In the News
Chook row ruffles feathers
6 July 2010
FEATHERS were expected to fly at Gosford Council tonight over a proposal to eliminate factory farming of meat chickens from the region.
Greens councillor Terri Latella originally submitted the controversial motion in December, calling for the council to take an active role in discouraging what she described as "cruel" chicken farming practices.
Cr Latella's 10-point motion called for a number of actions, including:
* The council acknowledge concern about factory farming methods;
* The council take steps to eliminate the practice and lobby the State Government for changes to legislation;
* The council commit to purchasing free-range chicken products in its own operations.
The council wrote to a number of organisations and authorities, including RSPCA NSW, NSW Farmers Association and the Australian Chicken Growers' Council and received submissions from several Central Coast chicken farmers.
A report presented to the council showed all parties were against the motion, with the exception of Mangrove Mountain farmer Margaret Pontifex.
Cr Latella labelled the report "one sided" and has vowed to continue to ruffle councillors' feathers over the issue.
"I'm a fighter and I'm still hoping to get something through, even if it's just an amendment that the council will only purchase free range goods," she said. "We did it with the water bottles, so why not this."
Ms Pontifex, whose family has a long history as chicken farmers, welcomed Cr Latella's efforts.
But when Peats Ridge chicken farmer Graham Fripp heard about Cr Latella's motion to eliminate factory farming of meat chickens he reacted strongly.
"It's just stupid," Mr Fripp said. "If something like that was enforced on the Central Coast it would absolutely crucify our livelihood."
An economic profile of agriculture on the Central Coast plateau in December 2009 stated the value of agricultural activity was $92 million a year, with poultry the largest sector. Chicken meat and egg production was valued at $57 million a year or 60 per cent of total agricultural activity.
"I think about 90 per cent of chickens grown on Mangrove Mountain are shed chickens," Mr Fripp said.
A chicken farmer since 1973, he said there was a lot of misinformation about shed and free-range chickens. "We have 10 sheds and grow about 370,000 birds in one hit and we do that 5.3 times a year," Mr Fripp said.
"Our birds roam free in a large shed with food and water laid on."
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