Landsborough dog kennel update

Delay on Landsborough dog kennel proposal

The application for a new dog breeding and kennels facility that could house more than 300 dogs on a property at the end of Amigh Road in Landsborough has stalled.

Just before the deadline to provide further information to Sunshine Coast Council, the consulting agency acting on behalf of the developer and Mooloolah-based dog breeding company Diamond Valley Kennels requested a three-month extension from council. Council had indicated that from the details provided in the original application, it was unsure whether the development was justified.

Specifically, council asked the developer to provide a “… rationale and justification for the demand and need for animal keeping of this scale and how the wellbeing of any animals will not be compromised by having such a large operation”. This query mirrors concerns expressed by animal welfare supporters who have been heavily advocating against the application via social media, especially through the ‘No Puppy Farms in Queensland’ Facebook page.

Council also queried how the developer intended to comply with relevant state legislation and council laws relating to the keeping of animals. Other problems flagged included issues with storm water management, driveway access, the extent of earthworks, bushfire planning, waste water and sewerage management and noise assessment.

Council has given the developer until June 6 to respond, after which it will proceed with assessing the application. This comes on top of a looming March 1 information request deadline from the Department of State Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning, which had previously notified the applicant that the development requires a deeper level of explanation relating to its traffic impacts on Steve Irwin Way.

In a legal twist, the administrator of the ‘No Puppy Farms in Queensland’ Facebook page has reportedly received a letter – via a photo through Facebook private messenger – from a lawyer representing Diamond Valley Kennels threatening legal action. The photo of the letter dated February 20 is from a law firm based in Dubbo NSW, and states that posts on the Facebook page are considered to be “… false and misleading and have the potential to harm the reputation of our client’s business. As such, they are defamatory”.

The letter dictated that within six hours of the receipt of the photo all disparaging posts must be deleted from all forums and a public apology and retraction made, and includes threats of legal action if the demands are not met. In response, the Facebook page administrator confirmed that they stand by each and every one of their posts.

“Each post is carefully considered, thoroughly researched and backed by evidence,” they stated.

“Defamatory statements are false statements. Each and every one of our posts has been factual and they will continue to be.

“Diamond Valley Kennels can attempt to intimidate those who speak out against their business. We are the voice for the beautiful dogs who spend the best years of their life confined to the fences of a puppy farm. We will not be silenced.”