A Koorawatha piggery has gained approval for a seven-fold expansion of its facility, with hopes of building on one of Young’s biggest industries.
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Council approved the application for the McColl family property at its February monthly meeting last week, branding the application exemplary.
It is hoped about 10 extra jobs will be directly created from the expansion, on top of millions of dollars injected into the local economy through the sourcing of local labour.
The $3.8 million expansion will see the piggery grow from having fewer than 200 sows to more than 1400.
The piggery’s owner Andy McColl - a third generation farmer - said the expansion was due to growing demand for pork in Australia and a decline in producers.
Mr McColl he was thrilled the development application was passed after an exhaustive process to complete it.
“I was very happy the way the meeting went and thrilled to get the approval,” he said.
“We’re quite a small producer and we need to increase to try to meet demand.”
The expansion is slated to take place over a period of 10 years, but Mr McColl hopes to complete it within five to six.
He said the piggery would be built to the highest possible welfare standards and would exceed all the expectations of the national supermarket chains.
That includes the phasing out of sow stalls - in accordance with industry imposed requirements - in favour of a group-system piggery.
Mr McColl said he hoped the expansion would build on what was already an integral part of the town’s economy.
He said the three major pig producers - the Walkers and the Pollards - employed well over 100 people.
“The other three major pork producers in Young and our industry often comes under heavy scrutiny, but it is worth a lot to the town,” he said.
“We all work very, very hard to be the best we can.”
At the council meeting, Councillor Stuart Freudenstein said the application was among the best he had seen in his time on council.
“This is the most thoroughly well put together application I’ve seen in my time,” he said.
“I commend them for the application and how well it was put together.”
He said only the most negative could find a reason not to agree with the application.
Council unanimously voted to approve the development.
