Council & Politics
22 April, 2026
Council’s divide as residents maintain poultry farm ire
“If you endorse this, you take the lid off of Pandora’s box for any corporator to come in here and plonk a facility where they like. Up a blind road, up a flood plain."
PROPERTY owners have refused to remove their objection to an application that has left councillors divided.
First brough to Buloke Shire Council in October 2025, the proposed 400,000 bird and broiler farm development on the Saits Road near Charlton garnered the attention of many surrounding residents.
Their main concern was flooding and how that would impact their farmland and properties.
And while the applicant, Agright Farming Pty Ltd, was subsiquently hit with a list of 50 conditions to adhere to, they still weren’t convinced this was a good idea.
“We want to make it clear, we’re not objecting to the business, the business is fine, we’re objecting to the location,” property owner Chris Byrne said at last week’s council meeting.
“If you endorse this, you take the lid off of Pandora’s box for any corporator to come in here and plonk a facility where they like. Up a blind road, up a flood plain.
“That blue line runs straight down the middle of the map, is a water course that disects directly through the centre of the development.
“You go through the modelling that have been engaged, based out of Brisbane, projecting to 2090, 65 years from now. Modelling.
“A modern day, woke term for what our fore-bares would call “utter BS”.
“We’ve been asked to withdraw our objection, but that’s checks in the mark, checks in the mark doesn’t count today.
“In that regard, we will not withdraw our objection to the location of this property.”
The application outlines the intention to use and development of land for animal production (400,000 bird free range broiler farm), including eight sheds, associated free range areas and ancillary buildings, and two managers’ dwellings.
The application came to council as the Responsible Authority for a decision as there are unresolved objections to the application.
PSA Consulting principal town planner Cliff Schmidt, who was representing the applicant, said a mountain of work had been done to adhere to the conditions put in place, which include sufficient land for parking, all waste and soiled water not be put into council drainage and more.
“Objectively, the application meets all relevant assessment benchmarks, is technically sound and can be managed responsibly through the reasonable and relevant permit conditions,” Mr Schmidt said.
“We acknowledge the concerns raised by the submitters, but we have comprehensively addressed them through the consultation process.
“We have proven conclusively that there will be no adverse flooding effects on neighbouring properties to this proposed development.”
Council was left to decide if the permit was to go ahead, a decision that was leaving some councillors stressed.
“Personally, I’m really agonising over this decision if I’m honest,” Cr Bruce Stafford said.
“On one hand, this is a development that brings real benefits, not just to Charlton but the whole Shire, on the other we have neighbouring property owners who have lodged an objection.
“I want to acknolwedge their concerns about potential impacts on their farming land are genuine and understandable.”
He ultimately agreed to move forward with the application, agreeing with Cr Alan Getley and Cr Bernadette Hogan.
Mayor Graeme Milne did not share the same sentiment.
“I feel that the location is very unsuitable, it does not sit well with myself,” he said.
“It just appears to me that a willing seller and a willing buyer of lesser important land for cropping, the opportunity has come along to move on with that ground and in my opinion if the application had been on better land, this would not have got the attention it’s got. Because you wouldn’t have the issue water could have on neighbouring properties.”
The decision was put to a vote, with four councillors voting for and Mayor Milne voting against.
Mayor Milne then called for a division, which was carried through by Cr Getley.
The permit was accepted.
Charlton Hall in draft budget
CHARLTON Hall hasn’t been forgotten in the draft 2026-27 budget.
Council has allocated $300,000 with funds set aside in a discretionary reserve.
This enables Council to undertake community engagement, to better understand the scope and extent of the required works ensuring that any future investment delivers maximum benefit to the community before committing the expenditure within the budget.
MORE TO COME ON DRAFT BUDGET NEXT WEEK
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