After receiving complaints from the local community and animal activists, the council said a decision needed to be made.
“Given the high level of interest, complaints and negative media attention about the approval of animal breeding establishments in our municipality, a firm council direction is required,” MRC strategic planner Melanie Squires said in the meeting's agenda.
The agenda quotes complaints from many who say they won't visit the region if developments such as those at Nine Mile and Womboot Rd go ahead.
“This has gone viral on Facebook and many of us animal lovers who used to visit your beautiful area will no longer do so," one said.
Echuca-Moama animal activists said they were happy this issue would be coming before the council, and hoped the right decision would be made.
“We're really hoping for council to choose option three,” Echuca-Moama animal activist Kelly Robson said.
“Times are changing with communities becoming much more aware of animal welfare and especially the breeding of our beloved fur family members.
“We're hoping it will only be a matter of time before other states, especially NSW, follows Victoria's lead in changing laws and ensuring the safety of our animals.”
In Tuesday's meeting, MRC will consider three options:
1. Amend its Local Environmental Plan (LEP) and Development Control Plan (DCP) and prepare a Murray River Council Animal Breeding Policy to inform development application assessments;
2. Make no change to the current local controls, however support continuous improvement of conditions of consent, and council formally writes to relevant referral authorities to request clearer and consistent advice for the assessment of the development applications; and
3. Amend the LEP to prohibit animal breeding within Murray River Council.
The MRC meeting will be live-streamed on its website on Tuesday, August 25 from 6 pm.
● You can view the meeting at webcast.murrayriver.nsw.gov.au
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