Hilltops Council announced on Tuesday that they will be holding an Extraordinary Meeting of Council on July 12 in relation to the final determination of the proposed piggery near Harden, but Blantyre Farms owner Edwina Beveridge is asking why she had to find out about it on Facebook.
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“I was surprised to read on Facebook that the council had called an extraordinary meeting, it was the first I had heard about it,” Edwina Beveridge said.
“The council has so little respect for our business, one that already employs 40 people in the Hilltops shire and is trying to expand.”
The battle over the piggery at ‘Eulie’ near Harden has been waged for over 18 months and despite the knowledge that the piggery will now be rejected Mrs Beveridge feels as though Council has let her, her business and the Hilltops region down over the handling of the Development Application.
“We have paid rates to the council for decades, yet we are not even given the courtesy of being told about this meeting directly, we have to read it on Facebook.”
Mrs Beveridge said they are considering their options for what to do next but that there were positives on the horizon.
“We have been contacted by 11 other shires asking us to expand our business in their regions, maybe we would be better moving to a more proactive shire that encourages business,” she said.
Council general manager Anthony McMahon said while responses from state-based agencies –the Environment Protection Authority and the Office of Environment and Heritage – regarding the development prevent Council from consenting to the project it has an obligation to undertake an assessment of the proposal.
“Fundamentally, what this means is that Council has no choice but to refuse the application, however Council is still required by legislation to undertake a full planning assessment.”
In the statement released there was the announcement of a public forum to be held on July 11, 2017 from 10 am at the Harden Mechanics Institute.
“Members of the public will have the opportunity to present their views on the proposed development to the Council’s Administrator prior to the report on the proposed development being considered the following day,” Mr McMahon said.
Those wanting to express their views are required to register by 4:30 pm on July 7, by emailing mail@hilltops.nsw.gov.au or phoning (02) 6386 0100.
