The change.org petition, formed in mid-January as a collaboration between animal welfare organisation Aussie Pigs and local group Say No To Blantyre Farms, has almost reached its goal of 25,000 signatures, many coming from national animal activist groups.

Say No to Blantyre Farms founder Lisa Ryan said the petition proved animal welfare was becoming a growing concern for all Australians and was something the council needed to consider in its review of the proposal.

“The petition has been heavily circulated by animal welfare groups throughout Australia,” she said.

“It has attracted signatures from a huge range of everyday people as well, from all ages and all backgrounds.

“People are becoming aware of the animal cruelty and animal abuse associated with these piggeries and they are horrified by it.”

Harden Shire mayor John Horton, who will be passing judgement on the proposed piggery on May 11, said he would make no comment until the council meeting.

“The development application will be reconsidered by the council at a later time and until then I am not willing to make a comment, as it’s a very contentious issue,” he said.

Say No To Blantyre Farms member Christina Heath said the petition was not only supported by opponents further afield, but many locals who were concerned about the proposed development.

“They are mostly Australians from all walks of life, horrified about the cruelty of intensive pig farming,” she said.

“They include locals and ex-locals, vets, lawyers, farmers and ex-piggery workers who are appalled by the cruelty involved in these piggeries.”

Ms Ryan, who has raised concerns with the piggery, such as the small size of cages and the cutting off of piglets tails, said animal welfare was a huge problem that everyone deserved to have an opinion about.

“Animal cruelty is a global issue and different communities all around the world should be given the chance to speak out against it,” she said.

“It just takes someone to look at a photo of animal cruelty to know it’s wrong.”

At last month’s Harden Shire Council meeting it emerged that the De Mestre family who own the property next door to the piggery had lodged a Development Application to build a house for their daughter Crit not far from the boundary of the Blantyre Farms acreage and, more specifically, where the piggery is planned for.

According to Fairfax Media’s Harden-Murrumburrah Express newspaper it is understood all parties including the Harden Shire Council as well as Blantyre Farms owner-directors Michael and Edwina Beveridge have sought legal advice in relation to the matter and a resolution is still a way off. 

Mandy De Mestre and her lawyer are expected to give an address at next week’s council meeting.