Despite opposition from some members of the Lalla community, Olson’s Eggs has been given the green light to expand its operations.
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Free-range egg producer Chris Olson submitted a development application to build a second chicken shed on his Quills Road property because “demand was outstripping supply”.
Mr Olson said traditionally he had supplied the greater Launceston area but over the past two to three years it had expanded and supplied eggs statewide.
“There is an agreement with an existing customer to take all supply out of this new facility, which will enable their business to reduce the amount of eggs it needs to import from the mainland states,” he said.
Planning consultant Claire Gregg told the city council the chicken shed would be a “considerable distance” from Lalla Road.
She said only two homes would be within 500 metres of the facility and neither of the residents made representations against the development.
“Pitt and Sherry’s assessment used conservative methodology and clearly concludes that odour and noise will not cause [issues],” Ms Gregg said.
“The water testing results per the conditions of the first shed do not show that the operation is affecting the water quality.”
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Olson’s Eggs operations had been heavily scrutinised and Mr Olson was always open to working with authorities, she said.
There were 15 representations against the development and five people spoke against the proposal at Monday’s council meeting.
They implored the council to “learn from its previous mistake” of approving the first shed at Quills Road.
Odour and water quality were the most common concerns raised.
The motion was moved by Alderman Janie Finlay, who said she was “uncomfortably willing” to approve the development.
She said the council must act with “great diligence” to gain clarity about what issues there might be outstanding with the original shed, but those issues could not be considered while the council was acting as a planning authority.
Alderman Hugh McKenzie also noted that a permit was not required to use the land for intensive animal husbandry.
The vote narrowly passed, with seven aldermen voting for the development.
Aldermen Ted Sands, Danny Gibson, Emma Williams, Karina Stojansek and Albert van Zetten voted against the motion.