Residents grill developer on odour, traffic and political links
MOUNT COTTON residents have grilled developer Stephen Williams over odour, traffic and plans to transform rural land around Sirromet and the Golden Cockerel processing plant.
Asked about Premier David Crisafulli’s previous employment with his company, Mr Williams said there was no connection.
“David Crisafulli worked for my company for a short period when he was not in politics,” he said. “There has been no representation to the Premier, Deputy Premier or any other minister.”
Residents raised repeated concerns over the Golden Cockerel plant’s odour, wastewater irrigation and proposed expansion from about one million to 1.6 million chickens a week.
Some questioned why the plant, and nearby chicken sheds could not be moved.
Mr Williams said about $300 million had been invested in the site, including a $50 million cold-storage facility nearing completion, and there was “no rational reason” to relocate the plant.
But he said relocating chicken sheds was considered because of avian-influenza risk.
A proposed site upgrade could include on-site treatment, reverse osmosis and sewer connection, recycling about 60 per cent of water currently discharged, he said.
“If the facility is sewer-connected, new technology is installed and surface irrigation stops, there will be no odour,” Mr Williams said.
Traffic was another flashpoint with residents concerned the development would worsen already-congested Mount Cotton Rd.
“Mount Cotton Rd is already under stress,” he said.
“With or without this development, it becomes very dangerous by 2032 and is in a horrific state by 2037.”
He said the proposal could fund duplication of five of the 13 kilometres needing work and upgrades at four major intersections, while agreeing better public transport was needed.
Mr Williams said Sirromet’s rural zoning prevented it from developing an international resort, with accommodation capped at 5000sqm.
If the land entered the urban footprint, he said development applications could be lodged with Council around the middle of next year with the aim of completing the Sirromet resort component before the 2032 Olympics.
The proposed tourism precinct includes an international hotel, huts and 50 additional glamping tents.
Mr Williams said there would still be concerts at Sirromet if the project was approved, but they would be at a smaller scale.
