Tony Galati empire to expand as $15 million Lancelin chicken farm approved

Spud King Tony Galati is gearing up to expand his multimillion dollar business empire after receiving approval to build a $15 million chicken farm near Lancelin. The farm, which will be capable of processing 3.24 million broiler (meat) chickens a year, will be developed on the Nilgen property where the Galatis — famed for their Spudshed supermarket chain — already run a major irrigated horticulture operation. The development proposal was this week unanimously approved by a State Government joint development assessment panel, which included two Shire of Gingin councillors. Gingin Council had previously thrown its support behind the development which will comprise 12 sheds, each housing up to 45,000 free-range birds with access to a fenced outdoor area. The farm will have a total capacity of 540,000 birds at a time and process up to six batches a year, according to the development application lodged by Planning Solutions on behalf of Galati-owned Cream of the Crop Produce Pty Ltd. Mr Galati told Countryman the enterprise, which will help stock Spudshed’s meat aisles, would expand on its business model of cutting out the middleman. “Because we’re vertically integrated, we’re cutting out all the (extra) costs and we can bring cheaper product straight to the consumers,” he said. “That’s our platform and that is our formula.” Mr Galati said construction was expected to start in May or June. “There’s a delay in equipment coming over, but we should be in production by the end of the year,” he said. A proposal to use chicken manure collected on-site as fertiliser for the horticulture operation was knocked back amid concerns it would lead to the breeding of stable fly, a pest species that causes headaches for cattle producers in the area. Planning Solutions managing director Paul Kotsoglo said there were benefits from a town planning perspective to the manure remaining on-site, including reduced energy use and traffic. “There is merit in using resources originating from the site on the site, rather than trucking manure out of the site and trucking in manure from external sources,” he said. Mr Galati said he would seek permission to develop a compost facility which would enable the manure to remain on-site and be used as fertiliser for about 300 hectares of crops, including carrots, onions, potatoes, broccoli and cauliflower. “We’re aware of the stable fly and we’ve been following those restrictions for the last 10 to 15 years,” he said. “If we compost it (manure), it’s then safe to use. We’re trying to use as little fertiliser and chemicals as we can on our fields.” Of the three submissions received during public consultation, only one opposed the development, citing concerns about bad smells and stable fly nuisance. However, Shire of Gingin statutory planning officer Matthew Tallon said the proposal included sufficient measures to mitigate odour emissions and the spreading of raw poultry manure on-site would be an offence under State legislation. “The proposed development will not have any stockpiled waste that can create an environment conducive to the breeding of stable fly,” he said. The application was also referred to seven State Government departments, including the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation, none of which raised any objections. Along with chicken sheds, the development on Sappers Road, 15km east of Lancelin, will include an administration building, workshop, fire sheds, gas tanks, generators, dead bird storage and enclosed chemical storage sheds. The site is surrounded by rural properties engaging in livestock grazing and broad acre cropping, as well as two adjoining lots of native vegetation to the east and west which are owned by the State Government and the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions. Gingin Shire president Wayne Fewster welcomed the approval, saying the farm would benefit the area economically and create new jobs. “Broiler farms aren’t new to us — there’s heaps of them — and of course we’ve got the two egg farms in the Shire as well,” he said. “From a Shire point of view we welcome the growth in industry … (and) it’s good from a community point of view. “All these industries bring their issues with them, but we can deal with them.”