[{"document_url": "http://condobolinargus.com.au/tag/lachlan-shire-mayor/", "unformatted_src": "http://www.condobolinargus.com.au/rw_common/images/top.png", "src": "http://www.condobolinargus.com.au/rw_common/images/top.png", "formatted_filename": "top", "alt_text": "Site logo", "rendered_width": 600, "rendered_height": 80}, null, {"document_url": "http://condobolinargus.com.au/tag/lachlan-shire-mayor/", "unformatted_src": "http://s3.amazonaws.com/images.condobolinargus.com/2017/May/Tottenham-New-Bus-Service.jpg", "src": "http://s3.amazonaws.com/images.condobolinargus.com/2017/May/Tottenham-New-Bus-Service.jpg", "formatted_filename": "Tottenham New Bus Service", "rendered_width": 600, "rendered_height": 717}, null]
Lachlan Shire Mayor
Condobolin Argus

New community bus service for Tottenham 

By Melissa Blewitt

Fletcher feedlot approved


Lachlan Shire Council (LSC) has approved a 40,000 head sheep feedlot for Condobolin.

Conditional approval was given to the designated and integrated Development Application (DA) at its last monthly meeting on 15 June.

The development is worth $560,000, and Dubbo based Fletcher International Exports will build the facility.

The site of the proposed feedlot is located approximately 16 kilometres west of Condobolin on the northern side of the Lachlan River on the “Glenlee” part of “Kiagarthur Station”.

According to Lachlan Shire Council Director of Environment and Planning Andrew Johns, the feedlot will create positive economic benefits and employment opportunities in the Shire and wider regional area.

“Being a designated DA means it required the lodgement of an Environmental Impact Statement, which was done and used to assess the application,” he said.

“Integrated means approvals are needed under other acts, which are administered by other state regulatory bodies, such as the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA). The DA needed an Environmental Protection Licence from the EPA as it had the potential to pollute, and thus need a licence from the State Government to go ahead.

“There was some conjecture about noise and the EPA wanted a full noise assessment conducted, however, the LSC argued on behalf of the proponent against that, as the nearest residential dwelling was over five kilometres away and a feedlot in a rural area is a pretty common thing.

“The DA has been approved subject to 21 conditions.”

Lachlan Shire mayor John Medcalf said the project will boost the local economy and provide opportunities for local farmers.

“I think it will give them a little bit of confidence that there’s development happening around them,” he said.

“But also with a 40,000 [head] lamb feedlot there’s opportunity for grain suppliers as well.

“This is a very positive development for the Shire.”

Managing Director of Fletcher International Exports, Roger Fletcher, said the feedlot will complement existing regional business activities undertaken by the company, including managing “Kiagarthur Station” and their sheep processing plant in Dubbo.

“We were looking to expand our sheep finishing operations using an intensive grain feeding system,” he said.

“Kiagarthur Station is very conducive to producing the grain, hay and silage that will be used in the feedlot, so we will utilise that.

“We will be aiming to produce lambs for a range of domestic and export markets.

“We still have a lot to learn, but will be trying our best to ensure the feedlot is a success for Fletcher’s and the wider Condobolin community.”

Mr Fletcher added the feedlot would be up and running “as soon as practically possible.”

“Approvals for feedlots take a long time and there is a lot of red tape involved. That’s just the nature of these things,” he said.

“LSC have been very good to us. We will be looking to employ more people as the venture becomes established.” The feedlot will be implemented in two stages.

Tags: Andrew Johns | Environment Impact Statement | EPA | Feedlot | Fletcher International | Lachlan Shire Mayor