AN entire central Victorian town is at war with its council over the establishment of a greyhound precinct on its outskirts.
More than 1000 dogs could soon be living, breeding and training next to the Crosbie Nature Conservation Reserve at Toolleen, east of Bendigo.
The council has already approved an 80-dog greyhound centre on the site, and an application for a 120-dog facility had been lodged with council next door.
So far, 56 of Toolleen’s 60 residents have lodged an objection to the new proposals, and there are plans for at least one more facility adjoining the other two.
Locals are angry and don’t trust the council because they believe the first facility, although not completed yet, is already being used.
Dogs are being trained on-site, and in some cases in the nature reserve, and locals allege some trainers are living at the work site in caravans.
Despite Department of Sustainability and Environment guidelines calling for a 200 metre buffer zone between any structure and the reserve, the main building is about 50 metres from the trees.
Locals also believe the entire block of land is flood prone, as was proven during the December 21 downpour that saw an 800-metre wide river run through the property.
Community spokesman Neil Phillips said the Campaspe Shire council was not listening to the residents’ concerns and had forgotten about the town on the outskirts of the municipality.
“During the first application for 80 dogs there was no public advertising and no community consultation,” he said.
“Information to two adjoining landowners regarding the application was delayed. A mediation meeting was called and those next door were given two days verbal notice to attend. The letter from council about the mediation meeting was
received after the meeting had taken place.
“The application was not referred to the North Central Catchment management Authority or the Environment Protection Authority.
“We have been writing to council for nine months outlining our concerns and they give us either inadequate answers or do not respond.”
Mr Phillips said the council had not identified the greyhound industry in any of its strategies.
“In all the 2020 strategies, they identified heritage tourism, the Box Ironbark forest and wine-growing tourism as areas of growth for Toolleen,” he said.
“There was not one single shred of commentary about greyhounds. What use are those strategies if they are not adhered to?”
Mr Phillips said the town also had some concerns about the impact of the developments on the nature reserve next door.
“The inhabitants of the Crosbie Nature Reserve were also overlooked,” he said.
“No consideration was given to threatened species like the regent honeyeater, the grey-crowned babbler, the powerful own or the swift parrot that inhabit the reserve.
“Instead the permit was issued and the facility has been constructed about 50 metres from the reserve, despite previous permit conditions and DSE conditions of a 200 metre building setback.
“You are not meant to take dogs into the reserve but we have evidence that people are doing it. People are causing a lot of damage without even knowing it.”
The community also has concerns about the land’s vulnerability to flooding.
“Many locals refer to the land as the lakes,” Mr Phillips said.
“Water flows from the reserve and takes out a large section of fencing on a regular basis.
“Just before Christmas flood waters were up to 800 metres wide, flowing the entire length of the blocks.”
Campaspe mayor John Elborough was unavailable for comment this week.