By VICTORIA STONE-MEADOWS
THE future of the Happy Valley pig farm in Wandin North is secure despite the recent controversy surrounding the farm.
Co-owner Andrew Stritch informed The Mail his and his wife’s farm was not under threat after council voted down an amendment to the planning scheme to allow intensive animal husbandry.
The Stritches have altered the feeding regime for their pigs by introducing a cropping phase.
By adding this step into the pigs’ regular feeding cycle, Happy Valley pig farm is no longer considered an intensive feeding farm.
Mr Stritch says it was not all good news for the farm, though, as the changed look of the farm may upset some people.
“When we do the cropping phase the paddocks will go from green to brown,” he said.
“At the moment it stays pretty green but once we sew new seeds there is going to be more noise and dirt and the amenities will be worse looking in from the outside.”
Despite having bought his farming practise in line with the council regulations for his property, Mr Stritch remains critical of the council’s planning scheme.
“The national code for outdoor piggeries is based on stock numbers rather than food,” he said.
“Yarra Ranges Shire is the only one that has clause 53 that differentiates between intensive and extensive farming based on food.”
“All other councils in near regions have managed to assess and grade farming on a case-by-case basis.”
Mr Stritch remained hopeful the coming review into farming definitions by the Victorian Planning Minister would change how farming was defined within the Yarra Ranges.
“The review will make the shire make a decision,” he said.
“They don’t want to be a leading edge but farming in Australia needs to be protected.
“Lots of people don’t understand how farming practises work.
“Especially ones that say if you don’t feed off your land then it’s not sustainable – no-one does that, it’s not how farming works.”
