FSA Consulting completed a report containing information in regard to the natural resources of the site (surface water, ground water, soils, geology and vegetation) of a proposed development. The development proposes establishing a farm of 240,000 meat chicken birds at Josephville via Beaudesert. The farm will include 8 tunnel-ventilated meat chicken sheds (122 m x 14.7 m) on his 193.1 ha farm. Each shed is proposed to house 30,000 birds.

To build the new meat chicken sheds, the applicant required approval under the Integrated Planning Act 1997 from the Beaudesert Shire Council. Following submission of a development application, the Assessment Manager (Beaudesert Shire Council) refused the application. After refusal of the application by the Beaudesert Shire Council, an appeal was lodged in the Planning and Environment Court (Appeal No. 4594 of 2002). Since refusing the application, the Council have added to their published reasons for refusal. Some of the issues in dispute relate to the impact of the development on the environment and specifically to ground water, surface water and soils. These included:

• (22) The appellant has not adequately demonstrated that the proposed development would not cause unacceptable impacts beyond the boundaries of the land, in particular in stormwater runoff.
• (24) The appellant has not adequately demonstrated that the stormwater run off and waste water from the proposed development could be appropriately managed to prevent contamination of groundwater and Markwell Creek.
• (26) The appellant has not adequately demonstrated that the solid waste produced by the proposed development could be appropriately managed.

The report was prepared for the Planning and Environment Court and included:

• A general description of the site.
• Details of the land resources of the site.
• Potential surface water and ground water impacts from meat chicken farm developments.
• A description of the proposed development.
• How potential surface water and ground water impacts will be controlled via good design and management.
• Risk of potential surface water and ground water impacts of the proposed development.