A Tasmanian planning tribunal has begun hearings into objections to the proposed Evans Agribusiness Trading group (EAT) King Island abbatoir.
The Resource Management and Planning Appeal Tribunal (RMPAT) is hearing objections from beef producers Raff Angus. against the decision of the King Island council to grant a planning permit for the abattoir.
“The proposed development will cause unnecessary loss of air, land and water resources of significance for sustainable primary industry use,” the Raffs told the RMPAT, in grounds of appeal lodged by Hobart town planner Evan Boardman, of e3planning.
The proposed development will cause unnecessary loss of air, land and water resources of significance for sustainable primary industry use.
- Grounds of appeal to the proposed King Island abattoir.
Melbourne agribusiness group EAT submitted a plan for an export abattoir and associated infrastructure at Grassy Road, Lymwood, King Island, to the council last year.
The proposal indicates the planned export abattoir will produce 6000 tonnes of meat a year, with an estimated value of $84million.
Raff Angus principals, Andrew and Anna Raff, have argued the proposal fails to comply with the King Island Interim Planning Scheme on several grounds.
In their grounds of appeal, the Raffs argued the abattoir site was comprised of the most agriculturally productive land on King Island.
“This area would be lost to agricultural production.”
The family moved to King Island from Drillham, Queensland, in 2015.
King Island Council acting general manager Robert Ball approved the application, after council was unable to reach quorum for a vote at its ordinary meeting.
The three person panel currently hearing the objections comprises acting chairwoman Marica Duvnjak, planning expert Michael Ball and environmental sciences expert Fran Healy.
Raff Angus’s Andrew Raff and the EAT group declined to comment.
