The “dirt” on Harden
The story “Tipping point at piggery” (The Land, December 22, p6-7) shows a group of “not in my backyarders” who are keen to hold Harden back, as they support development, but not near their farms.
At a population of 1800, where employment is scarce, 20 new jobs should mean a lot to Harden. One hundred new jobs in Young, as Hilltops Meats can access enough pigs to get a pig abattoir off the ground, should make quite a difference to the Hilltops Shire too.
We have provided the Hilltops Council with more than 500 pages of expert reports, scientific testing and detailed information. This includes collecting 1080 core soil samples at the request of the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA), each with its global positioning system location recorded. Ten cores were combined make a composite sample, ending with 108 soil samples across our 1800 hectare farm. This meant $17,000 of soil testing done in the past six months.
I doubt there are many farms in Australia that have undertaken this level of soil testing. Yet Young agronomist Paul Parker and the Cunningham Valley Action Group dispute the soil type and rely on a sample taken on a neighbouring farm years ago.
Our piggery development application near Harden has to be approved by eight government departments, the Hilltops Council and a NSW regional first with a council appointed Independent Hearing and Assessment Panel.
It would appear the Cunningham Action Valley Group do not have a lot of faith in these departments and prefer to sprout propaganda and emotion.
The Hilltops Shire has six large piggeries, Pepe’s ducks near Harden, nearly half a million chooks on another site and chooks elsewhere in smaller numbers. All are on land similar to the proposed Harden development and certainly all have been fertilised with animal fertiliser.
The former Harden Council approved a Local Environmental Plan permitting intensive farming. The NSW Department of Primary Industries strategic plan promotes increasing intensive farming, the Prime Minister promotes jobs and growth.
I hope our development does not become another contradiction of all levels of government or should half a dozen “nimbies” derail three tiers of government.
MICHAEL and EDWINA BEVERIDGE,
Blantyre Farms,
Young.
Times are a changin’
The Beveridge’s proposed piggery at Harden would of had to go through rigorous planning just to get this far with all factors considered, including nutrient loadings etcetera. It is not just a bunch of hillbillies deciding to go into pigs one morning.
The pig industry is one of the most progressive industries in Australia and it survives by innovation, improving efficiency and management practices each year. The pig is a wonderful animal to work with.
The dairy industry today has herds of 700 to 1000 cows operating in high rainfall areas without causing any soil or water contamination issues, while the pig industry operates at a much higher level of compliance.
We can not hold back progress for better or worse. We must, as farmers, embrace the changes to keep Australian agriculture strong and try to work with your neighbours – at least the Beveridges have the guts to invest in the Harden region.
The upside is it will help revitalize the local area via the full-time jobs it will create – even the local traders will benefit by the maintenance requirements. It will bring and hold families in the local community which will flow onto your local town.
We may not like it, but everything is changing in all areas of agriculture. We must be positive and work with the changes.
GEOFF FALLS,
Windsor.
Fair go
My husband and myself wish to thank The Land for responding to our request for a fair go. You allowed us to tell our story, which is important background for the piggery application.
If this debacle keeps going, another opportunity would be welcomed to point out more specifically that this site is wrong.
It should not be an all or nothing debate. There are more suitable sites available, not situated over vulnerable groundwater and above a drinking water catchment.
Their soil type might even be suitable for the spreading of effluent and manure, unlike our highly erodible soils.
The jobs and the benefits of an intensive livestock industry could then be shared with the community, without the potential risk to the environment.
HEATHER and MARK JOHNSON,
Harden.
Piggery panic
Edwina Beveridge, of Blantyre Farms Pty Ltd, Young, the proponent of the proposed Harden piggery for “Eulie”, stated in a recent story, “if you can’t build a piggery in Harden, where can you build one?” (“Push for pig project decision”, The Land, November 24, p14).
The derisive nature of this comment underscores the arrogant attitude with which the proponents’ development application was initially lodged.
It would seem they assumed their proposal would be rubber-stamped through the authorising agencies.
It is interesting to observe that in the face of reasoned, analytical, determined opposition to the piggery proposal by local people, the network of moneyed, political and “influential” supporters have surfaced and been panicked into casting about for any information, regardless of its relevance, to sway opinion in the piggery’s favour.
BARRY WOOLRIDGE,
Harden.
