TEYS Australia has launched legal action against Wagga Wagga Council’s rezoning of land surrounding its abattoir at the Bomen Industrial Estate, located on the outskirts of town.
The company has appealed to the NSW Land and Environment Court to reverse Council’s approval of two applications to subdivide land into small residential blocks near the facility.
A handful of landowners have outstanding applications to rezone a further 50 blocks.
In October, the Southern Joint Regional Planning Panel (SJRPP) rezoned land surrounding the Bomen Estate to allow residential lots with a minimum one hectare size.
Teys says an influx of residents to the estate would jeopardise commercial operations of commercial operations on the estate.
“Even at the current one hectare limit recommended by the panel, there will be enough people in the locality to trigger new levels of EPA guidelines, likely forcing us to spend millions of dollars in upgrades," Teys general manager corporate affairs Tom Maguire said.
“These zoning changes will place pressure on many companies, who will be forced into spending millions of dollars or curb operations to meet new environmental and noise guidelines."
Speaking at the time of the rezoning, Mr Maguire said landowners should not have expected their Bomen Estate properties would be zoned for residential use.
“The Bomen Estate was earmarked as a regional industrial hub," he said.
"The properties in question that are subject to residential development applications were purchased well after the meatworks was established and in the full knowledge that it was an industrial area.”
As well as launching legal action, Teys is also calling on Planning Minister Brad Hazzard to invoke his powers to overturn the Planning Panel’s decision.
In a joint letter, companies from the Bowmen estate wrote to Mr Hazzard asking him to reject rezoning of land to a minimum one hectare lot size and instate a four hectare minimum.
Mr Maguire said other companies in the Bomen Estate are also concerned about the potential ramifications of the rezoning.
“This is an industrial area. Some companies need 24 hour access, others make noise all night. Who would want to live here and why would Council even entertain the idea?”
Wagga Council declined to comment, citing pending legal action.