At last Tuesday’s meeting, the majority of elected members supported an amended recommendation to approve the licence application by Barry Cocking for his Carabooda Road property.
The original recommendation listed 16 conditions for the licence, including that the number of chickens housed in the eight sheds currently on the property would be limited by the WA Code of Practice for Poultry.
According to the report, Mr Cocking currently has 150,000 chickens on the property, with two sheds used for pullets (young chickens), one for caged layers, one for packing and four for non-caged layers.
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READ NOWIt said under the WA Code of Practice for Poultry, he could have 205,385 non-caged chickens, or 266,000 caged chickens, but it was not possible to calculate the limit where both were kept.
Deputy Mayor Laura Gray moved an amendment, seconded by Cr Norm Hewer, which added a third recommendation.
Her amendment said the City would advise the landowner that the council’s approval to conduct an offensive trade was issued under the Health Act and the City’s Health Local Law.
‘It does not constitute an approval or permission to operate a poultry farm or conduct an offensive trade from the property under any other legislation, whether administered by the City of Wanneroo or not,’ it said.
‘It is the landowner’s responsibility to comply with all other applicable laws and statutory requirements relating to use and development of the subject land.’
Cr Gray said she reluctantly supported the motion because there were no grounds to refuse it.