A rendering of the proposed livestock processing facility (abattoir) approved for Oura. Image: Icono Building Design.
Wagga Wagga City Council (WWCC) has approved the development application for a controversial abattoir in Oura despite several previous deferrals and an upcoming hearing at the Land and Environment Court.
The development at 2056 Oura Road, Oura, has been approved for a throughput of 1903 tonnes of live weight annually (cattle, sheep, and pigs), including an ancillary solar energy system, ancillary outbuildings, a wastewater treatment plant and associated storage tanks, landscaping works, and hardstand servicing and parking areas.
Even with the abattoir being approved by WWCC, it will soon be brought in front of the NSW Land and Environment Court as the applicant for the DA, Eringoarrah Pty Ltd, is appealing WWCC’s decision to amend its second formal application in May 2025.
The proposed abattoir has previously met heavy opposition through public exhibitions on five occasions, dating back to December 2023.
The last exhibition was in November 2025 and stemmed from issues regarding the public’s ability to access the link to submit for or against the development during the previous exhibition period.
Oura farmers and representatives of the Oura Riverine Protection (ORP) group, Deb Blackwell and Tom Kelsall, have called out WWCC’s recent decision to approve the DA, stating it has ignored aspects of the application.
“Last night, the planned feedlot was ignored yet again,” Mr Kelsall said.
“The EPA [Environment Protection Agency] have made it part of the general terms of approval for the development that there be control drainage management area for that feedlot.
“However, there has been no assessment or engineering design for how that will be achieved. Last night, the feedlot was ignored yet again.
“They have also completely ignored the 8 per cent slope that the effluent management area sits on, which is also uphill of the floodplain, the wetlands, the protected endangered communities, such as groundwall-dependent ecosystems and ecologically protected communities.”
Members of Oura Riverina Protection Doug White, Tom Kelsall, Deb Blackwell, John Blackwell, Helen Tullock and Skye Bellamy gather outside Wagga Wagga City Council to oppose the development of the Oura Abattoir. Photo: Jarryd Rowley.
The ORP said it was hoping the court date between Eringoarrah Pty Ltd and WWCC would finally address its environmental concerns about the application.
“We’re thrilled that the matter is coming before the Land and Environment Court,” Ms Blackwell said.
“What this means is that the council and the councillors are going to be subjected to a far more rigorous assessment of the process than what’s been done to date.”
WWCC released a brief statement about the Oura abattoir’s DA.
“Wagga Wagga City Council considered development application DA23/0598 for a livestock processing industry (abattoir) at 2056 Oura Road, Oura, at last night’s council meeting and resolved to approve the development,” the statement reads.
“Given the objectors are legally represented and the proponent has previously lodged an appeal, council will not be providing further comment at this stage.
“Council’s determination and the reasons for the decision are outlined in the publicly available council report and meeting minutes.”
The reasons for approval, as mentioned in the meeting report include:
- The NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) has issued general terms of approval (GTAs) for the development with respect to a required environment protection licence (EPL) under the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997
- The impacts of the proposed development are acceptable and can be managed via the recommended conditions of consent and the requirements of an EPL as detailed in the GTAs granted by the NSW EPA
- The site is considered suitable for the proposed development, having regard to the site’s zoning, separation from sensitive receivers, rural setting, access to infrastructure, and ability to accommodate wastewater treatment, irrigation and associated operational requirements.
The court battle between Eringoarrah Pty Ltd and Wagga Wagga City Council will commence with a hearing on 2 March.
