Penny Thomas (front) and members of the Hanley Plains Piggery Objection Group have voiced their concerns about JBS’ scoping report.
The local expansion of JBS Pork Australia has met with mixed reactions, with concern for the surrounding ecosystem on one hand and a need for regional economic sustainability on the other.
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JBS, formerly Rivalea, contributes to 15 per cent of Australia’s domestic pork production.
With growing demand and shifts in environmental and animal welfare standards, the company is investing $400 million to modernise its operations within the Federation Council area.
The project includes construction of a specialised breeding facility, 8km from Mulwala on Rosewood Park Rd.
Federation mayor, Cheryl Cook believes the major upgrade is a “fantastic step forward” for Corowa and the broader Federation community, representing significant investment in local jobs, innovation and sustainable agricultural practices.
The facility is designed to produce high genetic quality breeding stock but despite strict biosecurity and sanitation protocols, neighbours close to the site are not convinced it’s the right location.
Hanley Plains Piggery Objection Group has written to Federation Council asking them to object to the application, which is being assessed as a State Significant Development.
They say they aren’t opposed to the facility, just the location.
Considering JBS and the project’s economic value to Federation Shire, it’s a big ask.
JBS Pork supports 650 jobs in the shire and sources 95 per cent of its grain from more than 550 local growers within 150kms of Corowa.
But residents say there are glaring discrepancies in the application that must be addressed.
Spokesperson Penny Thomas and her husband Peter are sheep and grain growers nearby and say the proposed site is a wetland, which is not reflected in the scoping report.
“They have failed to see that the proposed piggery is located within a floodplain of the noted wetlands,” Mrs Thomas said.
“An historical image obtained of the Hanley Plain, where the piggery is proposed, shows the area to be a path of numerous flood plains … the noted wetlands can be clearly seen.”
Hanley Plain is home to numerous protected brolgas, one of Australia’s largest flying birds, standing a metre tall with a wingspan up to 2.4m.
The birds feed and breed in open wetlands and while their population is considered ‘secure’ in northern Australia, they are listed as vulnerable in NSW and endangered in Victoria.
Hanley Plain is home to numerous brolgas whose population is under threat in southern Australia.
Mrs Thomas said an image shown in the scoping report was not the development site but an historical aerial photograph of the Savernake and Sanger region, 22 kms north of the proposed piggery.
“This is frustrating for our community as the scoping report is provided to the NSW Planning Department and the information the consultant has provided on behalf of JBS is false,” she said.
JBS’ project and agricultural services manager, Nathan Sandral said the project was yet to go through a rigorous Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process, to identify any impacts and plan mitigations for the project before construction starts.
“In practice, this means we are on a learning journey to understand what aspects of the project site and design may need to be adapted in response to several matters,” Mr Sandral said.
“There is a learning journey ahead as the rigorous EIA process commences.”
Olga Alexandratos, JBS Australia, director of corporate communications and project and agricultural services manager, Nathan Sandral examine plans for future expansion within Federation Council area.
Mr Sandral noted residents’ concerns about the wetlands saying it was “very helpful local information”.
“As part of the EIS, we’ll be required to assess the local hydrology to ensure there are no unacceptable impacts,” he said.
“During the EIA process, the project team will review in detail to understand how project design and site layout may need to be adapted.
“All piggery sites are operated under strict EPA conditions and license, so this matter is taken very seriously for design considerations.”
Other major concerns for residents were the potential for odour and claims in the scoping report that the site had been continuously cultivated for cropping purposes since at least the early 1960s, which they also say is incorrect.
“The piggery site has only been cropped less than six times in the last 88 years, according to local knowledge,” Mrs Thomas said.
“The current owner started intense cropping on the site since he purchased the property in 2021.”
But it’s a claim JBS “respectfully, agrees to disagree with”.
“The project technical teams are using available information from a range of sources,” Mr Sandral said.
“(The site) is currently an active cropping site and has been for many years.
“A review of historical aerial imagery of the site, from at least the 1970s onwards, shows evidence of ongoing pastural improvement activities, including grazing and cropping.”
The potential for odours, surface and ground water pollution and soil degradation will all be explored in detail during the EIA process with a necessity for all piggery sites to operate under strict Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) guidelines and licenses.
JBS expansion sites within Federation Shire.
The proposed Mulwala nucleus pig farm has a target number of 25,000 pigs with an assumption that they will give birth at least twice per year, with an average of 11 piglets per litter.
In contrast, the existing Corowa Redlands site, about 7kms from Corowa, has a 300,000-animal operating limit.
JBS says despite the numbers, Federation Council had previously advised the company they had never received an odour complaint from Corowa residents.
Updated odour and effluent management systems have further reduced the risk.
“These state-of-the-art growing and breeding facilities align with today’s best practices in sustainability, biosecurity, people safety and animal welfare,” Mr Sandral said.
“The protein growing industry is under intense domestic and international pressure.
“With the closure of Bega Cheese in Strathmerton (300 jobs), and the restructures of local industries such as Saputo in Cobram and SPC in Shepparton, investment into regional economic development and our communities is becoming more challenging.
“JBS Australia is looking to invest and modernise its facilities locally in Federation Council area, where the flow on economic contributions would be significant.”
Corowa Chamber of Commerce president, Dean Druce says there’s a need to be realistic for the future sustainability of the shire.
Corowa Chamber of Commerce president, and owner of Corowa Distilling Co, Dean Druce fully supports the project, and any busiess willing to expand and grow their economic footprint to help the region become more sustainable.
“650 is just the direct jobs, but when you look at indirect jobs, there’s a lot more than that,” Mr Druce said.
“People can object, but if we want to survive, we need to be realistic.
“We need progress, or we’ll be a dying community, and our population will decrease.
“A lot of people object because it is a piggery and because it’s JBS.”
But, he said, whether a piggery, a whiskey distillery making chocolate, or any other business, they were all part of the future sustainability of the region.
Mr Sandral said JBS was committed to ongoing consultation with the local community throughout the development process.
Hanley Plains Piggery Objection Group can be contacted at hanleyplain4@icloud.com
