Moorabool council rejects Ballan puppy farm

Moorabool Shire Council has refused a planning permit for the construction of a puppy farm in Ballan.

The application was lodged in November last year by a Melbourne puppy breeder who hoped to keep 15 dogs and 85 breeding bitches at the property.

Council had received 1300 submissions against the development of the proposed farm, which was to be on the Geelong-Ballan Road.

The issue was resolved at last night's ordinary council meeting, with five speakers objecting to the application.

It had been recommended that the planning permit be refused due to failure of the applicant to provide a waste management plan, failure to provide noise abatement plans and potential negative impact on the ecology of the area.

The community had also voiced concerns regarding the physical and mental welfare of the breeding bitches.

RSPCA Victoria CEO Maria Mercurio said she was relieved that the recommendation had carried.

"We acknowledge that puppy farms might be legal, but because they're legal doesn't mean they're ethical," she said.

"The community has no idea about the source of the puppies they buy from pet shops or the conditions they are kept in. If they did, they would think twice before buying."

Last night the applicant asked for the item to be deferred due to amendments to their plan, but council refused. They can appeal the decision at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.

Reference: http://www.thecourier.com.au

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