The proposal went before the Joint Regional Planning Panel (JRPP) in Guyra on Wednesday. 

Panel chair Gary West and panel members John Griffin and Pamela Westing had earlier inspected the existing glasshouse facility and also the site of the proposed new development.

They told the meeting that there was not currently enough information to make a decision and a lot more work needed to be done before the development can go ahead.

Mr West said that he realised the development held enormous significance for Guyra but it was his duty to be ‘mindful of planning requirements’. 

Mr Griffin, agreed saying that with the current lack of information to give the go ahead ‘would not be an informed decision’.

Chief among the concerns which were not adequately addressed were access to the site from the New England Highway, waste water, green waste and chemical use.

Tomato farm representatives informed the panel that a lot of the information they required has already been addressed. They have had a start-up meeting with the RMS and a design for the main intersection to access the site has been done.

 Another meeting is scheduled with the RMS next Thursday to address some of the concerns raised by the panel.

The representative told the panel members that they are mindful of the fact that the current facility uses half of the town’s water supply and that the new facility aims to be self-sufficient as far as water use is concerned. 

“This development application is not your standard farming document,” Mr West said. “I think we can help you in the future, but not today. We are happy to come back as quickly as necessary to deal with the application once all the information has been provided.”