Caves Road bespoke piggery gets Shire of Augusta-Margaret River nod despite neighbours’ fury

The proponents of a bespoke piggery on Caves Road described as the nation’s smallest abattoir have won Shire of Augusta-Margaret River council backing to advance their project despite complaints from neighbours.

Last Wednesday’s meeting heard adjoining residents speak out against the proposal after voicing previous concerns about soil quality, the potential for flooding at the site and for piggery nutrients to enter waterways.

Kojonup farmer Anna Anderson, who also owns land in Margaret River, said her professional opinion was the Caves Road site was “not fit for the purpose of breeding pigs”.

She and neighbour Kit Anderson questioned the Shire’s capacity to monitor whatever operations it allowed, saying the small scale piggery would not attract direct attention from the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation.

However, proponent Mark Rintoul said he had made himself available to objecting neighbours and already culled his drove of pigs, with the application conditions also halving the scale of the operation which was envisaged as a tourism attraction with an associated farm shop.

“It would have to be the smallest commercial pig farm in Australia,” he said.

Mr Rintoul also said his own assessors rejected complaints about the soil quality or the risk of water contamination, especially from nitrogen and phosphorus, and test bores to check water quality were already in place.

“We can absolutely prove we don’t contaminate the groundwater,” Mr Rintoul said.

DWER had also provided a provisional licence for the operation, despite the scale, he said.

Councillors unanimously backed the project, noting it was on priority agriculture land despite the clash with “lifestyle properties”.

“The facts are, the Local Planning Strategy does identify, clearly this is priority agriculture land and council’s goal is to preserve priority agriculture land into the future,” deputy Shire president Julia Meldrum said.

“It does create conflict between neighbours and that is unfortunate.”

Cr David Binks urged neighbours to take advantage of Mr Rintoul’s offers for more information and site visits.

“I can’t see any valid planning grounds for refusing it,” he said.

“I do think it is going to be a positive thing for the community.”

Cr Kylie Kennaugh said the Shire was more proactive with its enforcement regimen than in the past and was reassured the piggery would be monitored.

Cr Brian Daniel also encouraged neighbours to develop a relationship with the proponents to avoid conflict and unnecessary Shire involvement.