Questions over abattoir plan for Mole Creek

Aerial view over the Durham grazing property in the Mole Creek karst landscape. Limestone karst features can be seen on the creek banks and under the trees. To the right, across Den Road, is the neighbouring property which will be within 300 metres of the proposed abattoir.

Photo supplied

By Sharon Webb

A karst landscape expert is concerned a planning application report for a proposed $425,000 Mole Creek abattoir could mislead non-experts at Meander Valley Council.

Deb Hunter, who has specialist knowledge of karst geochemistry and a master’s degree in landscape analysis, said the report appeared to imply part of the paddock where the abattoir will be located did not have karst features.

‘This is troubling use of terminology – the term ‘karst’ refers to a landscape.

‘You can’t say this side of the paddock has no karst features and some does. That’s a nonsense,’ Ms Hunter said.

‘I fear this could be read into the report by non-experts.’

Neighbouring Mole Creek property owner Carol Douglas has registered her concern at having the Den Road abattoir only 300 meters from her house.

‘I’ve never been past an abattoir that didn’t smell and I don’t want to hear the distress noises of animals going to slaughter,’ she said.

‘In winter when trees are bare I’ll also be able to see it.’

The abattoir, proposed by Mole Creek grazing property owner Denis Durham, would operate one or two days a week with minimal staff.

Mr Durham described the project as a ‘small impact abattoir’ processing only his own cattle, sheep and pigs for sale at a boutique butchery he will establish in Mole Creek next to the current supermarket.

He said the planning application for the butchery has not been publicised by Meander Valley Council as a strip of crown land accessing the Pioneer Rd property had yet to be approved for use.

‘My main goal is to take the stress off the animals in transport.

‘We also want to make the best beef we can on our local site and offer a high quality product for locals and tourists.

‘We consider ourselves a good neighbour and I believe most neighbours will be in favour of it.’
Wastewater-producing operations such as abattoirs can be a problem in limestone karst areas such as Mole Creek.

Surface run-off can disappear into waterways deep underground, possibly polluting locations where it unpredictably reappears kilometres away.

The planning application says Mr Durham intends to treat wastewater from the abbatoir operation in a recycling plant, then use the treated water, sludge and animal stomach contents on his pasture south of the abattoir.

The karst report provided by Mr Durham noted no information had been provided on the volumes of waste water to be dispersed on pastures.

Ms Hunter said she was concerned the report was based only on surface karst features of the area.
The report noted that a geotechnical survey would be required to investigate the nature of underground karst and features.