random, plantings of a variety of tree and shrub species of differing growth habits, at spacings of around 4 to 7 m;

• Include species with long, thin and rough foliage to facilitate the capture of spray droplets and dust particles;

• Provide a permeable barrier that allows air to pass through the buffer. The plantings will aim to achieve a porosity of around 0.5 (i.e. around 50% of the screen will be air space);

• Include species that are hardy and fast growing; and

• Foliage from base to crown (i.e. lower and upper storey vegetation) to ensure that the buffer is effective in slowing and filtering air movement at all levels.

VOAG 3 will progressively establish the landscape plantings, as practically possible, following bulk earthworks and construction of development infrastructure. A Landscaping Strategy will be prepared for inclusion in the site-specific OEMP (refer Section 3.24).

3.18 Site Maintenance

Regular and effective site maintenance is essential given issues such as odour, dust, noise, pests and flock health are directly related to site operation and management.

The Development will be managed in compliance with Vojplumb’s standard operating procedures. This includes a regular site inspection and maintenance program in order to minimise the potential for adverse environmental impacts, extend the life of farm equipment, reduce operating costs and maximise operational efficiency. Emphasis will be placed on keeping the insides of the poultry sheds and surrounding environment as clean as possible.

Maintenance activities will include:

• Regular inspection and maintenance of ventilation systems, feed lines and water lines to avoid blockages, spillages, leaks and uneven distribution;

• Regular examination and management of stocking densities and bird health within the poultry sheds;

• Daily inspection and removal of dead birds from within the sheds;

• Daily monitoring and maintenance of the bedding material to identify, remove and replace any areas with excessive moisture content (for example, under the water drinkers);

• Regular site slashing and mowing;




• Implementation of pest control measures (refer Section 3.19), which will primarily comprise a preventative baiting system;

• Regular inspection and maintenance of water supply pumps and pipelines to identify and fix any blockages or leaks; and

• Maintenance of the internal access roads to minimise tyre wear and dust emissions.

3.19 Pest Control

The presence of pest populations in and around poultry operations is a potential health hazard and an indicator of poor farm management. The Development Site will be managed in strict compliance with Vojplumb’s standard operating procedures. Emphasis will be placed on keeping the poultry sheds and surrounding environs as clean as possible to discourage pests from establishing residency within and around the Development Site.

The following pest control measures, which will form part of the site maintenance program and biosecurity commitment, will be employed:

• Implementation of a pest control program, which primarily comprises the installation and maintenance of baits as a preventative measure to prevent and control outbreaks;

• Dead birds will be collected from the poultry sheds on a daily basis and stored in on-site chillers prior to removal off-site;

• At the end of each production cycle, poultry litter will be promptly removed from the poultry sheds and transported off-site;

• Any feed or grain spills will be promptly cleaned up;

• Appropriate waste management practices/systems (refer Section 3.14) to ensure no on-site stockpiling or disposal of waste materials;

• The grass within the shed environs will regularly slashed and/or mown; and

• Appropriate sanitising agents will be used during the shed cleaning phase.

3.20 Workplace Health and Safety

The design, construction and operation of the Development will comply with all relevant workplace health and safety requirements. VOAG 3 understands that it has ‘duty of care’ obligations under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (and its associated Regulation).

3.21 Animal Health and Welfare

The conditions under which broiler poultry are housed and the way that they are managed during their growing phase, transportation and processing are prescribed in several government and industry endorsed Codes of Practice designed to safeguard their health and welfare.

The company understands that bird welfare, flock performance and economic functioning go hand-in-hand. VOAG 3 has advised that it is committed to the standards of care and management detailed in the National Animal Welfare Standards for the Chicken Meat Industry (Australian Poultry CRC 2008), which is based on the model codes of practice for poultry production, Australian Standards, international and national guidelines for animal welfare. Key features of this commitment are discussed below.

Space Allowance

VOAG 3’s broiler pick-ups (shed thinning) are governed by customer bird weight specifications and maintaining a maximum stocking density of 34 kg/m2, which complies with the recommended maximum stocking density for domestic poultry in tunnel ventilated sheds RSPCA Approved Farming Scheme Standards – Meat Chickens (RSPCA 2013).


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RESIDENCES

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Proposed Landscaping

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Equipment

All equipment to which the birds have access will be selected and appropriately maintained to avoid injury, pain and stress. In addition, the automated shed control equipment will be regularly checked and maintained to ensure optimum efficiency.

Lighting

Uniform lighting will be provided within the poultry sheds to enable the birds to see the feed pans and water drinkers, with dark periods each day to allow the birds to rest. Reduced light has been found to minimise livestock stress and, as such, low lux internal lighting will be provided to promote calm.

Ventilation

The Development will comprise tunnel-ventilated fully-enclosed climate-controlled poultry sheds. Tunnel ventilation is able to deliver the required environmental parameters throughout the entire year and poultry have an optimum environmental range for health, growth and productivity. The tunnel ventilation systems will be fully computer controlled and alarm monitored, with back-up power available via emergency standby generators.

Feed Supply

Feed lines will run the length of each poultry shed and will be automatically supplied by the external grain silos. Feed pans will be spaced at regular intervals so that the birds are never more than a few metres from feed and, in compliance with the Model Code of Practice for the Welfare of Animals, Domestic Poultry (Primary Industries Standing Committee 2002), there will be a maximum of around 80 birds per feed pan at maximum density.

Water

Water lines will run the length of each poultry shed and will be automatically supplied by external water storage tanks. Nipple drinkers, with drip cups, will be spaced at regular intervals so that the birds are never more than a few metres from water and, in compliance with the Model Code of Practice for the Welfare of Animals, Domestic Poultry (Primary Industries Standing Committee 2002), there will be a maximum of around 14 birds per nipple drinker at maximum density.

Inspections

The birds will be inspected on a daily basis for health, injury, distress, feed and water. Dead and injured birds will be removed for disposal or treatment in a humane manner.

Transportation

All measures will be taken to ensure that the birds are not subjected to any unnecessary stress during catching, transportation, loading and unloading. Both VOAG 3 and Baiada (operator of the chicken hatchery and poultry processing complex to service the Development) are fully committed to the standards of care detailed in the National Animal Welfare Standards for the Chicken Meat Industry (Australian Poultry CRC, 2008) and the Model Code of Practice for the Welfare of Animals, Land Transport of Poultry (Primary Industries Standing Committee 2006).




3.22 Biosecurity

Biosecurity refers to those measures taken to prevent or control the introduction and spread of infectious agents to a flock. It aims to prevent the introduction of infectious diseases, and prevent the spread of disease from an infected area to an uninfected area. Biosecurity plays a vital role in the incidence of disease and is an integral part of any successful poultry production system. The nature of each avian influenza outbreak that has occurred in Australia (seven between 1976 and 2013) suggests that one or more biosecurity deficiencies were involved in the spread of the virus. Improving biosecurity is the most important way that producers can prevent the spread of the virus (Primary Industries Ministerial Council 2011).

A copy of the National Farm Biosecurity Manual for Chicken Growers (Australian Chicken Meat Federation 2010) will be kept at the Development Site and staff will be provided with training in the relevant parts of the Manual and site specific biosecurity measures. The key biosecurity measures that will be implemented at the Development Site include, but will not be limited to, the following:

Farm Signage

Appropriate signage will be erected at the entrance of the Development Site to notify visitors of the biosecurity zone, direct them to contact the operator prior to proceeding.

Farm Isolation

The greater the separation distance between poultry operations the less opportunity there is for disease spread. Excluding proposed The Ranch Farm 1 and The Ranch Farm 2 developments, the Development is located over 7 km to any other intensive poultry operations (existing and proposed), which is well in excess of that recommended in Best Practice Management for Meat Chicken Production in NSW (Department of Primary Industries 2012).

Disease pathogens can survive for some time on people and clothes and, as such, isolation in time is also important. Time isolation allows equipment to be disinfected and allows personnel to shower and change clothing.

Single Age Farm

Vaccinated stock can become infected and show no clinical signs of disease, yet can transfer the disease to younger and/or more susceptible birds. To reduce the risk of disease transfer and outbreak, whole flock units with minimum age difference will be placed in to each poultry shed. On this basis, the Development will operate on an ‘all in – all out’ shed placement and depopulation program.

Closed Flock

Birds on other sites may be exposed to different strains of organisms to which other flocks may not have developed immunity to. In addition, birds may have been exposed to a disease organism and not have developed clinical signs of the disease. Moving apparently healthy birds into a disease-free flock could mean introducing disease to a clean site. For these reasons, once a flock is placed, no new birds will be introduced from any other source.

Other Measures

Various other biosecurity measures will be implemented on a routine basis in accordance with the National Farm Biosecurity Manual for Chicken Growers (Australian Chicken Meat Federation 2010). These include:

• The poultry sheds and equipment will be sanitised and disinfected at the end of each production cycle;

• Dead birds will be removed from the poultry sheds on a daily basis and stored in an on-site chiller prior to removal off-site;




• At the end of each production cycle, poultry litter will be promptly removed from the poultry sheds and transported off-site;

• There will be no on-site stockpiling or disposal of waste materials;

• Poultry water supply will be filtered and chlorinated prior to being pumped in to the storage tanks;

• A vehicle wheel wash will be installed at the entrance to the Development Site;

• A pest control program will be implemented;

• Staff members working in direct contact with livestock will not be permitted to keep other bird species or pigs at their place of residence; and

• Staff members and visitors will not be permitted to travel between poultry operations without changing clothes and foot wear.

3.23 Mass Mortality Disposal Strategy

In the unlikely event of a major disease outbreak, the EPA and DPI will be contacted as soon as the breakout is suspected and will likely assume control of the site. Immediate measures will be implemented to isolate the infected sheds, effect strict quarantine procedures to prevent the spread of the disease, and notify all relevant stakeholders. Where permitted, urgent ring vaccination of flocks within the controlled area will be organised.

Upon confirmation that it is indeed an emergency animal disease (EAD) outbreak and immediate slaughter of farm stock is necessary, slaughter will be managed by the DPI in co-ordination with the EPA and technical service units of the poultry industry. The birds will be slaughtered within the poultry sheds.

A number of options exist for the disposal of bird carcasses and fomites. The Best Practice Management for Meat Chicken Production in NSW – Manual 2 Meat Chicken Growing Management (DPI 2012) lists the following mass disposal options subject to Council, EPA and DPI approval:

• Rendering (if facilities are available);

• In-shed composting;

• External composting;

• Disposal in a landfill site; and

• Burial on-farm.

The most appropriate option in the event of a mass mortality event will depend on a number of factors, including the scale of the outbreak, the ability of a render facility to accept the bird carcasses, the logistics and cost associated with transportation of carcasses off site, and a site’s suitability for burial. While on-farm burial has traditionally been the predominant disposal option in the poultry industry, this practice is now discouraged on the basis of significant environmental risks including potential groundwater impacts.

Emergency management agencies throughout Australia have now identified on-farm composting as an appropriate method of carcass disposal. The Biosecurity of Mass Poultry Mortality Composting (Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC) 2014)) investigated the feasibility of on-farm composting and the effectiveness of this disposal method in eliminating avian diseases in bird carcasses and litter. The investigation found that composting effectively restricts the spread of the disease and the composting can be undertaken in the poultry sheds or on the farm using poultry litter (bedding material and manure) as a bulking agent. Poultry carcasses rapidly decompose, usually within 14 days. After a further period of composting, the compost can be safely applied to land.

Studies conducted on the survival of the V4 vaccine strain of Newcastle disease virus during composting found that the virus was killed within the first five days of composting. Conditions monitored during the composting process suggested there is a wide safety margin and that the Newcastle disease virus and other EADs, such as avian influenza, are unlikely to survive for long (RIRDC 2014).




RIRDC (2014) advised that the successful implementation of composting as a disposal method during an EAD has been repeatedly demonstrated in the United States of America and Canada.

Although in-shed and external composting are possible, in-shed composting offers a number of advantages including better security and protection from wind, rain and scavengers. However in-shed composting can result in the affected poultry shed(s) being out of operation for many weeks as the composting process takes place. This is where on-site rendering and off-site burial have an advantage as disposal options, enabling the affected shed(s) to be cleaned, decontaminated and brought back into production in a much shorter period of time.

In consideration of the above, and pending the scale of the mass mortality event and advice from the DPI and EPA, the following options in order of preference will be implemented for the disposal of bird carcasses and fomites in the event of an EAD outbreak within the Development Site:

1. Rendering

The preferred option for mass bird disposal will be transportation to Baiada’s protein recovery plant, which is part of the poultry processing complex approximately 1 km south of Hanwood on the corner of Kidman Way and Murphy Road, for treatment and disposal. This would occur under the supervision of the DPI to ensure appropriate quarantine control and standard operating procedures are implemented in line with the relevant AUSVETPLAN disease strategy.

Carcasses and fomites will be loaded in to leak-proof containers within the poultry sheds and these containers would be transported in appropriate trucks disinfected on exit from the Development Site. The truck and operator would be independent from normal VOAG 3 and Baiada operations to minimise the risk of disease transfer to other poultry operations. All vehicles will be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected after unloading.

Importantly, the volume of material treated and processed would not be allowed to exceed the protein recovery plant’s daily processing capabilities. If the plant does not have the capacity to accept the material, or if rendering cannot be achieved for another reason, the below alternative options will be considered and the most appropriate selected.

2. Landfill Disposal

Baiada has negotiated a designated portion of Council’s landfill for the mass disposal of chickens from the various contract production farms in the LGA. Council has advised that this landfill area has been appropriately sectioned and quarantined, providing safe disposal of birds in an EAD outbreak when the scale of the outbreak is such that the protein recovery plant (Option 1) cannot manage the volume of birds affected.

Landfilling would be undertaken with appropriately qualified supervision from the DPI, EPA and Council to ensure appropriate quarantine control and standard operating procedures are implemented in line with the relevant AUSVETPLAN disease strategy. Carcasses and fomites would be loaded in to leak-proof containers within the sheds and these containers would be transported in appropriate trucks disinfected on exit from the Development Site. The truck and operator would be independent from normal VOAG 3 and Baiada operations to minimise the risk of disease transfer to other poultry operations. All vehicles would be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected after unloading.

Baiada and Council have entered into a two year agreement for this quarantined portion of the existing landfill from mid-2015 to mid-2017. During this time Baiada has committed to investigating other long term disposal options for their contract growers (including VOAG 3) in the event of a mass mortality.

3. In-shed Composting

If transportation of the bird carcasses to the protein recovery plant (Option 1) is not possible and transportation and disposal at Council’s landfill (Option 2) is not possible due to the scale of the mortality and/or other environmental constraints, the birds will be composted within the sheds. This would occur under the supervision of the DPI and EPA and in accordance with the standard operating procedures for mass poultry composting developed by RIRDC (2014).

RIRDC (2014) advises that the poultry carcasses rapidly decompose, usually within 14 days, and after a further period of composting, the compost can be safely applied to land.




3.24 Operational Environmental Management Plan

A site-specific OEMP will be prepared and implemented to ensure that the commitments made within the EIS, along with the conditions imposed by the development consent and EPL, are fully implemented and complied with.

The EIS Guideline – Poultry Farms (Department of Urban Affairs and Planning 1996) states:

an EMP is a technical document which is usually finalised during or after detailed design of the proposal following approval of the development application…..the level of detail required in an EMP is usually not considered necessary for an EIS.

On this basis, the OEMP will be prepared following development consent and prior to commencing operation. It will be prepared with reference to the Guideline for the Preparation of Environmental Management Plans (Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources 2004), and will address the following key aspects:

• Development consent and environmental licensing requirements;

• Environmental management commitments and responsibilities;

• Surface water management strategy;

• Landscaping;

• Mass mortality disposal strategy; and

• Complaints and incidents management strategy.

3.25 Socio-Economic Aspects

Operational Employment 3.25.1

At full production The Ranch Farm 3 will require:

• One full-time farm manager (live on-site);

• One full-time assistant farm manager (live on-site); and

• Two full-time equivalent farm hands.

There will be times when additional labour will be called upon. The farm hand positions demand only low skill level and on-the-job training is provided.

There will also be several contract companies involved in the operation, including for bird catching, equipment maintenance, litter removal and shed wash down.

Capital Investment 3.25.2

The capital investment value (CIV) of the Development will be approximately $5 million. This will include the extension of the proposed internal access road from The Ranch Farm 2 site to the Development Site.

Consumables and Flow-On Benefits 3.25.3

At this point in time, it is difficult to quantify the Development’s expenditure on the various consumable products and services that will be required for construction, operation and maintenance. Some examples include:

• Annual telecommunications, electricity, water and gas supply costs;

• Opportunities for local transport companies to participate in the haulage of materials to and from the site;




• Opportunities for local growers and suppliers to provide various goods, including bedding material, fuel, tyres, clothing and groceries; and

• Opportunities for local business to fulfil maintenance and servicing requirements.

The additional grain needed to fulfil the feed demand of the Development represents an increase in the potential market for regional farmers. It is estimated that The Ranch Farm 3 will consume around 14,000 tonnes of poultry feed per annum and The Ranch Poultry Production Complex (i.e. the three farms) will consume around 42,000 tonnes of poultry feed per annum, which represents a yearly recurrent expenditure of approximately $19 million (based on the average price of feed at the time this document was prepared).

With the amount of money that will be spent on consumables, along with the significant flow-on benefits, the stimulus to the local and regional economies will be substantial.



Page 53 Regulatory Framework

4 REGULATORY FRAMEWORK

4.1 Permissibility

The Development Site is zoned RU1 Primary Production under the provisions of the Carrathool LEP 2012. The objectives of this zone include:

• 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.

• To minimise conflict between land uses within this zone and land uses within adjoining zones.

• To enable agricultural support facilities to be carried out on land within the zone in a manner which does not significantly reduce the agricultural and horticultural production potential of land in the locality.

The Development is classified as “intensive livestock agriculture”, which is defined in the Standard Instrument (Local Environmental Plan) Order 2006 as:

the keeping or breeding, for commercial purposes, of cattle, poultry, goats, horses or other livestock, that are fed wholly or substantially on externally-sourced feed, and includes the operation of feed lots, piggeries, poultry farms or restricted dairies, but does not include the operation of facilities for drought or similar emergency relief or extensive agriculture or aquaculture.

Intensive livestock agriculture is permissible, with development consent, within the RU1 Primary Production zone.

4.2 Consent Pathway

The Development is classified as “local development”, requiring development consent from Council under Part 4 of the EP&A Act.

Designated Development

Under section 77A of Part 4 of the EP&A Act, The Ranch Farm 3 constitutes “designated development” by virtue of the fact that Clause 21(4)(a) of Schedule 3 of the EP&A Regulation declares livestock intensive industries that accommodate more than 250,000 birds to be designated development. As a result, the DP&E has been consulted as part of the development application process (including issuing of SEARs) and this EIS has been prepared to accompany the development application to Council.

The Development does not fall within the development classes/definitions listed in Schedule 4A of the EP&A Act as developments for which regional panels may be authorised to exercise consent authority functions of councils. On this basis, the applicable consent authority is Council.

Integrated Development

Under Section 91(1) of Part 4 of the EP&A Act, The Ranch Farm 3 constitutes “integrated development” by virtue of the fact that Clause 22(2) of Schedule 1 of the Protection of the Environmental Operations Act 1997 (POEO Act) declares livestock intensive activities that accommodate more than 250,000 birds to be a scheduled activity. As a result, the occupier the will need to hold an EPL administered by the EPA under Section 43 of the POEO Act.




4.3 Commonwealth Legislation

Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 4.3.1

The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) is administered by the Commonwealth Department of the Environment (DoE) and provides a legal framework to protect and manage nationally important flora, fauna, ecological communities and heritage places defined as matters of “national environmental significance”. An action that “has, will have or is likely to have a significant impact on a matter of National Environmental Significance” may not be undertaken without prior approval of the Commonwealth Minister, as provided under Part 9 of the EPBC Act. Approval under the EPBC Act is also required where actions are proposed on, or will affect, Commonwealth land and its environment.

A Protected Matters Search was performed via the DoE website to ascertain if any matters of national environmental significance protected by the EPBC Act have been identified as occurring in, or relating to, the Development Site. The search area for the included the Development Site and a 5 km buffer around the Site. A copy of the search report is contained in Appendix F and a summary of the findings is presented below.

World Heritage Properties

The Development Site is not a World Heritage Property and there are no World Heritage Properties listed within the search area.

National Heritage

The Development Site is not a National Heritage Place and there are no National Heritage Places listed within the search area.

Wetlands of International Significance (RAMSAR Wetlands)

There are no RAMSAR wetlands protected by international treaty (RAMSAR Convention) within the proposed Development Site or surrounding search area.

Commonwealth Marine Areas

Not applicable. The Development Site is significantly removed from any Commonwealth marine areas.

Great Barrier Reef Marine Park

Not applicable. The Development Site is significantly removed from the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.

Threatened Ecological Communities and Threatened Species

The Protected Matters Search identified the following:

• Three listed threatened ecological communities that may occur within the area –

- Grey Box (Eucalyptus macrocarpa) Grassy Woodlands and Derived Native Grasslands of South-eastern Australia;

- Weeping Myall Woodlands; and

- White Box-Yellow Box-Blakely’s Red Gum Grassy Woodland and Derived Native Grassland.

• Fourteen listed threatened species, comprising six bird species, two fish species, one frog species, two mammal species and three plant species, are identified as species that may occur or are likely to occur within the area.




Significant disturbance of the natural environment within the Development Site has occurred as a result of historic clearing and long-term agricultural production. The Development Site is highly modified and disturbed, primarily comprising treeless paddocks that have been consistently cropped/grazed, significantly limiting the value of the Development Site as habitat for native flora and fauna.

The aerial photography that forms the backdrop to Figures 3 and 8 clearly show the limited extent of native woody vegetation cover within and around the Development Site. There is some vegetation in the north-eastern corner of the Development Site and a narrow corridor of vegetation along the eastern lot boundary (within the Back Hillston Road corridor). However these areas are generally removed from the Development’s proposed disturbance footprint.

Regional vegetation mapping for the Murrumbidgee catchment (Eco Logical Australia 2011) shows that there is no vegetation mapped within the Development Site. There is, however, vegetation mapped along Huxleys Road (Sand Plain Mallee Woodlands) to the west of the Development Site and immediately north and east of the Development Site (Inland Rocky Hill Woodlands) (refer Figure 7). Neither of these communities are listed as endangered ecological communities (EECs) in NSW under the TSC Act. It is most likely that the vegetation communities along the fence line between The Ranch Farm 2 development site and Back Hilston Road would be one of these two vegetation communities, and therefore not EEC.

Based on the level of existing site disturbance and the strategic positioning of development infrastructure, including internal access road, the risk of adverse impact on any threatened species, populations, ecological communities or on local biodiversity in general within the surrounding environment is considered negligible. The majority of the proposed footprint of the Development is highly modified and disturbed, having been cleared and repeatedly cropped and grazed for many decades, and it is devoid of any important ecological resources or significant areas of remnant vegetation.

As evident on Figure 8, the Development would be predominantly located within areas that are already cleared. An exception is the narrow strip of woodland vegetation along the ephemeral drainage line north of The Ranch Farm 2 site and adjacent to the Back Hillston Road corridor, which would be removed to allow for construction of the internal access road and infrastructure corridor (powerline and water pipeline) from The Ranch Farm 2 site to The Ranch Farm 3 site. The vegetation to be removed is approximately 15 m wide and approximately 130 m long; construction would therefore require the removal of approximately 0.07 ha of native vegetation.

The remaining extent of the internal access road from The Ranch Farm 2 site to The Ranch Farm 3 site will be set back from the adjacent Back Hillston Road so that the existing corridor of vegetation along this road will not be disturbed.

Based on the level of existing site disturbance within the intended Development disturbance footprint, the risk of adverse effects on local populations of native flora and fauna is considered negligible.

Nationally Listed Migratory Species

The Protected Matters Search identified eight migratory bird species which may occur in the area. Given that the proposed disturbance footprint is highly modified and disturbed, the Development is highly unlikely to substantially modify, destroy or isolate an area of important habitat, result in an invasive species that is harmful to migratory species becoming established in the area or disrupt the lifecycle of local or migratory species.

All Nuclear Actions

No type of nuclear activity is proposed.




In conclusion, the Development is not anticipated to have a significant impact upon any matters of national environmental significance and referral to the DoE is not considered necessary.

4.4 NSW State Legislation

Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 4.4.1

The EP&A Act is the principal piece of legislation overseeing the assessment and determination of development proposals in NSW. The objects of the EP&A Act generally seek to promote management and conservation of natural and resources, while also permitting appropriate development to occur.

As outlined in Section 4.2, the Development Site falls within the bounds of local development that is both designated and integrated, and accordingly development consent is required under Part 4 of the EP&A Act. This EIS, which has been prepared to accompany the development application to Council, addresses the matters listed in Section 79C of Part 4 of the EP&A Act, as relevant to the Development.

Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 4.4.2

The POEO Act establishes the State’s environmental regulatory framework and includes licensing requirements for certain activities. As advised in Section 4.2, the Development is a scheduled activity under the POEO Act requiring the occupier to hold an EPL under Section 43 of the Act. The EPL will need to cover the scheduled activity of “livestock intensive activities” and the fee based activity of “bird accommodation”.

Roads Act 1993 4.4.3

The objectives of the Roads Act 1993 include, but are not limited to, regulating the carrying out of various activities in public roads. The Ranch Farm 3 development proposal does not involve any road works (apart from extension of the internal access road) and there are no requirements under the Roads Act 1993.

All road works required to service The Ranch Farm 3 are part of The Ranch Farm 1 development proposal (DA 2016/017), and these work are subject to approval under Section 138 of the Roads Act 1993.

Water Management Act 2000 4.4.4

The Water Management Act 2000 (WM Act) is intended to ensure that water resources are conserved and properly managed for sustainable use benefitting both present and future generations. As described in Section 3.12.3, the water requirement for The Ranch Poultry Production Complex (i.e. the three poultry farms) will be soured via Murrumbidgee Irrigation under a high security licence, the purchase of which is currently being negotiated. Water will be pumped from a supply channel (the Tabbita Channel) located within Lot 1 in DP 1086493 on the western side of Kidman Way, for The Ranch Farm 3, into a storage dam proposed to be established within the Development Site (appropriate easements will be created) (refer Figure 8). There will be no requirement for additional water access licences under the WM Act.

As described in Section 2.10, there are no naturally formed watercourses within the Development Site. As such, no works will be undertaken on waterfront land, and therefore no approvals in this regard will be required under the WM Act.

As evident on Figure 8, there are no farm dams within the Development Site. The 60 ML water storage dam and the detention basin to be constructed as part of the wheel wash facility will be constructed as turkeys nest dams that do not capture runoff and, therefore, the maximum harvestable right does not apply.




Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 4.4.5

The Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 (TSC Act) provides protection for threatened plants and animals native to NSW (excluding fish and marine vegetation) and integrates the conservation of threatened species into development control processes under the EP&A Act. The potential for impacts on flora and fauna as a result of the Development are considered in Section 7.7. The Development Site is highly modified and disturbed, having been cleared and under agricultural use for many decades.

Based on the historic land use of the Development Site, the level of disturbance within the proposed disturbance footprint, the strategic positioning of development infrastructure to avoid existing vegetation, the risk of adverse impacts on native flora and fauna is considered negligible.

4.5 State Environmental Planning Policies

State Environmental Planning Policies (SEPPs) are legal Environmental Planning Instruments (EPIs) prepared by the Minister to address issues significant to NSW. The following SEPPs are identified as relevant considerations for the Development.

Infrastructure SEPP 4.5.1

The State Environmental Planning Policy (Infrastructure) 2007 (Infrastructure SEPP) provides a consistent planning regime for infrastructure and the provision of services across NSW, along with providing for consultation with relevant public authorities during the development assessment process. The SEPP supports the effective delivery of infrastructure and service facilities across the State, along with improved regulatory certainty and efficiency.

Clause 104 of the Infrastructure SEPP specifies that development applications for new premises of a certain size or capacity (as specified in Schedule 3) must be referred to the RMS for comment and must consider the accessibility of the site and any potential safety, congestion or parking implications. The Development, which is defined as intensive livestock agriculture, does not appear to match any of the traffic-generating development categories listed in Schedule 3 of the SEPP.

Regardless, RMS were consulted during the preparation of this EIS (refer Section 5) and it is likely that Council will refer the EIS to the RMS during the development assessment for feedback.

SEPP 55 – Remediation of Land 4.5.2

The State Environmental Planning Policy No. 55 – Remediation of Land (SEPP 55) provides State-wide planning controls for the remediation of contaminated land. Clause 7(1) of SEPP 55 provides that a consent authority must not consent to the carrying out of any development on land unless:

• It has considered whether the land is contaminated, and

• If the land is contaminated, it is satisfied that the land is suitable in its contaminated state (or will be suitable after remediation) for the purpose for which the development is proposed to be carried out.

A contaminated land assessment has not been undertaken at the Development Site as it is held that the circumstances of this matter do not require such. The risk of discovering significant contamination within the Development Site is considered to be minimal given the following:

• The long-term and existing use of the Development Site and adjoining lands is traditional agricultural production, including dryland cropping, irrigated cropping and livestock grazing;

• There are no identified previous or existing land use activities that may have caused or attributed to significant soil contamination;

• The site is not listed on the EPA’s Contaminated Lands Register; and

• We are unaware of any areas within the site where toxic wastes, poisons or the like have been dumped or buried to cause or attribute to soil contamination.




Considering the historical use of the land and the fact that the majority of the Development Site will continue to be used for agricultural production purposes (with the poultry operation being confined to a relatively small area), the land is considered suitable for the Development.

We believe that land contamination is unlikely to be an issue within the Development Site and further investigation under SEPP 55 is not warranted.

SEPP 33 – Hazardous and Offensive Development 4.5.3

The State Environmental Planning Policy No. 33 – Hazardous and Offensive Development (SEPP 33) regulates, amongst other things, the determination of development applications to carry out what is defined in SEPP 33 as development for the purposes of a "potentially hazardous industry" or "potentially offensive industry".

The only potentially dangerous good to be stored on site in a quantity that exceeds the storage screening threshold of 16 m3 in Applying SEPP 33 (Department of Planning 2011) is LPG. Approximately 30 m3 of LPG will stored on-site in above ground bulk tanks. The location and installed equipment will meet the requirements of AS/NZS 1596:2014 The Storage and Handling of LP Gas. There will be less than one delivery of LPG to the Development Site each month and the delivery will be undertaken in a specifically designed rigid vehicle by the gas supply company.

With the locational and engineering design controls for LPG, along with the low density of surrounding residences and the workplace health and safety management systems, the Development does not pose any significant risk to human health, life or property or the biophysical environment. We do not believe that the Development comprises a potentially hazardous or offensive industry within the meaning of these expressions in SEPP 33, and therefore a preliminary hazard analysis has not prepared.

4.6 Carrathool Local Environmental Plan 2012

Local Environmental Plans (LEPs) are legal EPIs that guide planning decisions for LGAs. They allow Council’s to supervise the ways in which land is used through zoning and development consents.

The Development Site is zoned RU1 Primary Production under the provisions of the Carrathool LEP 2012. The Development is classified as intensive livestock agriculture, which is permissible, with development consent, within the RU1 Primary Production zone. The two proposed residences, which will house VOAG 3’s farm manager and assistance farm manager, are ancillary and incidental to the poultry production operation and therefore also permissible as part of the Development.

The Development is removed from any areas mapped as “biodiversity”, “wetland” or comprising any other environmental significance/constraint in the Carrathool LEP.

4.7 Draft Carrathool Development Control Plan 2012

Development Control Plans (DCPs) differ from EPIs in that they are never more than factors to be considered. DCPs are not legally binding even though they might spell out planning policy and development standards in quite specific terms.

The Draft Carrathool DCP 2012 is currently under review and, at the time of preparing this EIS, was not available and had not been adopted by Council.




4.8 Other Considerations

Draft Riverina Regional Strategic Plan 4.8.1

The Local Land Service Act 2013 requires the development of regional strategies to set the vision, priorities and strategy for the delivery of local land services, with a focus on appropriate economic, social and environmental outcomes. The Riverina Local Land Services (LLS) has prepared a draft strategic plan for the Riverina region and, at the time of preparing this EIS, the draft plan was with the Minister for review.

Without knowing the content of the draft regional strategic plan, we advise that the assessment of potential economic, social and environmental outcomes of the Development in this EIS has been multi-disciplinary and involved consultation with relevant government agencies. Emphasis has been placed on anticipation and prevention of potential environmental and social impacts, with commitment to best practice management and mitigation measures.

The economic outcomes of the Development, particularly in terms of direct and indirect employment and flow-on benefits, are anticipated to make a significant contribution to the local and regional economies.

Carrathool Sustainable Settlement Strategy 2007 4.8.2

The Carrathool Sustainable Settlement Strategy 2007 (Resolve Planning 2007) recognises that agriculture provides the economic base within the Carrathool LGA and that intensive forms of agriculture need to be catered for in the planning process, including consideration of potential environmental impacts and the return on invested capital. With pressures on other areas of farming, intensive agriculture is seen as an important contributor to the local economy and source of employment. The Carrathool Sustainable Settlement Strategy 2007 states that there is a potential for intensive agriculture to further develop within the area.

The information provided within this EIS addresses the environmental constraints and management issues identified within the Carrathool Sustainable Settlement Strategy 2007, including biodiversity, land recourses, site contamination, water resources, heritage and visual amenity.



Page 60 Stakeholder Consultation

5 STAKEHOLDER CONSULTATION

Consultation was undertaken with relevant State and local government agencies, surrounding residents and additional stakeholders during the preparation of this EIS. The SEARs (953) require the following with regard to consultation:

During preparation of the EIS, you must consult with the relevant local, State and Commonwealth government authorities, service providers and community groups, and address any issues they may raise in the EIS. In particular you should consult with the:

• Environment Protection Authority;

• Office of Environment and Heritage;

• Department of Primary Industries;

• Roads and Maritime Services;

• NSW Office of Water (now DPI Water);

• Carrathool Shire Council; and

• The surrounding landowners and occupiers that are likely to be impacted by the proposal.

Table 11 provides a summary of the consultation undertaken with the government agencies and surrounding residents, including the purpose and key outcomes of the consultation. VOAG 3 has also undertaken consultation with Essential Energy, Murrumbidgee Irrigation, Telstra and Baiada, in making the appropriate arrangements for servicing of the Development.

Table 11 Stakeholder Consultation Stakeholder Method Date Purpose of Consultation/Outcomes Council Site visit 4 June 2015 A site visit was undertaken with representatives from Council, RMS,

VOAG 3 and SLR. The purpose of this site visit was; 1) to investigate site access options during both construction and operation of the farm in consultation with Council and RMS, and 2) to meet with and consult the landowners of the Development Site. During this site visit the Development Site and Back Hillston Road in the vicinity of the existing property entrance were inspected.

RMS Site visit 4 June 2015 As mentioned above a site visit was held with RMS to discuss site access options for the proposed development, during both construction and long-term operation. Key points raised by the RMS to be addressed in the traffic report (refer Appendix D, RoadNet 2015a) and the EIS were in relation to traffic and site access. These points are addressed in Section 7.5.

EPA Phone call

28 July 2015

SLR consulted the EPA to discuss the nearby derelict house and its exclusion from the odour assessment. This has been addressed in Section 2.6.

Neighbouring landowners

Letters 15 October 2015

Letters were sent to the owners of each of the neighbouring properties by SLR (on behalf of VOAG 3) notifying them of the proposed development and provided contact details for the landowners should they require any additional information regarding the Development.

OEH Phone Call

21 October 2015

SLR will consult with the OEH to discuss the proposed development and advise that the EIS has been lodged with Council.

DPI Phone Call

21 October 2015

SLR will consult with the DPI to discuss the proposed development and advise that the EIS has been lodged with Council.



Page 61 Stakeholder Consultation

Stakeholder Method Date Purpose of Consultation/Outcomes DPI Water Phone

Call 21 October 2015

SLR will consult with the DPI Water to discuss the proposed development and to advise that the EIS has been lodged with Council.



Page 62 Environmental Risk Assessment

6 ENVIRONMENTAL RISK ASSESSMENT

A broad brush environmental risk assessment was conducted in May 2015 to:

• Identify those issues relating to the Development that represent the greatest risk to the local environment and surrounding populace; and

• Assist in setting (and justifying) priorities for the level of assessment required to address each identified risk within the EIS.

A qualitative risk assessment methodology, which was developed in accordance with the requirements of the Australian Standard AS/NZS 31000:2009 – Risk Management – Principles and Guidelines, was utilised to provide a consistent and reliable approach. Where the individual risk(s) was considered unacceptable, or where a knowledge gap was identified, specialist studies were commissioned and appropriate management responses and/or mitigation measures were nominated.

The Risk Register, which is provided as Appendix G, was appended to the project briefing paper submitted to the DP&E when requesting SEARs (refer Section 1.8). The key issues that were specifically addressed in the risk assessment, in no particular order, are:

• Visual amenity;

• Land use conflict;

• Greenhouse gas;

• Air quality and odour;

• Noise;

• Waste management;

• Traffic and transport;

• Chemicals;

• Lighting;

• Poultry disease;

• Flora and fauna;

• Pest populations;

• Water resources;

• Heritage; and

• Socio-economic impacts.

The risk assessment did not identify any issues with a residual risk ranking (taking into account the proposed mitigation measures) of “high” (Level IV) or “extreme” (Level V). This can primarily be attributed to the location of the Development Site, including distance from urban areas, low density of surrounding residential dwellings, the nature of the existing environment and the mitigation measures to be employed. One issue was assessed to have a residual risk ranking of “medium” (Level III) which was associated with potential odour emissions resulting from the Development.

Section 7 contains a comprehensive and focussed assessment of the issues identified by the risk assessment to a level of detail commensurate with the risk rankings (significance of each issue). The majority of the issues have been investigated and reported on by SLR, with specialist consultants engaged to assess air quality (odour and particulate matter), noise and traffic issues.



Page 63 Environmental Impact Assessment

7 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT

The key issues associated with the Development warranting detailed investigation and reporting were identified through:

• The environmental context of the Development Site and surrounding locality (refer Section 2);

• The legislative framework applicable to the Development (refer Section 4);

• The broad brush environmental risk assessment (refer Section 6);

• The SEARs (SEAR 953) issued by the DP&E (refer Section 1.8);

• Additional consultation undertaken with relevant local and State government agencies (refer Section 5); and

• Specialist studies completed as part of the preparation of the EIS for air quality (odour and particulate matter), noise and traffic (refer Sections 7.2, 7.3, 7.4 and 7.5).

The following sub-sections provide a summary of the potential environmental and social impacts of the Development and the measures that will be implemented to mitigate and manage these impacts.

7.1 Land Use Conflict

As described in Section 2.5, the primary surrounding land use is agricultural, which is consistent with the dominant land use across the region. The potential for conflict between the Development and the existing surrounding agricultural production activities is considered low. The footprint of the proposed poultry sheds and ancillary infrastructure will be relatively small at around 9.75 ha, and the commercial activity associated with the Development will be largely confined to this area. VOAG 3 has negotiated a share farming arrangement where the land outside of the disturbance footprint will continue to be utilised for agricultural production purposes (crop cultivation and/or livestock grazing). On this basis, the Development will not deny access to large areas of viable agricultural lands nor significantly reduce the land area available for agricultural production.

Mitigation Measures 7.1.1

The following mitigation measures will be implemented to minimise and manage the potential for land use conflict:

Construction • Appropriate erosion and sediment control measures will be installed in accordance with the Blue

Book (Landcom 2004) and Erosion and Sediment Control on Unsealed Roads (NSW Office of Environment and Heritage 2012) to ensure no off-site impacts.

• Disturbed areas will be promptly rehabilitated and revegetated to a stable landform as described in Section 3.16.

Development Design • The engineered surface water management system described in Section 3.15 will be

implemented to provide long-term structural controls to manage surface water runoff and ensure no off-site impacts.

Operation

• The best management practices and mitigation measures described in Section 3.13 will be implemented and maintained for chemical use and storage.




• Vegetation screens will be established around the perimeter of the PPU as outlined in Section 3.17. In addition to screening the Development, the plantings will protect the poultry sheds against any spray drift or off-target applications of chemicals from neighbouring agricultural land users and reduce the magnitude and frequency of any adverse air quality impacts.

Environmental Complaints and Incidents • A Complaints and Incidents Management Strategy will be prepared and implemented as part of

the OEMP (refer Section 3.24) to ensure that all complaints and incidents relating to the poultry operation are promptly and effectively addressed. Appropriate documentation of complaint/incident handling will assist in identifying and implementing measures to negate the possibility of re-occurrence in the future.

7.2 Odour

Air quality is a sensitive issue associated with intensive poultry developments. Given the nature of such operations it in inevitable that there may be the intermittent release of fugitive odours during the poultry production cycle. However this statement is applicable to many agricultural pursuits. The odour produced in broiler farms, such as that proposed, is generally less than that associated with older poultry and also other intensive livestock operations such as piggeries and cattle feedlots. The poultry industry has come a long way over the previous 20 years and operates on the basis of continual environmental improvement driven by environmental legislation and community expectations. It is understood that odour issues are directly related to site operation, with good management practices playing a significant role in reducing the potential for emissions.

The proposed Development Site offers several advantages in terms of potential odour impacts, including being removed from any urban areas, low density of surrounding residences and significant separation distances.

SLR was engaged to undertake an assessment of air quality (odour and particulate matter) issues associated with the Development, including the potential for cumulative impacts with The Ranch Poultry Production Complex and other proposed nearby operations (for example, Tabbita Farm 1 and Tabbita Farm 2). The assessment was undertaken in accordance with the Approved Methods for the Modelling and Assessment of Air Pollutants in NSW (the Approved Methods) (DEC 2005) and Technical Framework: Assessment and Management of Odours from Stationary Sources in NSW” (DEC 2006) (the Odour Framework).

A copy of SLR’s Air Quality Impact Assessment (2015a) is contained within Appendix B, with the key findings for odour summarised below.

Existing Environment 7.2.1

Air Quality

Published information on existing air quality within the locality is limited, with no known monitoring sites in the vicinity. However, as the Development Site is situated in a rural area with no major sources of air pollution, the local air quality is likely to be good and concentrations of pollutants are unlikely to exceed air quality criteria.

Meteorology

Wind

The annual and seasonal wind roses (refer Figure 6 and Section 2.8) show that the most common wind direction at the Development Site are from the northeast and northwest, however wind directions and speed vary seasonally. Overall the wind data shows light to moderate winds (between 1.5 m/s to 8 m/s), with calm wind conditions (wind speed less than 0.5 m/s) predicted to occur approximately 1% of the time.




Stability

Atmospheric turbulence is an important factor in air dispersion. As turbulence increases, the rate of plume dilution or diffusion increases. Turbulence is related to the vertical temperature gradient, which determines what is known as stability, or thermal stability.

The most well-known stability classification is the Pasquill-Gifford scheme, which denotes stability classes from A to F. Class A is described as highly unstable and occurs in association with strong surface heating and light winds, leading to intense convective turbulence and much enhanced plume dilution. At the other extreme, class F denotes very stable conditions associated with strong temperature inversions and light winds, which commonly occur under clear skies at night and in the early morning. Under these conditions plumes can remain relatively undiluted for considerable distances downwind.

The frequency distributions of stability classes estimated by SLR (2015a) from the CALMET meteorological data shows the combined frequency of E and F stability classes (i.e. the most critical for air quality impacts) is 47.6%. The frequency of neutral conditions is also relatively high, occurring 17.6% of the time. SLR (2015a) advises that this data is consistent with the expectations for sites in inland southern regions of Australia.

Mixing Height

Mixing height is an important parameter in air pollution meteorology as vertical diffusion or mixing of a plume is limited by the mixing height. The estimated diurnal variation of mixing height for the Development Site is presented in Figure 11 of the Air Quality Impact Assessment (SLR 2015a) (refer Appendix B). SLR (2015a) projected maximum mixing heights to occur in the mid to late afternoon, due to the dissipation of ground based temperature inversions and growth of the convective mixing layer.

Assessment Criteria 7.2.2

When assessing any development proposal with potential air emissions, it is necessary to compare the potential impacts with relevant air quality criteria. Such criteria are used to assess the potential for ambient air quality to give rise to adverse health or nuisance effects.

The Approved Methods (DEC 2005) include ground-level concentration criterion for complex mixtures of odorous air pollutants. They have been refined to take account of population density in the area. Table 12 lists the odour ground-level concentration criteria not to be exceeded more than 1% of the time, for different population densities.

Table 12 Odour Performance Criteria (DEC 2005)

Population of Affected Community Ground Level Concentration Criterion (Odour Units)

Urban area (> 2000) 2.0

500 – 2000 3.0

125 – 500 4.0

30 – 125 5.0

10-30 6.0

Single residence (< 2) 7.0




Council has advised that the area known as Tabbita, which is located approximately 3.9 km south-west of the Development Site, comprises five residences. The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Census data for 2011 gave an average population per house of 2.4 people for rural communities in NSW. It is understood that the EPA adopts an average of 2.8 people per house. Conservatively adopting the EPA’s value, Tabbita has an estimated population of around 14 people. On this basis, SLR has adopted a conservative odour assessment criterion of 5 Odour Units (OU) for the five residences located in Tabbita. A criterion of 6 OU is considered to be appropriate for the isolated rural residences scattered around the Development Site (located a minimum of 3.9 km from the Development Site).

The adopted odour impact assessment criteria are summarised in Table 13.

Table 13 Adopted Odour Impact Assessment Criteria Receptor Odour Criterion (OU) R1 to R5 6.0

R6 to R10 5.0

R11 to R13 6.0

Impact Assessment 7.2.3

Overview

The air dispersion modelling conducted by SLR (2015a) was based on an advanced modelling system using the models TAPM and CALPUFF. This system substantially overcomes the basic limitations of steady-state Gaussian plume models, such as AUSPLUME.

TAPM is a three dimensional meteorological and air pollution model that predicts airflow important to local scale air pollution, such as terrain induced flows, against a background of larger scale meteorology provided by synoptic analyses. The TAPM prognostic model was used to generate the three dimensional upper air data required for CALMET modelling.

CALMET is a meteorological model that develops hourly wind and other meteorological fields on a three-dimensional gridded modelling domain that are required as inputs to the CALPUFF dispersion model. Associated two dimensional fields such as mixing height, surface characteristics and dispersion properties are also included in the file produced by CALMET.

CALPUFF is a multi-layer, multi-species, non-steady state puff dispersion model that can simulate the effects of time and space varying meteorological conditions on pollutant transport, transformation and removal. Emission rates and source details, terrain and surface details, and meteorology are the three major model inputs.

Estimation of odour emissions from a poultry shed is a complex matter and depends on a number of inter-related parameters including, but not limited to, bird age/weight, ambient temperature, shed target temperature and ventilation rate. A literature review showed that a range of odour emission estimation methodologies have been used to calculate the potential odour emission rate from a typical climate-controlled (tunnel ventilated) poultry shed in publicly available odour impact assessment reports for different farms.

SLR (2015a) modelled the following two scenarios:

(1) The Ranch Farm 3 PPU in isolation; and

(2) The Ranch Farm 3 PPU with the proposed The Ranch Farm 1 PPU, The Ranch Farm 2 PPU and the Tabbita Farms 1 and 2 PPUs (refer Section 2.7).

Table 14 lists the 99th percentile odour concentrations predicted to be experienced at the identified sensitive receptors for the two scenarios. Contour plots showing the predicted odour concentrations for the two scenarios are shown on







Figure 14 and

Figure 15. It is noted that the odour contour plots do not reflect odour concentrations occurring at any particular instant in time, but rather illustrates a compilation of the predicted 99th percentile (88th highest) odour concentration at all locations downwind, taking into account all combinations of meteorological conditions modelled across the entire year.

Table 14 Predicted 99th Percentile Odour Concentrations at Sensitive Receptors




Receptor ID

Odour Criterion (OU)

99th Percentile Odour Concentration (OU)

Scenario 1 Scenario 2 R1 6.0 0.3 1.2 R2 6.0 0.3 1.2 R3 6.0 0.1 0.6 R4 6.0 0.5 1.4 R5 6.0 0.5 1.5 R6 5.0 0.7 1.7 R7 5.0 0.7 1.7 R8 5.0 0.8 1.8 R9 5.0 0.9 2.0 R10 5.0 0.9 2.2 R11 6.0 0.5 3.4 R12 6.0 0.6 2.0 R13 6.0 0.7 2.3

As evident on




Figure 14, the predicted incremental odour concentration (from the Development only) at all of the nearest receptors is predicted to be well below the relevant criterion, ranging from 0.1 - 0.9 OU. Cumulative odour concentrations shown on Figure 15 are also predicted to be well below the relevant criterion, with a maximum predicted odour concentration being 3.4 OU at R11. The highest concentration predicted within Tabbita is 2.2 OU at R10.




Figure 14 Predicted 99th Percentile Odour Concentrations for The Ranch Farm 3




Figure 15 Predicted 99th Percentile Cumulative Odour Concentrations





Odour issues are directly related to farm operation, with good management practices playing a significant role in reducing the potential for emissions. On this basis, the following design features, best management practices and mitigation measures will be applied to minimise the potential for odour impacts:

Development Design • The poultry sheds will be fully enclosed, have adequate roof overhang (wide eaves) and dwarf

concrete bund walls to reduce moisture in the sheds and will subsequently reduce the potential for odour emissions;

• The feed silos will be fully enclosed to reduce moisture levels (wet feed has also been identified as a potential odour source);

• The poultry sheds will be tunnel-ventilated, which will allow control over the moisture levels and promote optimum growing conditions and bird health. The increased airflow and improved feed conversion in tunnel-vented sheds helps to maintain bedding material within the optimal moisture range (NSW Agriculture 2004); and

• All sheds will be fitted with nipple drinkers and drip cups to minimise water spillage and reduce shed moisture.

Vegetation Screens • Vegetation screens will be established around the perimeter of the PPU as outlined in Section

3.17 and shown on Figure 13. In addition to screening the Development, the plantings will act to effectively filter air movement, which will enhance dust deposition and odour dispersion.

• Vegetative screens act to increase the surface roughness and result in additional turbulence as the odour plumes passes through the permeable barrier (although this will be muted when the stability is high). Vegetative screens also act to partially remove fine dust particles, which also reduces the odour level in the plumes and gives a corresponding percentage reduction in the odour level as the plumes pass receptors downwind.

Operation and Maintenance • Regular monitoring and maintenance of the tunnel ventilation systems and bird drinkers will be

undertaken to avoid spillage, leaks and uneven distribution;

• Stocking densities and bird health within each of the poultry sheds will be regularly checked and, if necessary, appropriate corrective measures will be implemented;

• Daily monitoring and maintenance of the bedding material will occur to identify, remove and replace any caked material beneath drinking lines and/or areas with excessive moisture content;

• Poultry litter (spent bedding material) will be promptly removed from the sheds and generally transported off-site in covered trucks at the end of each production cycle during the clean-out phase. Wherever possible the handling of the material will be avoided during adverse climatic conditions, such as strong winds. The shed ventilation systems will not be used during the removal of bedding material;

• Dead birds will be collected from the sheds on a daily basis and stored in on-site chillers prior to removal from site;

• The insides of the poultry sheds and the surrounds will be maintained at all times to ensure a clean and sanitary environment; and

• During sanitisation, the amount of air released from the sheds while any sanitising scent is present will be minimised and, if possible, a low scent sanitiser will be utilised.




7.3 Particulate Matter

As outlined in Section 7.2, air quality is a sensitive issue associated with intensive poultry developments. Given the nature of such operations it is inevitable that there may be the intermittent release of fugitive odours and particulate matter during the poultry production cycle, however particulate matter is typically not an issue for a well-run poultry broiler production farm.

Regardless, particulate matter was assessed by SLR (2015a) as part of the air quality impact assessment undertaken for the Development. The assessment was undertaken in accordance with the Approved Methods (DEC 2005). A copy of the Air Quality Impact Assessment (SLR 2015a) is contained within Appendix B, with the key findings for particulate matter summarised below.


There is no published information on existing air quality within the locality. However, as the Development Site is located in a rural area with no major sources of air pollution, the local air quality is likely to be good and concentrations of pollutants are unlikely to exceed any of the air quality criteria.


When assessing any development proposal with potential significant air emissions, it is necessary to compare the potential impacts with relevant air quality criteria. Such criteria are used to assess the potential for ambient air quality to give rise to adverse health or nuisance effects.

In its modelling and assessment guidelines, the EPA specifies air quality assessment criteria relevant for assessing impacts from dust generating activities (EPA 2005). These criteria are consistent with the National Environment Protection Measures for Ambient Air Quality (National Environment Protection Council (NEPC) 1998) (Air-NEPM). However, the EPA’s criteria include averaging periods, which are not included in the Air-NEPM and references to other measures of air quality, namely dust deposition and total suspended particulate matter (TSP).

Table 15 summarises the criteria for particulate matter relevant to the Development.

Table 15 Adopted Criteria for Particulate Emissions Pollutant Standard/Criterion Averaging Period Agency TSP 90 µg/m3 Annual average EPA

Particulate matter < 10µm (PM10)

50 µg/m3 24-hour maximum EPA

30 µg/m3 Annual average EPA

Dust Deposition 2 g/m2/month Maximum incremental increase per month OEH

4 g/m2/month Maximum cumulative increase per month (Project and other sources)

OEH


Fugitive emissions of dust from construction activities, vehicle movements and shed cleaning operations are most appropriately managed by good site management and the implementation of dust suppression measures as outlined in Section 7.3.4. The significant separation distances between the Development and the nearest sensitive receptors will also reduce the risk of any off-site nuisance impacts from dust emissions.

To assess the potential off-site impacts of particulate emissions from the poultry shed stacks, SLR (2015a) completed screening level dispersion modelling based on PM10 emission rates measured in an Australian Poultry CRC study (2011), which measured emission concentrations and emission rates of PM10 for a number of broiler sheds. It was noted in the findings of this study that the concentration of particulate matter in the air exiting the sheds was highly variable and was influenced by ventilation rate, farm, bird age, season, microenvironment, litter management practices and other factors. The majority of the PM10 emission rates measured ranged from 5 to 50 mg/s per shed.




SLR (2015a) estimated particulate emission rates for the proposed poultry farm based on the CALPUFF model which was configured with a single stack source located at the centre of the farm, emitting at 6 m above ground level with an exit velocity of 10 m/s and an emission rate of 0.4 g/s (based on 8 sheds emitting 50 mg/s PM10 each). The results of this modelling gave a maximum 24-hour average PM10 concentration at the nearest sensitive receptor of 0.8 µg/m3. This is well below the EPA criterion for ambient PM10 concentrations of 50 µg/m3 as a 24-hour average concentration and would not be expected to significantly impact on existing air quality given that PM10 concentrations in rural areas in Australia typically range from 10 to 30 µg/m3, with short-term elevated concentrations occurring as a result of regional events such as bushfires and dust storms.

Given that the screening assessment used a continuous worst-case PM10 emission rate it can be expected that actual PM10 concentrations at the nearest sensitive receptors would be lower than the results given by the modelling (SLR 2015a). It would therefore be expected that the concentrations of particulate experienced at the nearest sensitive receptors (the closest of which is approximately 3.9 km from the Development Site) would be dominated by regional background sources.

Recent work performed for the Jeanella South Poultry Production Complex (856,000 birds) and the Euroley Poultry Production Complex (3,920,000 birds) (PEL, 2015) indicated that detailed dispersion modelling of particulates yielded a maximum 24 hour average PM10 concentration at a distance of approximately 2 km from operations of between 5 µg/m3 and 10 µg/m3. Given that the Ranch Farm 3 will house a population of 400,000 birds, concentrations of PM10 at 2 km would be anticipated to be significantly lower than 5 µg/m3. Also, given that The Ranch Poultry Production Complex (The Ranch Farms 1, 2 and 3) will house a total population of 1,200,000 birds, the cumulative concentrations of PM10 at approximately 2 km would be anticipated to be lower than 10 µg/m3. The results of the screening level dispersion modelling study is therefore considered to appropriately reflect the minor risk associated with particulates resulting from the operation of the Ranch Farm 3.

Although no dispersion modelling of nuisance dust (dust deposition) or longer term averages of concentration (annual average PM10 and TSP) have been performed, the use of the peak concentration of PM10 as an indicator of broader compliance is considered to be appropriate.

Based on these initial screening level results and the identified level of risk associated with particulate matter from other similar studies, any further detailed modelling is not considered to be warranted.


The following design features, best management practices and mitigation measures will be applied to minimise and manage the potential for emissions of particulate matter.

Construction • Dust will be minimised by “wetting” down surfaces being worked/carrying traffic in dry conditions;

• Surface disturbance will be limited to the designated disturbance footprint required for construction;

• Disturbed areas will be promptly rehabilitated and revegetated to a stable landform as described in Section 3.16 to prevent/minimise windblown dust; and

• Where possible, vehicles on site will be confined to designated roadways.

Development Design

• The feed silos will be fully enclosed to both prevent the entry of rainwater and minimise emissions of dust/particulate matter when loading and unloading.

Operation

• Regular monitoring and maintenance of the tunnel ventilation systems will be undertaken to ensure optimal operating condition;

• Regular maintenance of plant and equipment will be undertaken to ensure optimal operating condition;




• Stocking densities and bird health within the poultry sheds will be regularly checked and, if necessary, appropriate corrective measures will be implemented; and

• Internal access roads will be appropriately maintained to minimise dust emissions and speed will be limited to 40 km/h on unsealed internal roads.

7.4 Noise

While noise generated by construction and operational activities has the potential to impact upon surrounding residences, noise has been demonstrated not to be an issue for well-managed poultry broiler production operations.

The Development Site offers several advantages in terms of potential noise impacts, including being removed from any urban areas, low density of surrounding residences and significant separation distances.

A noise impact assessment was conducted by SLR in accordance with the Interim Construction Noise Guideline (EPA, 2009), Industrial Noise Policy (EPA, 2000) and the NSW Road Noise Policy (RNP) (DECCW, 2011). Acoustic modelling was undertaken using SoundPLAN 3D modelling software (Version 7.3).

A copy of SLR’s Noise and Vibration Impact Assessment (2015b) is contained within Appendix C, with the key findings for noise summarised in the sub-sections below.

A summary of acoustic terminology used in the assessment is as follows:

• LA, the A-weighted root mean squared noise level at any instant.

• LA1, the noise level which is exceeded for 1% of the time.

• LA90, the level exceeded for 90% of the time, which is approximately the average of the minimum noise levels. The LA90 level is often referred to as the “background” noise level and is commonly used to determine noise criteria for assessment purposes.

• LAeq, the average noise energy during a measurement period.

• dB(A), noise level measurement units are decibels (dB). The “A” weighting scale is used to describe human response to noise.


The Development Site is in a quiet rural area with road traffic noise as the only significant noise source. SLR (2015b) therefore conservatively assumed that background levels would be less than LA90 30 dB during all time periods, which is typical of a rural environment that primarily comprises traditional agricultural activities with some vehicle traffic on the road network.


Construction Noise

The Interim Construction Noise Guideline (DECC 2009) specifically relates to construction, maintenance and renewal activities. It specifies standard construction hours as:

• Monday to Friday, 7.00 am to 6.00 pm;

• Saturday, 8.00 am to 1.00 pm; and

• No construction work on Sunday and public holidays.

For construction projects with a duration of greater than three weeks, a quantitative assessment is required, with comparison to relevant criteria. The criteria for work undertaken in the standard construction hours are:

• LAeq,15min equal to background plus 10 dB; or




• LAeq,15min 75 dB.

An LAeq criterion of background plus 5 dB is specified for work outside the standard construction hours.

Given the rural location of the Development Site, SLR (2015b) has adopted the Industrial Noise Policy’s (EPA 2000) default minimum rating background noise level (RBL) of 30 dB for all time periods, and subsequently a construction noise criterion of LAeq,15min 40 dB for residential receivers. A criterion of 70 dB was adopted for commercial receptors (when in use).

Operational Noise

The Industrial Noise Policy (EPA 2000) states that objectives for environmental noise are to account for intrusive noise and … to protect the amenity of particular land uses. To achieve this, limits are specified where the intrusiveness criterion essentially means that the equivalent continuous (energy-average) noise level of the source should not be more than 5 dB above the measured background level. Amenity is protected by noise criteria specific to land use and associated activities. Amenity criteria relate only to industrial-type noise and do not include road, rail or community noise.

As advised above, a minimum RBL of 30 dB for all time periods has been adopted by SLR (2015b) for the Development.

Table 16 summarises the adopted intrusiveness and amenity criteria adopted by SLR (2015b) for all sensitive receptors for the day, evening and night periods. The lower of the two (intrusiveness or amenity) apply, and are adopted as the impact assessment criteria.

Table 16 Operational Noise Level Criteria Period1 Adopted RBL

(dB)2 Intrusiveness Criterion LAeq(dB)

Acceptable Amenity Criterion LAeq(dB)

Operational Noise Criteria LAeq(dB)

Residential Day 30 35 50 35

Residential Evening 30 35 45 35

Residential Night 30 35 40 35

Commercial (when in use) N/A N/A 65 65 Notes: 1. Day: 7.00 am to 6.00 pm; Evening: 6.00 pm to 10.00 pm; Night: 10.00 pm to 7.00 am. On Sundays and Public

Holidays: Daytime 8.00 am to 6.00 pm; Evening 6.00 pm to 10.00 pm; Night-time 10.00 pm to 8.00 am. 2. An RBL of 30 dB has been assumed for a rural environment.

Sleep Disturbance

The potential for sleep arousal has been assessed using the guidance provided in the Industrial Noise Policy (EPA 2000) and associated Application Notes (last updated July 2012) and the RNP (DECCW, 2011). The Industrial Noise Policy suggests that the LA1(1minute) level of 15 dBA above the RBL is a suitable screening criteria for sleep disturbance for the night-time period. The RNP also provides the following conclusions from research on sleep disturbance:

• Maximum internal noise levels below 50 to 55 dBA are unlikely to awaken people from sleep.

• One or two noise events per night, with maximum internal noise levels of 65 to 70 dBA, are not likely to affect health and wellbeing significantly.

The night period background noise levels around the Development Site are likely to be less than or equal to LA90 30 dB. Therefore, a sleep disturbance criterion of LA1,1minute 45 dB (30 dB + 15 dB) for residential receiver locations has been adopted for the Development. No sleep disturbance criteria is applicable for commercial receivers.




Traffic Noise

The RNP (DECCW 2011) applies different noise limits dependent upon the road category and type of development/land use. Table 17 provides the applicable traffic noise criteria for the Development.

Table 17 Traffic Noise Criteria Road Assessment Criteria (dBA)

Day (7 am – 10 pm) Night (10 pm – 7 am) Kidman Way LAeq, (15 hour) 60 (external) LAeq, (9 hour) 55 (external)

Tysons Road LAeq, (15 hour) 55 (external) LAeq, (9 hour) 50 (external)


Construction Noise

The construction period for the Development is expected to take around six months with all construction activities to be undertaken during standard daytime construction hours.

SLR’s (2015b) modelling predictions for construction noise associated with the Development are presented in Table 18. No exceedance of the construction noise criteria is predicted.

Table 18 Calculated LAeq, 15minute Construction Noise Levels (dBA) Receptor ID Predicted Noise Level LAeq(15minute)

(dBA) Construction Noise Goal LAeq(15minute) dBA

Calm Prevailing Winds Noise Affected Highly Noise Affected Earthworks R1 – R12 <30 <30 40 75

R13 <30 <30 70 when in use

Shed/Infrastructure Construction R1 – R12 <30 <30 40 75

R13 <30 <30 70 when in use

As construction of the three farms within The Ranch Poultry Production Complex will be undertaken consecutively, there will not be any cumulative construction noise impacts.

Operational Noise

The primary noise sources associated with the operation of an intensive poultry broiler operation are:

• Continuous operation of ventilation fans;

• Operation of heaters and water pumps;

• The mechanical feed delivery system and feed silo refill pump and auger;

• Heavy vehicle movements;

• Occasional tractor and other farm type machine and vehicle movements; and

• Night movements of trucks and forklifts during bird delivery and collection.

Ventilation fans have been identified as the primary continuous noise generating activity. Feed silo refill and bird delivery/collection have been identified as the primary intermittent noise generating activities. All of these sources were modelled in the noise assessment, and all primary noise sources were conservatively assumed to be operating and/or occurring simultaneously.

SLR (2015b) modelled the following two scenarios:




(1) The Ranch Farm 3 PPU in isolation; and

(2) The Ranch Farm 3 PPU with the proposed The Ranch Farm 1 PPU, The Ranch Farm 2 PPU and Tabbita Farms 1 and 2 PPUs (refer Section 2.7).

Table 19 and Table 20 list the maximum noise levels predicted for these two operational scenarios.

Table 19 Calculated LAeq, 15minute Operational Noise Levels- The Ranch Farm 3 Only Receptor Period Predicted Noise Level LAeq(15minute) (dBA) Operational Noise

Criteria LAeq(15minute) (dBA) Calm Prevailing

Winds Temperature Inversion

R1 Day <30 <30 N/A 35

Day (hot weather) <30 <30 N/A 35

Evening <30 <30 N/A 35

Night <30 <30 <30 35

R2 Day <30 <30 N/A 35



Night <30 <30 <30 35

R3 Day <30 <30 N/A 35



Night <30 <30 <30 35

R4 Day <30 <30 N/A 35



Night <30 <30 <30 35

R5 Day <30 <30 N/A 35



Night <30 <30 <30 35

R6 Day <30 <30 N/A 35



Night <30 <30 <30 35

R7 Day <30 <30 N/A 35



Night <30 <30 <30 35

R8 Day <30 <30 N/A 35



Night <30 <30 <30 35

R9 Day <30 <30 N/A 35



Night <30 <30 <30 35




Receptor Period Predicted Noise Level LAeq(15minute) (dBA) Operational Noise Criteria LAeq(15minute) (dBA) Calm Prevailing


R10 Day <30 <30 N/A 35



Night <30 <30 <30 35

R11 Day <30 <30 N/A 35



Night <30 <30 <30 35

R12 Day <30 <30 N/A 35



Night <30 <30 <30 35

R13 Day <30 <30 N/A

65 when in use Day (hot weather) <30 <30 N/A

Evening <30 <30 N/A

Night <30 <30 <30

Table 20 Calculated LAeq, 15minute Operational Noise Levels – Cumulative Receptor Period Predicted Noise Level LAeq(15minute) (dBA) Operational Noise

Criteria LAeq(15minute) (dBA) Calm Prevailing


R1 Day <30 <30 N/A 35 Day (hot weather) <30 <30 N/A 35 Evening <30 <30 N/A 35 Night <30 <30 <30 35






R7 Day <30 <30 N/A 35 Day (hot weather) <30 <30 N/A 35




Receptor Period Predicted Noise Level LAeq(15minute) (dBA) Operational Noise Criteria LAeq(15minute) (dBA) Calm Prevailing


Evening <30 <30 N/A 35 Night <30 <30 <30 35






R13 Day <30 <30 N/A

65 when in use Day (hot weather) <30 <30 N/A Evening <30 <30 N/A Night <30 <30 <30

The results presented in Tables 19 and 20 indicate that operational noise levels are significantly below the most conservative applicable criteria in the INP and therefore there should not be any notable operational noise impacts associated with both The Ranch Farm 3 and the overall The Ranch Poultry Production Complex.

Sleep Disturbance

Sleep disturbance criteria typically only apply to the night period, which is defined in the INP as 10 pm to 7 am. Sleep disturbance is generally caused by short duration noise sources that give rise to a significant increase to noise emission over and above general operational noise. In assessing sleep disturbance, typical LAmax noise levels of acoustically significantly plant and equipment to be used at the Development Site were used as input to the noise model. LAmax noise level predictions were made at the nearest residential locations surrounding the Development Site under worst-case weather conditions at night, and the results are presented in Table 21. The use of the LAmax noise level provides a worst-case prediction since the LA1(1minute) noise level of a particular event is likely to be less than the LAmax.




Table 21 Predicted Sleep Disturbance Noise Levels (dB) Location Period Predicted Sleep Disturbance

Noise Level Lmax (dBA)

Sleep Disturbance Noise Goal (LA1 (1minute)) (dBA)

R1

Night-time

<30

45

R2 <30

R3 <30

R4 <30

R5 <30

R6 38

R7 42

R8 40

R9 38

R10 <30

R11 <30

R12 <30

R13 N/A N/A

As evident in Table 21, the predicted LAmax noise levels are below the most conservative applicable criteria in the INP and therefore there should not be any sleep disturbance noise impacts associated with the Development.

Road Traffic Noise

During Construction

Construction related road traffic noise predictions associated with sensitive receivers are provided in Table 22 and

Table 23. As construction of the three farms associated with The Ranch Poultry Production Complex will be undertaken consecutively, there will not be any cumulative construction road noise impacts.

Table 22 Construction Road Traffic Noise Prediction Results – Kidman Way Scenario Road

Description Receiver Location & Offset Distance

Prediction Results LAeq (dBA) Criteria LAeq, (period)

Day (15 hour)

7am to 10pm

Night (9 hour)

10pm to 7am

Day (15 hour) 7am to 10pm

Night (9 hour) 10pm to

7am Scenario 1 Construction (2017) – No Build

Kidman Way R1 (3083m) <30 N/A

60 55

R2 (2649m) <30 N/A

R3 (779m) 33 N/A

R4 (1110m) 31 N/A

R5 (2229m) <30 N/A

R6 (179m) 43 N/A

R7 (60m) 50 N/A

R8 (38m) 53 N/A

R9 (24m) 55 N/A

R10 (18m) 57 N/A

R11 (738m) 34 N/A




Scenario Road Description

Receiver Location & Offset Distance

Prediction Results LAeq (dBA) Criteria LAeq, (period)

Day (15 hour)

7am to 10pm

Night (9 hour)

10pm to 7am



7am R12 (2607m) <30 N/A

R13 (662m) 34 N/A

Table 23 Construction Road Traffic Noise Prediction Results – Tysons Road Scenario Road


Prediction Results LAeq, (1 hour)

Criteria LAeq, (1 hour)

Day (7 am–10 pm)

Night (10 pm–7 am)

Day (7 am–10 pm)

Night (10 pm–7 am)

Scenario 1 Construction (2017) – No Build

Tysons Road

R1 (3815m) <30 N/A

55 50

R2 (4084m) <30 N/A

R3 (3698m) <30 N/A

R4 (2364m) <30 N/A

R5 (2981m) <30 N/A

R6 (580m) 33 N/A

R7 (500m) 34 N/A

R8 (193m) 41 N/A

R9 (50m) 49 N/A

R10 (168m) 41 N/A

R11 (4269m) <30 N/A

R12 (7219m) <30 N/A

R13 (1466) <30 N/A

As evident in Tables 22 and 23, the predicted road traffic noise levels at the nearest roadside sensitive receivers meet the criteria detailed in the RNP under all prediction scenarios.

During Operation

Road traffic noise levels from the Development have been predicted using with the Federal Highway Administration Model – the FHWA. The modelling allows for traffic volume and mix, vehicle speed, reflections off building surfaces, ground absorption and shielding from ground topography and physical noise barriers. All reported noise levels are “facade-corrected”, that is, predicted noise levels have been adjusted upwards to include a notional 2.5 dBA reflection within the noise model computation. The predicted levels are for receiver points 1.5 m above the external ground level.

SLR (2015b) modelled three scenarios for the purposes of the road traffic noise impact assessment:

• Scenario 1 (no build) – 2017 assumes existing traffic volumes without the proposed development.

• Scenario 2 (build) – 2017 assumes existing traffic volumes with the proposed development in operation.

• Scenario 3 Future (build) - the 10 year projection scenario (2027), which assumes ten years growth in traffic volumes with the proposed development in operation.

The predicted road traffic noise levels during operation of the proposed farm on both Kidman Way and Tysons Road are presented in




Table 24 and

Table 25, respectively.

Table 24 Operational Road Traffic Noise Prediction Results - Kidman Way Scenario Road


Prediction Results LAeq (dBA) Criteria

Day (15 hour)

7am to 10pm

Night (9 hour)

10pm to 7am

Day (15 hour)

7am to 10pm

Night (9 hour)

10pm to 7am Scenario 1 (2017) – No Build

Kidman Way R1 (3083m) <30 <30

60 55

R2 (2649m) <30 <30

R3 (779m) 33 <30

R4 (1110m) 30 <30

R5 (2229m) <30 <30

R6 (179m) 42 32

R7 (60m) 49 39

R8 (38m) 52 42

R9 (24m) 54 45

R10 (18m) 56 46

R11 (738m) 33 <30

R12 (2607m) <30 <30

R13 (662m) 34 <30

Scenario 2 (2017) – Build

Kidman Way R1 (3083m) <30 <30

60 55

R2 (2649m) <30 <30

R3 (779m) 33 <30

R4 (1110m) 31 <30

R5 (2229m) <30 <30

R6 (179m) 43 33

R7 (60m) 49 40

R8 (38m) 52 42

R9 (24m) 55 45

R10 (18m) 56 47

R11 (738m) 33 <30

R12 (2607m) <30 <30

R13 (662m) 34 <30


Kidman Way R1 (3083m) <30 <30

60 55

R2 (2649m) <30 <30

R3 (779m) 34 <30

R4 (1110m) 31 <30

R5 (2229m) <30 <30

R6 (179m) 43 34

R7 (60m) 50 40

R8 (38m) 53 43

R9 (24m) 56 46

R10 (18m) 57 47







Day (15 hour)

7am to 10pm

Night (9 hour)

10pm to 7am

Day (15 hour)

7am to 10pm

Night (9 hour)

10pm to 7am R11 (738m) 34 <30

R12 (2607m) <30 <30

R13 (662m) 35 <30

Table 25 Operational Road Traffic Noise Prediction Results - Tysons Road Scenario Road



Day (1 hour)

7am to 10pm

Night (1 hour)

10pm to 7am

Day (1 hour)

7am to 10pm

Night (1 hour)

10pm to 7am Scenario 1 (2017) – No Build

Tysons Road

R1 (3815m) <30 <30

55 50

R2 (4084m) <30 <30

R3 (3698m) <30 <30

R4 (2364m) <30 <30

R5 (2981m) <30 <30

R6 (580m) <30 <30

R7 (500m) <30 <30

R8 (193m) <30 <30

R9 (50m) 38 38

R10 (168m) 30 30

R11 (4269m) <30 <30

R12 (7219m) <30 <30

R13 (1466) <30 <30


Tysons Road

R1 (3815m) <30 <30

55 50

R2 (4084m) <30 <30

R3 (3698m) <30 <30

R4 (2364m) <30 <30

R5 (2981m) <30 <30

R6 (580m) 31 31

R7 (500m) 32 32

R8 (193m) 38 38

R9 (50m) 47 47

R10 (168m) 39 39

R11 (4269m) <30 <30

R12 (7219m) <30 <30

R13 (1466) <30 <30


Tysons Road

R1 (3815m) <30 <30

55 50

R2 (4084m) <30 <30

R3 (3698m) <30 <30

R4 (2364m) <30 <30

R5 (2981m) <30 <30







Day (1 hour)

7am to 10pm

Night (1 hour)

10pm to 7am

Day (1 hour)

7am to 10pm

Night (1 hour)

10pm to 7am R6 (580m) 34 34

R7 (500m) 35 35

R8 (193m) 41 41

R9 (50m) 49 49

R10 (168m) 42 42

R11 (4269m) <30 <30

R12 (7219m) <30 <30

R13 (1466) <30 <30

Table 26 and Table 27 provide the modelling results for the cumulative operational road traffic noise levels associated with The Ranch Poultry Production Complex.

Table 26 Cumulative Operational Road Traffic Noise Prediction Results – Kidman Way Scenario Road



Day (15 hour)

7am to 10pm

Night (9 hour)

10pm to 7am



7am Scenario 2 (2017) – Build

Kidman Way R1 (3083m) <30 <30

60 55

R2 (2649m) <30 <30 R3 (779m) 33 <30 R4 (1110m) 31 <30 R5 (2229m) <30 <30 R6 (179m) 43 33 R7 (60m) 49 40 R8 (38m) 52 42 R9 (24m) 55 45 R10 (18m) 56 47 R11 (738m) 33 <30 R12 (2607m) <30 <30

R13 (662m) 34 <30 Scenario 3 (2027) – Build

Kidman Way R1 (3083m) <30 <30

60 55

R2 (2649m) <30 <30 R3 (779m) 34 <30 R4 (1110m) 31 <30 R5 (2229m) <30 <30 R6 (179m) 43 34 R7 (60m) 50 40 R8 (38m) 53 43 R9 (24m) 56 46 R10 (18m) 57 47 R11 (738m) 34 <30 R12 (2607m) <30 <30 R13 (662m) 35 <30

Table 27 Cumulative Operational Road Traffic Noise Prediction Results – Tysons Road







Day (1 hour)

7am to 10pm

Night (1 hour)

10pm to 7am



7am Scenario 2 (2017) – Build

Tysons Road R1 (3815m) <30 <30

55 50

R2 (4084m) <30 <30 R3 (3698m) <30 <30 R4 (2364m) <30 <30 R5 (2981m) <30 <30 R6 (580m) 31 31 R7 (500m) 32 32 R8 (193m) 38 38 R9 (50m) 47 47 R10 (168m) 39 39 R11 (4269m) <30 <30 R12 (7219m) <30 <30

R13 (1466) <30 <30 Scenario 3 (2027) – Build

Tysons Road R1 (3815m) <30 <30

55 50

R2 (4084m) <30 <30 R3 (3698m) <30 <30 R4 (2364m) <30 <30 R5 (2981m) <30 <30 R6 (580m) 34 34 R7 (500m) 35 35 R8 (193m) 41 41 R9 (50m) 49 49 R10 (168m) 42 42 R11 (4269m) <30 <30 R12 (7219m) <30 <30 R13 (1466) <30 <30

Table 24 to Table 27 indicate that the predicted road traffic noise levels meet the criteria detailed in the RNP under all prediction scenarios at the nearest roadside residential receivers.


While SLR (2015b) concludes that the Development will have negligible impact on local amenity with respect to noise impacts, VOAG 3 will take reasonable and practicable measures to prevent or minimise noise emissions. As listed below, a range of design features, best management practices and mitigation measures will be applied to minimise and manage potential noise impacts.

Construction • Construction activities will be restricted to the following standard daytime hours:

- Monday to Friday - 7.00 am to 6.00 pm.

- Saturday - 8.00 am to 1.00 pm.

- No construction work will take place on Sundays or public holidays.

• Plant and equipment operators will be instructed on how to minimise noise generation at all times. Measures may include avoiding the operation of noisy plant and equipment simultaneously; and




• All plant and equipment will be maintained to meet regulatory and industry standards, as well as ensure optimal operating conditions.

Operation • Plant and equipment operators will be appropriately instructed on how to minimise noise

generation at all times. Measures may include avoiding the operation of noisy plant and equipment simultaneously;

• Noise generating equipment purchased by the operator will comply with relevant occupational health and safety requirements;

• Emergency standby diesel generators will only be used when power from the electricity grid is lost and they will be appropriately sited and housed to minimise noise emissions;

• All plant and equipment will be maintained to meet regulatory and industry standards, as well as to ensure optimal operating conditions;

• A unidirectional traffic movement system, via a one-way circulation road around the perimeter of the PPU, will be established to minimise the use of reversing alarms;

• Internal access roads will be appropriately maintained to minimise noise levels; and

• Suitable signage will be erected to direct traffic, limit traffic speed and minimise night time noise levels.

7.5 Traffic and Transport

As outlined in Section 3.11.1, the Development is expected to generate additional operational traffic amounting to approximately 2,006 heavy vehicle movements per year, along with 2,496 light vehicle (car, van, ute) movements associated with staff, contractors and tradesmen. The majority of traffic will travel between the Development Site, Griffith and Hanwood via the Kidman Way.

RoadNet was engaged to undertake an assessment of traffic-related issues associated with the Development, including the potential for cumulative impacts with other traffic-generating developments in the area. The assessment was undertaken in accordance with relevant Council and RMS standards. A copy of RoadNet’s Traffic Impact Assessment (2015a) is contained within Appendix D, with the key findings provided below.


Existing traffic volumes

As described in Section 2.4, the Development Site is bordered by two local roads; Tysons Road and Back Hillston Road. Tysons Road, where the proposed site entrance will be located, connects to the Kidman Way. RoadNet (2015a) derived existing traffic volumes along the Kidman Way from an RMS mobile counting site approximately 700 m south of Tysons Road (the traffic volumes and daily traffic flow profile at this site are expected to be representative of what also occurs on Kidman Way nears its intersection with Tysons Road).

The most recent traffic data available from the RMS mobile site dates back to the period from Tuesday 22 November 2011 to Tuesday 13 December 2011. The data shows relatively low traffic volumes on Kidman Way during the survey period. Average traffic volumes during the weekdays were approximately 1,100 vehicles per day (two-way), reducing at the weekends to provide an overall 7-day average daily volume of 987 vehicles per day (two-way).

Analysis of the data by RoadNet (2015a) indicated:

• Traffic volumes along Kidman Way generally increase during the morning to a peak of 75 vehicles per hour between 8.00 am and 10.00 am and then remain at a level between 60 and 70 vehicles per hour during the middle part of the day before peaking again in the afternoon to 81 vehicles per hour between 4.00 pm and 5.00 pm. The volumes then reduce again with an overnight low of 3 vehicles per hour recorded between 1.00 am and 4.00 am;




• Existing traffic volumes during the AM and PM peaks for The Ranch Farm 3 (i.e. around 7.00 am and 4.00 pm, corresponding to the start and end times for the daily farm workers shift) are approximately 51 vehicles per hour and 81 vehicles per hour, respectively;

• There is some variation throughout the day between northbound and southbound volumes, however, the directional split for the full 24 hour period is approximately 50:50;

• Heavy vehicle numbers contribute up to approximately 20% of the total daily traffic volumes, however, during the night-time the proportion of heavy vehicles is expected to be much higher; and

• Weekday traffic volumes were observed to be slightly higher than weekend volumes over the survey period.

RoadNet (2015a) also conducted an onsite traffic count in June 2015 at the intersections of Tysons Road and Kidman Way. The count indicated a two-way peak hour volume along Kidman Way of 110 vehicles per hour between 3:45 pm and 4:45 pm, including 22 heavy vehicles. Only two vehicles were observed to turn into Tysons Road and one vehicle out during the survey period (i.e. 1.5 hours).

While the volume of traffic observed along Kidman Way from the traffic survey was higher than that identified from analysis of the RMS traffic data for the same time period, the overall order of magnitude was considered similar (RoadNet 2015a). RoadNet (2015a) noted that given the different times of year associated with each survey and the different baseline assumptions (i.e. average 7-day traffic volume versus weekday spot count) this was to be expected, however, since the hourly volumes were so low the differences were insignificant. The survey indicated that there is very little traffic currently using Tysons Road via its intersection with Kidman Way during the afternoon peak period. This is consistent with site observations which confirm a limited number of existing and operational access points along the length of Tysons Road.

For the purpose of the traffic assessment, RoadNet (2015a) used the highest average hourly traffic volume of 81 vehicles per hour in 2011 (41 vehicles per hour southbound, 40 vehicles per hour northbound) from analysis of the RMS data, with an allowance for traffic growth to represent the future traffic volumes along Kidman Way at the Tysons Road intersection during each of the development peak hours. This equates to examining the worst case (highest hourly volume) scenario on a typical (average) day. In addition, a nominal allowance of one vehicle per hour turning into Tysons Road from each direction and one vehicle per hour turning out of Tysons Road in each direction during the development peak hours was assumed, along with 10 vehicles per hour in and out (i.e. each way) over a full day. These assumptions reflect the very low background traffic volumes that were observed to be currently using this road.


Construction Related Impacts

There is not expected to be a significant impact to the external road network during construction of the Development. Construction of the poultry sheds, internal roads and other features will generate some heavy vehicle movements associated with deliveries of materials and equipment, as well as construction site worker trips to the site. However, the volume will be low, and is not expected to impact on the operation or safety of the external road network.

Construction traffic will likely originate from Griffith and will follow Kidman Way to the Development Site. RoadNet (2015a) concluded that the transport routes to be used by the Development are suitable for the types of vehicle movements that will be generated and will be able to readily accommodate the traffic generated with no further upgrades to any roadways or intersections required (apart from the upgrade to the Kidman Way - Tysons Road intersection being proposed as part of The Ranch Farm 1 development proposal (DA 2016/017)).

As construction of the three farms associated with The Ranch Poultry Production Complex will be undertaken consecutively, there will not be any cumulative construction traffic impacts.




Operational Traffic Movements

As detailed in Section 3.11, the Development is expected to generate additional operational traffic amounting to approximately 4,502 vehicle movements per year, of which 2,006 will be heavy vehicle movements. On average, this is equivalent to approximately 14 vehicle movements per day, of which 6 will be heavy vehicle movements. The majority of traffic generated by the Development will travel between the Development Site, Griffith and Hanwood via Kidman Way.

RoadNet (2015a) advises that the additional traffic generated by the poultry operation will not impact on the safety or operation of the external road network. The additional traffic anticipated to be generated by the Development, compared with existing vehicle movements on the Kidman Way, is presented in Table 28.

Table 28 Future Forecast Traffic Volumes on Kidman Way South of Tysons Road (2027) Existing Traffic Vehicle Trips per Day

Additional Generated Traffic Vehicle Trips per Day

Percentage Increase

Cars Heavy Vehicles

Total Cars Heavy Vehicles


Total

989 245 1234 6 6 12 <1% 2.40% 1%

The expected increase in light vehicle trips as a result of the Development is anticipated to be approximately 12 per day, with most of these movements expected during the peak periods at the start and end of a 7.00 am to 4.00 pm shift. This additional traffic, representing less than 1% increase in light vehicle movements, will have minimal impact on Kidman Way and the external road network.

Heavy vehicles on Kidman Way are expected to increase by approximately 2.4%. RoadNet (2015a) advises that this higher percentage increase is due to the relatively low volume of heavy vehicles in the background traffic. The increase in heavy vehicles as a result of the Development represents approximately 1 vehicle per hour during the peak periods.

Kidman Way / Tysons Road Intersection

As discussed in Section 3.10.1, access to the Development (and The Ranch Poultry Production Complex) will be achieved via Tysons Road and its existing intersection with Kidman Way. RoadNet’s (2015a) assessment of the increase in traffic volumes that will occur on Kidman Way at this intersection concluded that the additional trips are not expected to have any adverse operational impacts on the external road network. RoadNet (2015a) noted that for the low volumes involved that the intersection will continue to operate at a level of service ‘A’ with minimal delays and queuing.

Notwithstanding, the following road improvements/upgrades will be undertaken as part of The Ranch Farm 1 development (DA 2016/017):

• Upgrade of the Kidman Way – Tysons Road intersection to include a BAL treatment at the intersection to supplement the existing BAR layout. This upgrade will ensure that the lane widths of Kidman Way are maintained commensurate with road’s designation as an approved B-Double and road train route;

• If found necessary during the design, Tysons Road will be widened at the intersection to accommodate the turn paths of vehicles up to the size of B-doubles; and

• Tysons Road will be linemarked on its approach to the intersection to include a centreline and hold line for the existing Give Way control, thereby encouraging orderly driver behaviour at the intersection.

These road works have been devised to ensure a safe intersection configuration is provided for the types of vehicles and movements that will be generated by The Ranch Poultry Production Complex (i.e. the three poultry farms).




These upgrades were assessed as part of The Ranch Farm 1 EIS and will be subject to that development consent and approval under Section 138 of the Roads Act 1993. As such, they have not been considered further in this document.

Proposed Site Access Driveway

As discussed in Section 3.10.2, all operation traffic will travel along Kidman Way and Tysons Road and access the Development Site via the new access to be constructed from Tysons Road and the new internal access road. Approval of the new site access and access road to The Ranch Farm 1 is being sought as part of The Ranch Farm 1 development proposal (DA 2016/017) and will be constructed at the commencement of the construction phase for The Ranch Farm 1.

The Ranch Farm 2 development proposal (DA 2016/022) includes the extension of the internal access road from The Ranch Farm 1 site to The Ranch Farm 2 site. The Ranch Farm 3 development proposal (DA 2016/023) includes extension of the internal access road from The Ranch Farm 2 site to The Ranch Farm 3 site (refer Figure 8). These works will be undertaken at the commencement of the construction phase for The Ranch Farm 2 and The Ranch Farm 3, respectively.

The internal access road from The Ranch Farm 2 site to The Ranch Farm 3 site will cross an ephemeral drainage line. Subsequently a culvert will be necessary, with relevant design (including surface water management) to be addressed with Council prior to the commencement of construction works). These proposed works will require the clearing of approximately 0.07 ha of existing vegetation (refer Section 7.7).

The internal access road will be aligned in an offset position from the adjacent Back Hillston Road so that the existing corridor of vegetation along this road will not be disturbed.

The Development will not generate any traffic along Back Hillston Road.

Heavy Vehicle Routes

As discussed in Section 3.11.2, heavy vehicles will generally travel to and from the Development Site from facilities located in and around Hanwood and Griffith on a daily basis via the Kidman Way. The traffic volume calculations used in the traffic assessment are based on the largest vehicle servicing the Development being a semi-trailer, which provides a conservative estimate of traffic movements. However, it is possible that future contractors may use B-doubles to service the Development Site.

A designated B-double route currently exists along Kidman Way, which is also an approved road train route. The daily volume along this route is currently low. The additional six heavy vehicle trips per day (approximately one in each of the peak hours for the development) along the Kidman Way are not expected to have any significant traffic impacts.

RoadNet (2015a) concluded that the transport routes to be used by the Development are suitable for the types of vehicle movements that will be generated and will be able to readily accommodate the traffic generated with no further upgrades to any roadways or intersections required (apart from the upgrade to the Kidman Way - Tysons Road intersection which is part of The Ranch Farm 1 development proposal (DA 2016/017)).

Cumulative Impacts

An assessment of cumulative traffic volumes was undertaken by RoadNet (2015a) for the following developments:

• The Ranch Poultry Production Complex (The Ranch Farms 1, 2 and 3);

• Jeanella Poultry Production Complex (existing);

• Jeanella South Poultry Production Complex;

• Maylands Poultry Farm A and Farm B; and

• Tabbita Poultry Farm 1 and Farm 2.




The results presented in Table 29 show that cumulative traffic impacts collectively result in an increase of 19 to 21% to the total daily volumes on the subject sections of Kidman Way at the future design year of 2027. While the forecast percentage increase in heavy vehicle movements is 65 to 72%, the resulting volumes are still low and easily accommodated on Kidman Way (RoadNet, 2015a).

Although there is a substantial increase in the volume of traffic predicted to use Tysons Road when compared to the estimated current usage, the total predicted volume of 62 vehicles per day is still extremely low and is not predicted to result in any capacity or operational issues (RoadNet 2015a).

Table 29 Future Forecast Traffic Volumes (2027) – Cumulative Road Background Traffic

Vehicle Trips per Day Additional Generated Traffic Vehicle Trips per Day

Percentage Increase

Cars Heavy Vehicles



Total

Tysons Road (east of Kidman Way)

10 10 20 24 18 42 340% 280% 310%

Kidman Way (north of Tysons Road)

991 243 1234 76 158 234 8% 65% 19%

Kidman Way (south of Tysons Road)

989 245 1234 88 176 264 9% 72% 21%

Based on the information that was available at the time of undertaking the assessment, the cumulative impacts of the known developments appear to be acceptable and do not require additional road improvements or upgrades (RoadNet, 2015a).


In addition to the road upgrades works that are part of The Ranch Farm 1 development (see Section 3.10), the following road works and mitigation measures will be implemented to prevent and/or minimise potential traffic related issues:

Internal Access Road • The internal access road between The Ranch Farm 2 site and the Development Site will be

constructed to a suitable strength and width to accommodate the expected heavy vehicle movements and their turn path requirements.

Operation and Maintenance

• All operational traffic will enter and exit the Development Site via the dedicated site access driveway off Tysons Road (i.e. no operational traffic will utilise the existing access driveway from the Back Hillston Road).

• All internal roads will be appropriately maintained to minimise noise and dust emissions and provide safe driving conditions.

• The internal roads will be maintained within the PPU to enable heavy vehicles to enter, exit and manoeuvre in a forward direction.

• Suitable signage will be erected indicating internal traffic direction and speed limits to ensure the orderly and safe use of the site, as well as to minimise the potential for traffic conflict and noise.

• All internal roads will be maintained clear of obstruction and used exclusively for the purposes of transport, loading-unloading and parking. Under no circumstances will these areas be used for storage of goods or waste products.

• Heavy vehicles will follow designated B-double and road train routes, when travelling between the Development Site and servicing facilities in and around Griffith and Hanwood.




7.6 Water Resources


An overview of existing local surface water and groundwater characteristics is provided in Section 2.10. In summary:

• The Development Site is situated on the southern edge of the catchment of the Lachlan River, near its boundary with the neighbouring catchment of the Murrumbidgee River. It is located approximately 70 km south-east of the Lachlan River and approximately 46 km north of the Murrumbidgee River (refer Figure 1).

• There are no significant waterways, surface water bodies or tributaries within the bounds of the Development Site. An ephemeral drainage traverses through the Development Site, and a small dam is located outside the northern boundary of the Site as is evident on Figure 8. The nearest notable natural waterway is Mirrool Creek, approximately 11.5 km south-west of the Development Site.

• A number of formed irrigation channels are a feature of the wider region; with the nearest significant channel being Tabbita Channel located around 4.3 km from the Development Site.

• The nearest wetland area is Barron Box Storage and Wetland, which is approximately 5.9 km to the south of the Development Site.

• The Development Site is not considered flood-prone land, with significant separation from the nearby waterways.

• The Development Site is located in the Lachlan Fold Belt Groundwater Management Area (GMA), which is part of the NSW Murray-Darling Basin Fractured Rock Groundwater Sources Water Sharing Plan. The Development Site lies within the Cobar Plains province of the Darling Geological Region. Groundwater within the locality is primarily used for irrigation, as well as stock watering and domestic purposes.

• A search of the DPI Water on-line database identified 12 bores within a 5 km radius of the Development Site. The nearest bore (GW002984) is located approximately 1.1 km north-west of the Site, and the drilling records indicate a standing water level of 89.3 m. This bore is no longer functional.


Overview

Many traditional agricultural practices have the potential to impact upon surface and groundwater resources. Livestock grazing on river flats, cultivating immediately adjacent to waterways and the application of agricultural chemicals can all contribute significant loads of faecal bacteria, nutrients and turbidity to water resources.

The potential for adverse impact to surface and groundwater resources from the development of intensive poultry production farms is, in comparison, very low.

Given the controlled environment in which the Development will operate, along with the environmental licensing conditions it will need to comply with, it poses a low risk to local water resources and no detectable impact is expected. Points to note in relation to the management of water on site include:

• The Development will largely be a dry operation, with no effluent generated as a result of the poultry-rearing itself;

• The Development Site is not located on flood-liable land and is removed from any identified watercourses or drainage features;

• The poultry sheds will have fully sealed concrete flooring and will be surrounded by a dwarf concrete bund wall to prevent rainwater and runoff entering the sheds;

• Appropriate systems will be implemented for chemical storage, handling and incident response;




• No on-site stockpiling or disposal of waste materials; and

• Improved flow from the sheds and surrounds will be managed via an engineered surface water management system (refer Section 3.15).

Due to the low risk, no water monitoring program is warranted.

During Construction

The proposed PPU is well removed from any naturally formed waterways, surface water bodies or tributaries, with no works to be undertaken within, or near, waterfront land. Notwithstanding, suitable mitigation measures will be implemented, as described in Section 7.6.3, to ensure the potential for any offsite impacts resulting from construction activities is minimised.

Construction activities could potentially impact upon water resources through changes to groundwater recharge as a result of soil compaction, loss of groundcover and generation of sediment-laden runoff. Given that the disturbance footprint of the PPU will be relatively small in comparison with the properties residual land, changes to the existing runoff/recharge pattern will be minor. This combined with the deep groundwater levels in the general area (NSW Office of Water 2009) leads to the conclusion that no detectable impacts to groundwater levels, yields or quality are expected. The nature of the strata and the water table depth will provide an adequate buffer against infiltration of any potential pollutants, such as turbidity and/or hydrocarbons.

While some excavation activities will be undertaken as part of construction to establish the water storage dam and surface water management features, there will not be any interaction with groundwater given the relatively shallow excavations and the depth of the water table.

During Operation

Surface Water Management

The main operational water sources associated with the Development to be managed will be:

• Wash down water from within the poultry sheds at the end of each nine week production cycle (approximately 5.7 times per year);

• Rainfall runoff from the shed roofs; and

• Rainfall runoff from the ground surfaces surrounding the poultry sheds and additional improvements.

The potential for impact to local water resources through offsite discharge of surface runoff containing nutrients, chemicals or pathogens is considered negligible as all rainfall runoff will be captured and managed through a series of drains and maintained in the proposed 60 ML water storage dam, as described in Section 3.15.

While the water captured in the onsite surface water management system drains will have some level of nutrients, the levels are predicted to be low given that the poultry sheds will be thoroughly blown and swept prior to being washed and the grassed swale drains will provide a very effective means of nutrient capture. The typical annual pollutant load removal efficiencies for vegetated swale drains according to Australian Runoff Quality (Engineers Australia 2006) are presented in Table 30.

Table 30 Typical Annual Pollutant Load Removal Efficiencies for Vegetated Swales Pollutant Typical Removal Total Suspended Solids 60-80%

Total Nitrogen 25-40%

Total Phosphorus 30-50%




Based on the design of the surface water management system and the quality and relatively low volume of water to be managed, there is negligible risk of nutrient high runoff flowing off site. The potential for impact to local water resources by runoff of nutrients, chemicals or pathogens is considered negligible.

The 60 ML water storage dam and the detention basin to be constructed as part of the wheel wash facility will be constructed as turkeys nest dams and therefore will not capture runoff from the property and the maximum harvestable right does not apply.

Solid Waste Disposal

Stockpiling and/or disposal of waste materials, especially poultry litter, dead birds and chemical containers, can result in leaching of nutrients and pollution to surface waters and groundwater. However, as outlined in Section 3.14, appropriate systems will be implemented to ensure that each waste stream generated by the Development is effectively managed and disposed of off-site. There will not be any on-site stockpiling or disposal of waste materials.

Sewage Disposal

The sewage generated by the on-site dwellings and staff amenities will be appropriately treated and disposed of via on-site aerated wastewater management systems installed and operated in accordance with the relevant standards/guidelines and required Council approvals. No detectable impact to surface water or groundwater is anticipated as a result the low volumes that will be generated, the on-site system standards/requirements, the available land area and separation distances.


The following best management practices and mitigation measures will be implemented to safeguard local water resources and/or minimise and manage potential adverse impacts:

Construction • Disturbance will be limited to the smallest practicable area to allow for the essential site

preparation and construction activities.

• All clean extraneous surface water from upslope will be diverted around areas of disturbance.

• Appropriate erosion and sediment control structures will be installed and maintained in accordance with the Blue Book (Landcom 2004) and Erosion and Sediment Control on Unsealed Roads (OEH 2012) to prevent soil loss and sediment-laden runoff.


Development Design

• Each poultry shed will be fully enclosed and have concrete flooring.

• Each poultry shed will be surrounded by a dwarf concrete bund wall to prevent rainwater and runoff entering the sheds and to allow for the controlled discharge of wash down water from the sheds.

• The engineered surface water management system described in Section 3.15 will be implemented to provide long-term structural controls to manage surface water runoff and ensure no off-site impacts.

• On-site aerated wastewater management systems will be installed to manage the sewage generated by on-site staff amenities and dwellings in accordance with the manufacturer’s specifications and Council requirements.

Operation




• The surface water management system will be visually inspected on a monthly basis and following significant rainfall events. Any required maintenance work (desilting, regrading and/or reshaping) will be promptly undertaken to ensure the system’s design capacity is maintained.

• The grassed swale drains between the poultry sheds will be carefully managed to minimise soil disturbance and maximise infiltration of runoff, as well as regularly slashed to encourage continual grass growth and associated nutrient up-take.

• Dry-cleaning practices at the end of each production cycle will be maximised within the poultry sheds prior to washing with water to minimise the volume of wash water, along with the amount of poultry litter (and associated sediments and nutrients) washed out of the sheds.

• The waste management systems described in Section 3.14 will be implemented to ensure that each waste stream generated by the Development is effectively managed and disposed of off-site. There will not be any on-site stockpiling or disposal of waste materials.

• The best management practices and mitigation measures described in Section 3.13 will be implemented and maintained for chemical use and storage.

7.7 Biodiversity


Substantial disturbance of the natural environment within the Development Site has occurred as a result of historic clearing and long-term agricultural production. The modified nature of the vegetation, particularly cropped/grazed and mostly treeless paddocks, significantly limits the value of the area as habitat for native flora and fauna.

The aerial photography that forms the backdrop to Figures 3 and 8 clearly show the limited extent of native woody vegetation cover within and around the Development Site. There is some vegetation in the north-eastern corner of the Development Site and a narrow corridor of vegetation along the eastern lot boundary (within the Back Hillston Road corridor). However these areas are generally removed from the Development’s proposed disturbance footprint.

Regional vegetation mapping for the Murrumbidgee catchment (Eco Logical Australia 2011) shows that there is no vegetation mapped within the Development Site. There is, however, vegetation mapped along Huxleys Road (Sand Plain Mallee Woodlands) to the west of the Development Site and immediately north and east of the Development Site (Inland Rocky Hill Woodlands) (refer Figure 7). Neither of these communities are listed as endangered ecological communities (EECs) in NSW under the TSC Act. It is most likely that the vegetation communities along the fence line between The Ranch Farm 2 development site and Back Hilston Road would be one of these two vegetation communities, and therefore not EEC.

In addition, a review of Council’s “Biodiversity” map series reveals that there is no land within or adjoining the Development Site that is mapped as “biodiversity” in the Carrathool LEP.




Plate 8 The Development Site (Looking West)

Threatened Biota 7.7.2

SLR completed a search of the OEH’s BioNet Atlas of NSW Wildlife to determine if any threatened species have been previously recorded within the Development Site or the surrounding locality. A copy of the search results is contained within Appendix F. The results of the database search reveal that no threatened flora species, two threatened species of fauna species and one endangered population have been detected within a 10 km radius of the Development Site. None of the threated species records lie within the Development Site boundary.

The threatened fauna species recorded within a 10 km radius of the site comprised of 2 birds, namely:

• Glossy Black Cockatoo west of Tabbita; and

• Major Mitchell's Cockatoo east of Tabbita.

There was also one endangered fauna population recorded within a 10 km radius of the site:

• Glossy Black Cockatoo (Riverina population) west of Tabbita.

The following endangered ecological communities (EECs) listed in the TSC Act have also been detected within a 10 km radius of the Development Site:

• Inland Grey Box Woodland in the Riverina, NSW South Western Slopes, Cobar Peneplain, Nandewar and Brigalow Belt South Bioregions; and

• Myall Woodland in the Darling Riverine Plains, Brigalow Belt South, Cobar Peneplain, Murray-Darling Depression, Riverina and NSW South Western Slopes Bioregions.

A Protected Matters Search was also performed (refer Section 4.3.1) on the DoE website to ascertain if any matters of national environmental significance listed in the EPBC Act have previously been identified as occurring in or relating to, the Development Site. The search results contained in Appendix F, can be summarised as follows:

• Three listed threatened ecological communities that “may occur within the area” –

- Grey Box (Eucalyptus macrocarpa) Grassy Woodlands and Derived Native Grasslands of South-eastern Australia;

- Weeping Myall Woodlands; and




- White Box-Yellow Box-Blakely’s Red Gum Grassy Woodland and Derived Native Grassland.

• Fourteen listed threatened species (and/or their habitats), comprising six bird species, two fish species, one frog species, two mammal species and three plant species, are identified as species “that may occur or are likely to occur within the search area”; and

• Eight migratory bird species are identified as species (and/or their habitats) “that may occur or are likely to occur within the area”.


General

Based on the level of existing site disturbance and the strategic positioning of development infrastructure, including internal access road, the risk of adverse impact on any threatened species, populations, ecological communities or on local biodiversity in general within the surrounding environment is considered negligible. The majority of the proposed footprint of the Development is highly modified and disturbed, having been cleared and repeatedly cropped and grazed for many decades, and it is devoid of any important ecological resources or significant areas of remnant vegetation.

As evident on Figure 8, the Development would be predominantly located within areas that are already cleared. An exception is the narrow strip of woodland vegetation along the ephemeral drainage line north of The Ranch Farm 2 site and adjacent to the Back Hillston Road corridor, which would be removed to allow for construction of the internal access road, culvert and infrastructure corridor (powerline and water pipeline) from The Ranch Farm 2 site to The Ranch Farm 3 site). The vegetation to be removed is approximately 15 m wide and approximately 130 m long, construction would therefore require the removal of approximately 0.07 ha of native vegetation. This area will be compensated for by the extensive landscaping to be undertaken for the development using naturally occurring plant species.

The remaining extent of the internal access road from The Ranch Farm 2 site to The Ranch Farm 3 site will be aligned in an offset position from the adjacent Back Hillston Road so that the existing corridor of vegetation along this road will not be disturbed.

Based on the level of existing site disturbance within the intended Development disturbance footprint, the risk of adverse effects on local populations of native flora and fauna is considered negligible.

Threatened Biota

As stated above, the vegetation to be removed is not likely to constitute an EEC as listed under the TSC Act or EPBC Act. Moreover, given its dimensions and landscape context, the vegetation could not be considered a significant element of biodiversity or an important area of habitat for locally occurring threatened species.

On this basis, the Development is highly unlikely to have an adverse effect on any threatened species, populations, ecological communities, or on local biodiversity in general within the surrounding environment.

The Development Site is a highly modified area of land with limited elements of the natural environment or of the original native vegetation remaining. Given the nature and condition of the site, threatened species, populations or communities (or their habitats) are unlikely to occur.

With respect to Section 5A of the EP&A Act:




• There is no possibility of a “viable local population” of any threatened species being reliant or dependent upon on the Development Site. Accordingly, the Development is not likely to render any such population at “risk of extinction” – factor (a).

• There is no “endangered population” of any species known or likely to occur or be present on the Development Site – factor (b).

• There is no “endangered ecological community” present on the Development Site – factor (c).

• The Development will not involve the removal or modification of any known or potential areas of important habitat for threatened species and will not result in any potential habitat becoming “fragmented or isolated from other areas of habitat”. Accordingly, there is no likelihood of any adverse impact upon the “long-term survival” of any threatened species, population or endangered community “in the locality”. – factor (d).

• There is no “critical habitat” within the Development Site – factor (e).

• There are no relevant “recovery plans” or “threat abatement plans” – factor (f).

• The redevelopment will involve clearing of a small area of native vegetation and so will form a minor element of the ‘key threatening process’ Clearing of native vegetation. However, the small size, limited connectivity and landscape context of the vegetation are such that this threatening process is unlikely to have adverse effects on the viability of the local occurrence of this vegetation. There are no other relevant key threatening processes with regard to the proposed development – Factor (g).

In light of the consideration of the seven factors under Section 5A of the EP&A Act above, the proposed Development is not “likely” to have “a significant effect” on threatened species, populations or ecological communities. A species impact statement is therefore not required.


The following best management practices and mitigation measures will be implemented to safeguard local flora and fauna:

Construction

• Disturbance will be limited to the smallest practicable area to allow for the essential site preparation and construction activities.

• Any clearing will be compensated by the extensive landscaping to be undertaken for the Development using naturally occurring plant species.

• The internal access road will be aligned in an offset position from the adjacent Back Hillston Road so that the existing corridor of vegetation along this road will not be disturbed.

• Appropriate erosion and sediment control structures will be installed and maintained in accordance with the Blue Book (Landcom 2004) and Erosion and Sediment Control on Unsealed Roads (OEH 2012) to prevent soil loss and sediment-laden runoff.


Operation

• The engineered surface water management system described in Section 3.15 will be implemented and maintained to provide long-term structural controls to manage surface water runoff and ensure no off-site impacts.

• Weed management practices will be implemented to avoid the introduction and spread of exotic species.




7.8 Aboriginal Heritage

Aboriginal heritage has been assessed in accordance with the Due Diligence Code of Practice for the Protection of Aboriginal Objects in New South Wales (DECCW 2010 (the Code)) which was implemented to assist developers in exercising the appropriate level of caution when carrying out activities that could cause harm to Aboriginal heritage. The Code sets out steps to:

1. Identify whether or not Aboriginal objects are, or are likely to be, present in an area;

2. Determine whether or not their activities are likely to harm Aboriginal objects (if present); and

3. Determine whether an Aboriginal Heritage Impact Permit (AHIP) application is required.

The assessment undertaken for the Development and the outcomes of this assessment are detailed in the following sub-sections.


Landscape Context

As discussed in Section 7.7, significant disturbance has occurred as a result of historic clearing and long-term agricultural production within the Development Site, and particularly within the proposed disturbance footprint. This disturbance is clearly evident on the aerial photo in Figure 8, and as shown in Plate 8. The majority of the infrastructure associated with the Development will be located on land that is highly modified and disturbed having been cleared and consistently cropped for many decades. Approximately 0.07 ha of vegetation along an ephemeral drainage line north of The Ranch Farm 2 site and adjacent to the Back Hillston Road corridor will be cleared to allow for construction of the internal access road, culvert and infrastructure corridor (powerlines and water pipelines) from The Ranch Farm 2 site to The Ranch Farm 3 site.

AHIMS Search

A search of the Aboriginal Heritage Information Management System (AHIMS), managed by the OEH, was conducted on 3 September 2015 for Development Site (Lot 78 in DP 720258), including a 200 m buffer. The search of the AHIMS database showed that no Aboriginal sites have been recorded in or near the Development Site, nor have any Aboriginal places been declared in or near the Development Site. The AHIMS search reports are contained within Appendix H.

Due Diligence Assessment 7.8.2

The National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 (NPW Act) provides exemptions to the offences for harming Aboriginal objects and places in certain circumstances, such as during any emergency firefighting or bush fire hazard reduction work, or works by, or directed by, authorised OEH officers to protect or conserve Aboriginal objects. The proposed Development does not fall into any of the exemption categories listed under the NPW Act.

Application of the due diligence process involves working through a series of steps as set out in Section 8 of the Code, as follows.

Step 1 – Will the activity disturb the ground surface or any culturally modified trees?

Yes, the Development will involve ground disturbance for the construction of the poultry sheds and ancillary infrastructure. Based on aerial photography there is only one mature tree within the 0.07 ha area that will be cleared.

Step 2: Are there any:




a) relevant confirmed site records or other associated landscape feature information on AHIMS?

No. A search of the AHIMS database revealed no Aboriginal sites or Aboriginal places located within the Development Site.

b) any other sources of information of which a person is already aware?

No. It is noted that Aboriginal community consultation is not a formal requirement of the due diligence process in accordance with the Code, and due to the high levels of disturbance and long term agricultural use of the Development Site, this is not considered necessary for this Development.

c) landscape features that are likely to indicate presence of Aboriginal objects?

No. The Development Site does not contain any of the landscape features noted in the Code as follows:

• within 200 m of waters, or

• located within a sand dune system, or

• located on a ridge top, ridge line or headland, or

• located within 200 m below or above a cliff face, or

• within 20 m of or in a cave, rock shelter, or a cave mouth

In addition, is the proposed development on land that is not disturbed land?

No. The land on which the Development will be located is predominantly highly modified and disturbed, having been cleared and consistently cropped for many decades. An area of existing vegetation (approximately 0.07 ha) will be cleared to allow for construction of the internal access road, culvert and infrastructure corridor (powerlines and water pipelines). This area shows evidence of previous disturbance including farm roads/tracks. Due to the modified nature of land to be cleared, it is expected that should any Aboriginal sites have existed in the past, that they would unlikely remain extant.

The ‘no’ answer for Step 2, removes the Development from the due diligence process at this step, and as such an AHIP is not necessary. In this instance the Code advises to proceed with caution, and if any Aboriginal objects are found, work is to stop immediately and OEH notified. If human remains are found, work is to stop, the site secured and the NSW Police and OEH are to be notified.


The following best management practices and mitigation measures will be implemented to safeguard Aboriginal heritage:

• Disturbance will be limited to the smallest practicable area to allow for the essential site preparation and construction activities.

• Prior to clearing, the mature tree identified will be inspected and if there are any cultural markings an inspection will be undertaken by a heritage consultant.

• If any Aboriginal objects are uncovered, all works will immediately cease in that locale and the OEH will be notified. Works will only recommence when an appropriate and approved management strategy has been agreed to by all of the relevant stakeholders.

• If human remains are found, all works will immediately cease in that locale, the site will be secured and the NSW Police and OEH will be notified. Works will only recommence when an appropriate and approved management strategy has been agreed to by all of the relevant stakeholders.





7.9 Non-Aboriginal Heritage


Searches of the Australian Heritage Database, NSW Heritage Inventory and Carrathool LEP were undertaken on 5 August 2015. No items were listed within the proposed Development Site. The nearest listed item was the Hermits Cave Complex, located over 26 km to the south-east of the Development Site.


There are no items of heritage significance located within the Development Site.


Given that there are no items of non-Aboriginal heritage recorded within the Development Site or within the immediate surrounds, management/mitigation measures are not required.

7.10 Visual Amenity


The existing amenity of the Development Site and surrounding area is evident from the aerial photography that forms the backdrop to Figure 8.

The visual amenity of the Development Site is that of a rural property that has been significantly modified by historical land clearing and long-term agricultural activities. There are limited elements of the natural environment remaining. There is some vegetation in the north-eastern corner of the Development Site and a narrow corridor of vegetation along the eastern lot boundary (within the Back Hillston Road corridor) (refer to Figure 8), that provides a screen from views along Back Hillston Road.

The surrounding neighbourhood is also characterised by traditional agricultural production and there is a low density of surrounding privately-owned residences, with four located within a radius of 3.9 km of the Development Site.


The proposed PPU is setback from Tysons Road by over 3,700 metres and from the adjoining Back Hillston Road by around 250 metres. The nearest privately-owned residence are located in Tabbita, approximately 3.9 km to the south-west of the Development Site.

Analysis of the topography reveals that there is a moderate change in elevation (approximately 10 to 38 m) between the PPU and the nearest receptors (R1 and R7 to R9) and there is significant intervening vegetation between the PPU and surrounding residences. It is also worth noting that there is existing infrastructure associated with the silo operations (refer Section 2.6) between the Development Site and Tabbita (R6 to R10).

Given the separation distances, surface elevation changes and existing vegetation, it is unlikely that the PPU infrastructure will be visible from any residences and there is also unlikely to be any issues in terms of adverse lighting impacts (for example, light spill or glare) to surrounding residences and/or the local road network.


The following best management practices and mitigation measures will be implemented to minimise the potential for adverse impact on the area’s visual amenity:



Development Design

• The poultry sheds will be constructed using a non-reflective colour-bond type material in an appropriate shade, such as eucalyptus green.

• External lighting will comprise individual light fixtures, with no broad area or flood lighting.

• Vegetation screens will be established around the perimeter of the PPU as outlined in Section 3.17. Once established, these plantings will visually screen development infrastructure and provide a high level of light screening once established.

Operation • Each light fixture will be aimed downwards and will only be used when necessary during times of

low light and/or heavy fog.

7.11 Greenhouse Gas

Emission Sources 7.11.1

The primary sources of greenhouse gas (GHG) from the Development are identified as follows.

Soil Disturbance

Soil carbon is both a source and a sink of GHG. Emissions typically occur from soil disturbance during the process of land use change. Estimates of emissions depend on the area of disturbance and the amount of carbon sequestered in biomass and soils, which differs by vegetation type, geography and climate (Australian Greenhouse Office).

The footprint of the proposed Development is relatively small and comprises land that is already highly disturbed. The land is devoid of significant vegetation cover and now primarily comprises treeless paddocks that have been consistently cropped and grazed for many years. On this basis the value of the soil within the proposed disturbance footprint is considered to be of relatively low value in terms of sequestering carbon.

Fossil Fuel Emissions

The Development will rely on reticulated electricity for running fans, pumps and lights, and LPG for heating sheds. Endeavours will be made to reduce costs associated with the construction and operation of the Development, with a reduction in energy consumption translating into lower operational costs. As research and development identifies areas where energy efficiency can be improved, VOAG 3 will endeavour to implement change to achieve cost reductions.

Over recent years, the poultry industry has moved towards new methods of shed construction and operation, with newer developments constructing larger sheds and using materials with higher insulation properties. Tunnel-ventilated fully-enclosed climate-controlled poultry sheds, such as those proposed at the Development Site, improve efficiency by continuously monitoring parameters such as light, temperature, humidity and static pressure and adjusting the ventilation to suit conditions. On this basis, the Development will require less energy to regulate the internal conditions of the poultry sheds compared to older style poultry sheds. Further, it is understood that a series of larger sheds, as proposed, is more efficient and economical to operate than a greater number of smaller sheds.


The following best management practices and mitigation measures will be implemented to improve energy efficiency and abatement of GHG emissions:

Development Design • Low lux internal shed lighting, which has a significantly reduced power demand compared to past

lighting practices, will be installed within the poultry sheds.




Operation

• External lighting will only be used when necessary during times of low light and/or heavy fog.

• The integrity of the poultry sheds will be regularly checked to identify and rectify any air leaks, which place additional load on ventilation fans.

• Lighting, temperature, humidity and static pressure within the poultry sheds will be continuously monitored and automatically adjusted to suit conditions. This will avoid unnecessary electricity and LPG usage.

• Ventilation fans and heaters will be regularly maintained and serviced to ensure optimal performance and efficiency.

7.12 Socio-Economic Considerations

Overview 7.12.1

The potential for significant adverse socio-economic impacts as a result of the Development, including upon local land use and amenity, is considered minimal. Points to note in this regard include:

• The Development presents the opportunity for sustained economic activity within the region. The generated economic activity, unlike some other business ventures that are largely seasonal, will be all year round;

• The Development Site is isolated from urban areas and there is a very low density of surrounding privately-owned residences;

• The Development will employ best management practices and mitigation measures described in Sections 3 and 7 to minimise the potential for adverse impacts upon the local environmental and surrounding populace; and

• It is intended to continue using the land outside of the disturbance footprint within the Development Site for continued agricultural production purposes under some form of lease or share farming arrangement.

The impact to social amenity will be minimal, with no change to the day-to-day life of surrounding residents as a result of the Development and no additional demand for services or facilities.

Economic Activity 7.12.2

Commercial pursuits, regardless of size and by their very nature, increase economic activity within the locality in which they are situated. The poultry industry within the Griffith region is a perfect example of vertical integration, where each of the operations produce a different product or service and these combine to satisfy a common need, providing a very significant contribution to the local and regional economies.

Based on the information in Section 3.25, the net economic impact of the Development is anticipated to be one of significant benefit. Benefits include:

• The creation of an additional four full-time jobs, comprising one full-time site manager, one full-time assistant farm manager and two full time equivalent farm workers. This translates to up to four families receiving a benefit that would otherwise not be available. There will also be flow-on economic benefits into the wider community as a result of this increased employment;

• The Ranch Farm 3 will consume around 14,000 tonnes of poultry feed per annum and The Ranch Poultry Production Complex (i.e. the three farms) will consume around 42,000 tonnes of poultry feed per annum, which is a yearly recurrent cost of around $19 million (based on the average price of feed at the time this document was prepared); and

• Stimulus to local businesses through development construction activities, consumables and significant flow-on benefits.




It is obvious that there is substantial opportunity for the Development to create significant and sustained economic activity. The generated economic activity, unlike some other business ventures that are largely seasonal, will be all year round. The Griffith region, including the Carrathool LGA, is well known as a major centre for the chicken meat industry (broiler production and support/service facilities), providing significant employment. The Development will increase the supply of broiler poultry by up to 2.28 million birds per year. This is integral to the industry’s strategy for continued growth within both the Griffith region and NSW.

7.13 Cumulative Impacts

Potential cumulative impacts associated with The Ranch Farm 3 and other developments (existing and proposed) were considered, where relevant, in the specialist impact assessments undertaken for the EIS and have been addressed in the above sections.

The potential for cumulative impact is primarily associated with The Ranch Poultry Production Complex (i.e. The Ranch Farms 1, 2 and 3) and other existing and proposed poultry farms (refer Section 2.7). The location of these developments is shown on Figure 1.

A summary of where cumulative impacts have been considered is provided below. For further details please refer to the relevant impact assessment sub-section above.

Odour 7.13.1

SLR (2015a) modelled the proposed Development with the proposed The Ranch Farm 1, The Ranch Farm 2 and Tabbita Farms 1 and 2 to assess the potential for cumulative odour impact. A contour plot




showing the predicted odour concentrations for this cumulative scenario is shown on

Figure 15 in Section 7.2.3. In summary, SLR (2015a) predicts that the odour concentrations will meet the EPA’s assessment criterion at all receptors for the cumulative impact scenario.




Particulate Matter 7.13.2

SLR (2015a) indicated that the screening level particulate emissions modelling showed that the PM10 levels of The Ranch Poultry Production Complex would be anticipated to be lower than 10 µg/m3, which is well below the EPA criterion of 50 µg/m3. Considering the distance between The Ranch Poultry Production Complex and surrounding sensitive receptors the proposed operations are unlikely to cause any significant elevation of particulate levels at the nearest sensitive receptor locations. Based on these initial screening level results and the identified level of risk associated with particulate matter from other similar studies, any further detailed modelling is not considered to be warranted.

Noise 7.13.3

A cumulative noise impact assessment of The Ranch Poultry Production Complex was undertaken by SLR as part of the Noise and Vibration Impact Assessment (2015b). A summary of the assessment has been provided below.

Construction Noise

As construction of the three farms within The Ranch Poultry Production Complex will be undertaken consecutively, there will not be any cumulative construction noise impacts.

Operational Noise

The cumulative noise impacts of The Ranch Poultry Production Complex are significantly below the most conservative applicable criteria in the Industrial Noise Policy (EPA 2000) and therefore there should not be any notable operational noise impacts associated with The Ranch Poultry Production Complex. Cumulative results for all sensitive receptors, during day time, day time (hot weather), evening and night time conditions were less than 30 dB in all weather conditions (SLR 2015b).

Road Traffic Noise

As construction of the three farms within The Ranch Poultry Production Complex will be undertaken consecutively, there will not be any cumulative construction traffic noise impacts.

The predicted operational road traffic noise for The Ranch Poultry Production Complex meet the criteria detailed in the RNP under all prediction scenarios at the nearest roadside residential receivers (SLR 2015b).

Traffic and Transport 7.13.4

The cumulative traffic impacts of a number of known developments in the region, including the existing Jeanella Poultry Production Complex, the proposed Jeanella South Poultry Farm, Maylands Poultry Farms A and B, Tabbita Poultry Farms 1 and 2, The Ranch Farm 1 and The Ranch Farm 2 were examined by RoadNet (2015a) in conjunction with The Ranch Farm 3. The analysis concluded that the resulting volumes on the relevant sections of those roads collectively used by some or all of the developments (namely Tysons Road east of Kidman Way, Kidman Way north of Tysons Road and Kidman Way south of Tysons Road) were still predicted to be very low at the design year of 2027 and easily accommodated by these roads. The cumulative impacts of the known developments were considered to be acceptable and to not require additional improvements or upgrades.

Socio-Economic Considerations 7.13.5

The cumulative socio-economic impacts of The Ranch Poultry Production Complex are anticipated to be of significant benefit and will include:

• The creation of an additional twelve full-time jobs (four per farm). This translates to up to twelve families receiving a benefit that would otherwise not be available. There will also be flow-on economic benefits into the wider community as a result of this increased employment;




• The Ranch Poultry Production Complex will consume around 42,000 tonnes of poultry feed per annum, which is a yearly recurrent cost of around $19 million (based on the average price of feed at the time this document was prepared); and

• Stimulus to local businesses through development construction activities, consumables and significant flow-on benefits.



Page 109 Management and Mitigation Measures

8 MANAGEMENT AND MITIGATION MEASURES

VOAG 3 commits to the implementation of the development design, best management practices and mitigation measures outlined in Sections 3 and 7 for all activities associated with the Development. Table 31 summarises the key commitments made in this EIS.

Table 31 Management and Mitigation Measures Aspect/Commitment

General

VOAG 3 will implement all practicable measures to prevent or minimise any harm to the environment that may result from the construction, commissioning and operation of the Development. • VOAG 3 will carry out the Development generally in accordance with this EIS report. • The Development Site will not accommodate more than 400,000 birds at any one time. • Construction will be undertaken within the hours of:

a. Monday to Friday, 7:00 am to 6:00 pm; b. Saturday, 8:00 am to 1:00 pm; and c. No construction work will take place on Sundays or public holidays.

• The poultry development will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with the majority of activities carried out between 7:00 am and 7:00 pm.

Odour

Development Design • The poultry sheds will be fully enclosed, have adequate roof overhang (wide eaves) and dwarf concrete

bund walls to reduce moisture in the sheds and will subsequently reduce the potential for odour emissions; • The feed silos will be fully enclosed to reduce moisture levels (wet feed has also been identified as a

potential odour source); • The poultry sheds will be tunnel-ventilated, which will allow control over the moisture levels and promote

optimum growing conditions and bird health. The increased airflow and improved feed conversion in tunnel-vented sheds helps to maintain bedding material within the optimal moisture range (NSW Agriculture 2004); and

• All sheds will be fitted with nipple drinkers and drip cups to minimise water spillage and reduce shed moisture.

Vegetation Screens • Vegetation screens will be established around the perimeter of the PPU as outlined in Section 3.17 and

shown on Figure 13. In addition to screening the Development, the plantings will act to effectively filter air movement, which will enhance dust deposition and odour dispersion.

• Vegetative screens act to increase the surface roughness and result in additional turbulence as the odour plumes passes through the permeable barrier (although this will be muted when the stability is high). Vegetative screens also act to partially remove fine dust particles, which also reduces the odour level in the plumes and gives a corresponding percentage reduction in the odour level as the plumes pass receptors downwind.

Operation and Maintenance • Regular monitoring and maintenance of the tunnel ventilation systems and bird drinkers will be undertaken

to avoid spillage, leaks and uneven distribution; • Stocking densities and bird health within each of the poultry sheds will be regularly checked and, if

necessary, appropriate corrective measures will be implemented; • Daily monitoring and maintenance of the bedding material will occur to identify, remove and replace any

caked material beneath drinking lines and/or areas with excessive moisture content; • Poultry litter (spent bedding material) will be promptly removed from the sheds and generally transported

off-site in covered trucks at the end of each production cycle during the clean-out phase. Wherever possible the handling of the material will be avoided during adverse climatic conditions, such as strong winds. The shed ventilation systems will not be used during the removal of bedding material;




Aspect/Commitment • Dead birds will be collected from the sheds on a daily basis and stored in on-site chillers prior to removal

from site; • The insides of the poultry sheds and the surrounds will be maintained at all times to ensure a clean and

sanitary environment; and • During sanitisation, the amount of air released from the sheds while any sanitising scent is present will be

minimised and, if possible, a low scent sanitiser will be utilised.

Particulate Matter

Construction • Dust will be minimised by “wetting” down surfaces being worked/carrying traffic in dry conditions; • Surface disturbance will be limited to the designated disturbance footprint required for construction; • Disturbed areas will be promptly rehabilitated and revegetated to a stable landform as described in Section

3.16 to prevent/minimise windblown dust; and • Where possible, vehicles on site will be confined to designated roadways.

Development Design • The feed silos will be fully enclosed to both prevent the entry of rainwater and minimise emissions of

dust/particulate matter when loading and unloading.

Operation • Regular monitoring and maintenance of the tunnel ventilation systems will be undertaken to ensure optimal

operating condition; • Regular maintenance of plant and equipment will be undertaken to ensure optimal operating condition; • Stocking densities and bird health within the poultry sheds will be regularly checked and, if necessary,

appropriate corrective measures will be implemented; and • Internal access roads will be appropriately maintained to minimise dust emissions and speed will be limited

to 40 km/h on unsealed internal roads.

Noise

Construction • Construction activities will be restricted to the following standard daytime hours:

- Monday to Friday - 7.00 am to 6.00 pm. - Saturday - 8.00 am to 1.00 pm. - No construction work will take place on Sundays or public holidays.

• Plant and equipment operators will be instructed on how to minimise noise generation at all times. Measures may include avoiding the operation of noisy plant and equipment simultaneously; and

• All plant and equipment will be maintained to meet regulatory and industry standards, as well as ensure optimal operating conditions.

Operation • Plant and equipment operators will be appropriately instructed on how to minimise noise generation at all

times. Measures may include avoiding the operation of noisy plant and equipment simultaneously; • Noise generating equipment purchased by the operator will comply with relevant occupational health and

safety requirements; • Emergency standby diesel generators will only be used when power from the electricity grid is lost and they

will be appropriately sited and housed to minimise noise emissions; • All plant and equipment will be maintained to meet regulatory and industry standards, as well as to ensure

optimal operating conditions; • A unidirectional traffic movement system, via a one-way circulation road around the perimeter of the PPU,

will be established to minimise the use of reversing alarms; • Internal access roads will be appropriately maintained to minimise noise levels; and • Suitable signage will be erected to direct traffic, limit traffic speed and minimise night time noise levels.




Aspect/Commitment

Traffic and Transport

Internal Access Road • The internal access road between The Ranch Farm 2 site and the Development Site will be constructed to a

suitable strength and width to accommodate the expected heavy vehicle movements and their turn path requirements.

Operation and Maintenance • All operational traffic will enter and exit the Development Site via the dedicated site access driveway off

Tysons Road (i.e. no operational traffic will utilise the existing access driveway from the Back Hillston Road).

• All internal roads will be appropriately maintained to minimise noise and dust emissions and provide safe driving conditions.

• The internal roads will be maintained within the PPU to enable heavy vehicles to enter, exit and manoeuvre in a forward direction.

• Suitable signage will be erected indicating internal traffic direction and speed limits to ensure the orderly and safe use of the site, as well as to minimise the potential for traffic conflict and noise.

• All internal roads will be maintained clear of obstruction and used exclusively for the purposes of transport, loading-unloading and parking. Under no circumstances will these areas be used for storage of goods or waste products.

• Heavy vehicles will follow designated B-double and road train routes, when travelling between the Development Site and servicing facilities in and around Griffith and Hanwood.

Water Resources

Construction • Disturbance will be limited to the smallest practicable area to allow for the essential site preparation and

construction activities. • All clean extraneous surface water from upslope will be diverted around areas of disturbance. • Appropriate erosion and sediment control structures will be installed and maintained in accordance with the

Blue Book (Landcom 2004) and Erosion and Sediment Control on Unsealed Roads (OEH 2012) to prevent soil loss and sediment-laden runoff.


Development Design • Each poultry shed will be fully enclosed and have concrete flooring. • Each poultry shed will be surrounded by a dwarf concrete bund wall to prevent rainwater and runoff entering

the sheds and to allow for the controlled discharge of wash down water from the sheds. • The engineered surface water management system described in Section 3.15 will be implemented to

provide long-term structural controls to manage surface water runoff and ensure no off-site impacts. • On-site aerated wastewater management systems will be installed to manage the sewage generated by on-

site staff amenities and dwellings in accordance with the manufacturer’s specifications and Council requirements.

Operation • The surface water management system will be visually inspected on a monthly basis and following

significant rainfall events. Any required maintenance work (desilting, regrading and/or reshaping) will be promptly undertaken to ensure the system’s design capacity is maintained.

• The grassed swale drains between the poultry sheds will be carefully managed to minimise soil disturbance and maximise infiltration of runoff, as well as regularly slashed to encourage continual grass growth and associated nutrient up-take.

• Dry-cleaning practices at the end of each production cycle will be maximised within the poultry sheds prior to washing with water to minimise the volume of wash water, along with the amount of poultry litter (and associated sediments and nutrients) washed out of the sheds.

• The waste management systems described in Section 3.14 will be implemented to ensure that each waste stream generated by the Development is effectively managed and disposed of off-site. There will not be any on-site stockpiling or disposal of waste materials.

• The best management practices and mitigation measures described in Section 3.13 will be implemented




Aspect/Commitment and maintained for chemical use and storage.

Biodiversity

Construction • Disturbance will be limited to the smallest practicable area to allow for the essential site preparation and

construction activities. • Any clearing will be compensated by the extensive landscaping to be undertaken for the Development using

naturally occurring plant species. • The internal access road will be aligned in an offset position from the adjacent Back Hillston Road so that

the existing corridor of vegetation along this road will not be disturbed. • Appropriate erosion and sediment control structures will be installed and maintained in accordance with the

Blue Book (Landcom 2004) and Erosion and Sediment Control on Unsealed Roads (OEH 2012) to prevent soil loss and sediment-laden runoff.


Operation • The engineered surface water management system described in Section 3.15 will be implemented and

maintained to provide long-term structural controls to manage surface water runoff and ensure no off-site impacts.

• Weed management practices will be implemented to avoid the introduction and spread of exotic species.

Aboriginal Heritage

The following best management practices and mitigation measures will be implemented to safeguard Aboriginal heritage: • Disturbance will be limited to the smallest practicable area to allow for the essential site preparation and

construction activities. • Prior to clearing, the mature tree identified will be inspected and if there are any cultural markings an

inspection will be undertaken by a heritage consultant. • If any Aboriginal objects are uncovered, all works will immediately cease in that locale and the OEH will be

notified. Works will only recommence when an appropriate and approved management strategy has been agreed to by all of the relevant stakeholders.

• If human remains are found, all works will immediately cease in that locale, the site will be secured and the NSW Police and OEH will be notified. Works will only recommence when an appropriate and approved management strategy has been agreed to by all of the relevant stakeholders.

Non-Aboriginal Heritage

Given that there are no items of non-Aboriginal heritage recorded within the Development Site or within the immediate surrounds, management/mitigation measures are not required.

Visual Amenity

Development Design • The poultry sheds will be constructed using a non-reflective colour-bond type material in an appropriate

shade, such as eucalyptus green. • External lighting will comprise individual light fixtures, with no broad area or flood lighting. • Vegetation screens will be established around the perimeter of the PPU as outlined in Section 3.17. Once

established, these plantings will visually screen development infrastructure and provide a high level of light screening once established.

Operation • Each light fixture will be aimed downwards and will only be used when necessary during times of low light

and/or heavy fog.

Greenhouse Gas

Development Design • Low lux internal shed lighting, which has a significantly reduced power demand compared to past lighting

practices, will be installed within the poultry sheds.




Aspect/Commitment

Operation • External lighting will only be used when necessary during times of low light and/or heavy fog. • The integrity of the poultry sheds will be regularly checked to identify and rectify any air leaks, which place

additional load on ventilation fans. • Lighting, temperature, humidity and static pressure within the poultry sheds will be continuously monitored

and automatically adjusted to suit conditions. This will avoid unnecessary electricity and LPG usage. • Ventilation fans and heaters will be regularly maintained and serviced to ensure optimal performance and

efficiency.



Page 114 Justification and Conclusion

9 JUSTIFICATION AND CONCLUSION

9.1 Ecologically Sustainable Development

Ecologically sustainable development (ESD) is a primary objective of environmental protection in NSW. The objects of the EP&A Act adopt the principles of ESD and it is defined under Section 6(2) of the Protection of the Environment Administration Act 1991 as:

6(2) For the purposes of subsection (1)(a), ecologically sustainable development requires the effective integration of economic and environmental considerations in decision-making processes. Ecologically sustainable development can be achieved through the implementation of the following principles and programs:

(a) the precautionary principle - namely, that if there are threats of serious or irreversible environmental damage, lack of full scientific certainty should not be used as a reason for postponing measures to prevent environmental degradation. In the application of the precautionary principle, public and private decisions should be guided by: (i) careful evaluation to avoid, wherever practicable, serious or irreversible damage to the

environment, and (ii) an assessment of the risk-weighted consequences of various options,

(b) inter-generational equity - namely, that the present generation should ensure that the health, diversity and productivity of the environment are maintained or enhanced for the benefit of future generations,

(c) conservation of biological diversity and ecological integrity - namely, that conservation of biological diversity and ecological integrity should be a fundamental consideration,

(d) improved valuation, pricing and incentive mechanisms - namely, that environmental factors should be included in the valuation of assets and services, such as: (i) polluter pays - that is, those who generate pollution and waste should bear the cost of

containment, avoidance or abatement, (ii) the users of goods and services should pay prices based on the full life cycle of costs of

providing goods and services, including the use of natural resources and assets and the ultimate disposal of any waste,

(iii) environmental goals, having been established, should be pursued in the most cost effective way, by establishing incentive structures, including market mechanisms, that enable those best placed to maximise benefits or minimise costs to develop their own solutions and responses to environmental problems.

The overall objectives of ESD are to use, conserve and enhance natural resources. This ensures that ecological processes are maintained facilitating improved quality of life, now and into the future.

VOAG 3 understands that social, economic and environmental objectives are interdependent, and acknowledges that a well-designed and effectively managed operation will avoid significant and/or costly impact or degradation. The commitments made in this EIS, in the form of development design, best management practices and mitigation measures, demonstrate a commitment to environmental due diligence. The OEMP (refer Section 3.24) that will be prepared and implemented following development consent will ensure on-going commitment to the principles of ESD over the life of the Development.




The Precautionary Principle 9.1.1

The precautionary principle holds that where there are threats of serious or irreversible environmental damage, the lack of full scientific certainty should not be used as a reason for postponing measures to prevent environmental degradation.

A detailed understanding of the issues and potential impacts associated with the Development has been obtained via consultation and assessment to a level of detail commensurate with the scale of the proposal, the characteristics of the Development Site and surrounds and the legislative framework under which it is permissible. Specialist impact assessments have been undertaken in accordance with current best practice for environmental impacts relating to air quality (odour and particulate matter), noise and traffic. Additional aspects, including waste management, water resources, flora and fauna, heritage and visual amenity, have also been addressed. Where there is potential for adverse environmental impact, VOAG 3 has adopted the recommendations of the specialist impact assessments and committed to the implementation of the operational management and mitigation measures. To this end, there has been careful evaluation undertaken in order to avoid serious or irreversible damage to the environment.

Intergenerational Equity 9.1.2

Intergenerational equity is centred on the concept that the present generation should ensure that the health, diversity and productivity of the environment are maintained or enhanced for the benefit of future generations. There is a moral obligation to ensure that today’s economic progress, which will benefit both current and future generations, is not offset by environmental deterioration.

The primary objective of the Development is to establish an intensive broiler production farm, adopting best practice in design, operation and management, within the Griffith region to augment the domestic supply of meat chickens and meet the increasing demand for poultry products within the Australian market. The mitigation measures and management strategies listed in Section 7 have been identified to minimise the potential for adverse impact upon the local environmental and surrounding populace. Emphasis has been placed on anticipation and prevention of potential impacts as opposed to undertaking later remedial action, such as siting of the poultry sheds within a disturbed, cropped paddock, inclusion of an engineered surface water management system in the design of the farm layout, and locating the sheds such that odour levels are minimised at all three of the nearest residential receptors.

These actions and initiatives will assist in ensuring that current and future generations can enjoy equal and equitable access to social, environmental and economic resources through the maintenance of the health, diversity and production of the environment.

Conservation of Biological Diversity and Ecological Integrity 9.1.3

The principle of “conservation of biological diversity and ecological integrity” holds that the conservation of biological diversity and ecological integrity should be a fundamental consideration for development proposals.

Based on the level of existing site disturbance and the strategic positioning of development infrastructure, the risk of adverse impact on any threatened species, populations, ecological communities or on local biodiversity in general within the surrounding environment is considered negligible. As discussed in Section 7.7, the Development is highly unlikely to substantially modify, destroy or isolate an area of important habitat, disrupt the lifecycle of local or migratory species, or result in an invasive species that is harmful to the local or migratory species.

Improved Valuation, Pricing and Incentive Mechanisms 9.1.4

The principle of “improved valuation, pricing and incentive mechanisms” deems that environmental factors should be included in the valuation of assets and services. The cost associated with using or impacting upon an environmental resource is seen as a cost incurred to protect that resource.




VOAG 3 will bear the costs associated with the avoidance, minimisation, mitigation and management of potential environmental and social impacts.

9.2 Analysis of Alternatives

General 9.2.1

It is necessary to consider any feasible alternatives to carrying out the development having regard to its objectives, including a consideration of the consequences of not carrying out the development.

VOAG 3 has made a conscious decision to expand the company’s operations into NSW to meet the increasing demand for poultry products in the Australian market. The Griffith region is the obvious choice, with the necessary support/servicing facilities, including an interdependent hatchery, feedmill and processing complexes. The poultry industry within the Griffith area is a perfect example of vertical integration where each of the operations produce a different product or service and these combine to satisfy a common need.

The increasing role of the poultry industry within the region plays an ever increasing role in the development of local agri-business. It is widely appreciated that the poultry industry has a good strategic fit and high recognition factor within the Griffith region. Management and labour expertise are available, local transport contractors are geared to the industry, and the community generally understands and accepts the specialist operation.

Alternative Sites and Farm Layout 9.2.2

The principal siting requirements for a poultry broiler development, such as that proposed, include:

• Proximity to a chicken hatchery facility, such as Baiada’s hatchery located on the outskirts of Griffith;

• Proximity to a reliable poultry feed source, such as Baiada’s feedmill located near Hanwood just south of Griffith;

• Proximity to a processing facility (including protein recovery plant), such as Baiada’s processing complex located near Hanwood just south of Griffith;

• Proximity to major regional and State transport routes, such as the Kidman Way;

• Adequate separation distances between other poultry farms for biosecurity purposes;

• Adequate separation distances to surrounding residential properties;

• Appropriate land use zoning and surrounding land use activities; and

• Adequate access to a reliable supply of water and electricity.

Any investigation will reveal that finding a site that is both available and meets all of the above criteria is very difficult. Selection of alternative sites must be mindful of transport access to each of the abovementioned support/servicing facilities. The matter of a reliable water supply is crucial and the cost of satisfying the necessary power requirements is sometimes prohibitive. Finding a site that already has a compatible agricultural land use is also preferable, and limits the amount of clearing required to establish the poultry sheds which is advantageous from a biodiversity perspective.

Prior to proceeding with The Ranch Poultry Production Complex, an extensive search for suitable sites for construction of poultry farms in the wider Griffith region was undertaken. This search included numerous meetings and discussions with the different councils and real estate agents in the area. The Ranch Poultry Production Complex site was chosen as a result of this search process in consideration of the factors listed above. The Ranch Poultry Production Complex site meets all of these requirements and has therefore been chosen as an appropriate and desirable site to develop The Ranch Farms 1, 2 and 3.




In addition to alternative development sites, alternative PPU sites within the Development Site were considered by VOAG 3. The proposed PPU location is considered optimal in terms of minimising earthwork and construction requirements, minimising vegetation disturbance and maximising the separation distance from the proposed adjacent poultry operations (i.e. The Ranch Farm 1 and The Ranch Farm 2). The proposed location also avoids fragmenting and/or alienating the residual land within the Development Site available for agricultural production.

Consequences of Not Carrying Out the Development 9.2.3

The Ranch Farm 3 development will increase the supply of broiler poultry by around 2.28 million birds per year, which is integral to the industry’s strategy for continued growth in both the Griffith region and NSW, create four full-time equivalent jobs and generate around $6.3 million in poultry feed sales annual (based on the average price of feed at the time this EIS was prepared). The development of The Ranch Poultry Production Complex (i.e. The Ranch Farms 1, 2 and 3) will further increase and strengthen these figures.

The consequences of not proceeding with the Development therefore include:

• Adverse economic impacts on regional grain growers as the opportunity to increase the current market generated by VOAG 3/Baiada would be lost;

• Adverse economic impacts on those local businesses, transport operators and goods suppliers that service the poultry industry;

• No additional employment opportunities or flow-on benefits; and

• Adverse economic impacts on VOAG 3 associated with the need to investigate development opportunities elsewhere, with related problems to the vertical integration of the poultry industry within the Griffith region.

If the development does not proceed, the Carrathool LGA and the wider Griffith region may miss the accompanying economic and social boost, while VOAG 3 may miss the opportunity to establish a broiler production complex in NSW and fulfil contractual arrangements with Baiada for the supply of chickens. From VOAG 3’s perspective, it is imperative that the Development be permitted to cater for the immediate and projected long-term demands from Baiada.

9.3 Conclusion

The proposed Ranch Farm 3 has been assessed in this EIS in accordance with the EP&A Act and its regulation, the SEARs and input received from other government agencies. The environmental impact assessment of the Development has been multi-disciplinary, with specialists engaged to assess the key aspects, and involved consultation with relevant government agencies, surrounding residents and other relevant stakeholders.

The potential for adverse impact on the local environment and surrounding populace has been minimised by selective siting of the PPU and adoption of various development design features, best management practices and mitigation measures. While the Development may result in some externalised impacts associated with air quality, noise emissions and traffic generation, the specialist impact assessments predict that the Development will comply with all relevant impact assessment criteria and can co-exist with the surrounding land uses. Additionally, the specialist impact assessments have also assessed the cumulative air quality, noise emissions and traffic generation from The Ranch Poultry Production Complex (i.e. The Ranch Farms 1, 2 and 3), with predictions concluding that these operations will also comply with all relevant impact assessment criteria. The impact to social amenity will be minimal, with no change to the day-to-day life of surrounding residents as a result of the Development and no additional demand for services or facilities.

It is considered that the Development can proceed without resulting in significant or long-term adverse impacts to the local environment and surrounding populace. The Development will be managed on a day-to-day basis in accordance with a site-specific OEMP, ensuring that the commitments made in this EIS, along with relevant statutory obligations and conditions of development consent (including EPL requirements), are fully implemented and complied with.




The Development is justified in socio-economic terms as a catalyst for sustained economic activity within the Carrathool LGA and wider Griffith region, including positive employment and flow-on benefits.



Page 119 References

10 REFERENCES

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Page 121 Abbreviations, Acronyms and Units

11 ABBREVIATIONS, ACRONYMS AND UNITS

ABARE Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resources Economics

AEMR Annual Environmental Management Report

AHD Australian Height Datum

AHIMS Aboriginal Heritage Information Management System

AHIP Aboriginal Heritage Impact Permit

BAL Basic left turn treatment

Carrathool LEP Carrathool Local Environmental Plan 2012

CEMP Construction Environmental Management Plan

CIV Capital Investment Value

Council Carrathool Shire Council

DCP Development Control Plan

DoE Commonwealth Department of the Environment

DP Deposited Plan

DP&E NSW Department of Planning and Environment

DPI NSW Department of Primary Industries

DPI Water Department of Primary Industries Water

EAD Emergency Animal Disease

EEC Endangered Ecological Community

EIS Environmental Impact Statement

EMP Environmental Management Plan

EP&A Act Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979

EP&A Regulation Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2000

EPA NSW Environment Protection Authority

EPBC Act Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999

EPI Environmental Planning Instruments

EPL Environment Protection Licence

ESD Ecological Sustainable Development

GHG Greenhouse gas



Page 122 Abbreviations, Acronyms and Units

GMA Groundwater Management Area

ha hectares

kg/m2 Kilograms per square metre

km kilometres

LEP Local Environmental Plan

LGA Local Government Area

LPG liquid petroleum gas

MHRDC Maximum Harvestable Right Dam Capacity

MIA Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area

ML Megalitre

NPW Act National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974

NSW New South Wales

OEH NSW Office of Environment and Heritage

OEMP Operational Environmental Management Plan

PIRMP Pollution Incident Response Management Plan

POEO Act Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997

PPU Poultry Production Unit

RMS NSW Roads and Maritime Service

SALIS Soils and Land Information System

SDS Safety Data Sheet

SEARs Secretary’s Environmental Assessment Requirements

SEPP State Environmental Planning Policy

SISD Safe intersection sight distance

SLR SLR Consulting Australia Pty Ltd

SSD Stopping sight distance

VOAG 3 VOAG 3 Pty Ltd

WAL Water access licence


Documents

Environmental Impact Statement MAIN REPORT Livestock Agriculture The Ranch Poultry Production Complex Farm 3 Environmental Impact Statement MAIN REPORT Prepared by: VOAG 3 Pty Ltd