A Gippsland farmer's plan to build one of Victoria's first undercover, automated cattle feedlots has sparked significant community backlash, with almost 700 residents signing a petition against the proposal and local representatives calling for it to be rejected outright. The application, lodged with Wellington Shire Council, covers a 2,206-head facility on vacant farmland at Llowalong, a rural locality north of both Maffra and Stratford in the state's south-east.

What the Automated Feedlot Would Involve

The facility, as described in planning documents, would house cattle in enclosed sheds and run them through a 90-day feeding cycle before transport to a processing facility. The proponent, farmer Angus Zilm, says two years of technical preparation have gone into the application, drawing on the expertise of engineers and specialist agricultural and environmental consultants.

Zilm says the project is designed with a focus on animal welfare, efficient feeding technology and environmental management, and argues it could benefit local cattle producers directly. He says the feedlot would offer a contract feeding arrangement, allowing nearby producers to have their animals fattened at the site rather than managing that process on their own properties.

"Access to a facility closer to home could reduce transport costs," Zilm said, adding that the development could also provide educational opportunities for the region's agricultural sector. He acknowledged community concern, saying his team is working through the issues with specialist advisers and supplying council with the additional information it has requested.

"We know our neighbours have questions and we take that seriously," he said. "We want to get this right."

Community Opposition: Road Safety and Odour Top the Concerns

At Wellington Shire Council's October 6 meeting, local resident Nick Lee addressed councillors on behalf of neighbouring properties, urging the application be refused. He outlined a range of concerns including noise, odour, potential environmental and health impacts, and the capacity of local roads to handle an increase in heavy vehicle traffic.

"Llowalong Road is not suitable for that volume of heavy traffic," Lee told the meeting. He argued that adding more than 850 truck movements a year would materially raise the risk to residents, farmers, other road users and truck drivers alike.

The petition bearing almost 700 signatures was formally presented to council at the same meeting. Councillors subsequently carried a motion to reject the proposal, referring it to the general manager of development for further discussion at a future council meeting. That procedural step means a final decision on the application is now unlikely before next year.

Council Decision Timeline Extended

Wellington Shire Council chief executive David Morcom acknowledged that applications of this kind are rarely straightforward. "These applications can be quite complex," he said. "There can be quite a lot of to-ing and fro-ing and we will certainly keep you abridged of that process."

While the council motion to reject was carried, the referral to the general manager of development means the matter will return to a future meeting before any binding outcome is reached. The proponent has indicated work is continuing in the meantime, with the team responding to both council queries and the community concerns raised publicly.

What Happens Next

With the application now under more detailed review within council's development division, both supporters and opponents face a waiting period before a formal determination is made. Zilm says his team remains committed to addressing the outstanding questions, while opponents appear equally determined to press their case through the planning process.

The outcome could carry broader significance for Victoria's agricultural sector, given the facility, if approved, would be among the first of its kind in the state, combining undercover housing with automated feeding systems on a commercial scale.