31/05/2026
PLEASE consider this application carefully and, if you have concerns, put pen to paper and submit an objection.
The last thing we need in Victoria is another commercial puppy farming operation - especially one planning to breed Golden Retrievers and Labradors, breeds that deserve ethical, knowledgeable breeding focused on health and temperament.
As someone who has bred Golden Retrievers for over 35 years, this honestly makes me feel sick to my stomach. Nobody can properly raise socially well-adjusted puppies or give breeding mothers the individual attention they need on this scale. Responsible breeders raise puppies in their home and dedicate enormous time and care to every litter and every dog.
Dogs should never be treated as a commercial product. Please make your voice heard.
***UPDATE : Application WITHDRAWN - head to this link for the latest https://bit.ly/3RYFByY
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GUIDANCE for those wishing to Lodge an Objection to Mt Alexander Shire Council - PA148/2025 Proposed Dog Breeding (puppy farm) Facility application.
You do not need to be a planning expert to lodge an objection. The most effective objections are those written in your own words and focused on issues that genuinely concern you.
Council is interested in understanding how the proposal may affect in particular local residents, the environment, rural amenity, animal welfare, and the broader community.
TIP: focus on the issues that matter most to YOU personally (noise, traffic, rural character, environmental impacts, animal welfare, etc.) rather than trying to cover every point. Council generally gives more weight to genuine individual concerns than multiple identical submissions.
Scale of the Proposed Development
The application seeks approval for a facility capable of housing up to 50 fertile breeding dogs, up to 100 puppies and up to 150 dogs on site at one time. The applicant also proposes producing up to 50 litters each year.
You may wish to comment on whether a development of this scale is appropriate within a rural community such as Elphinstone. Consider whether you believe the proposal is more akin to an intensive commercial breeding enterprise than a traditional rural land use and whether it aligns with the character of the surrounding area.
Rural Amenity and Character
The proposal includes large kennel facilities, visitor access, commercial deliveries, waste collection services, staff accommodation and 24-hour operation.
You may wish to explain how you believe the development could affect the quiet rural character of the area. If you chose to live in Elphinstone because of its rural environment, low-intensity land uses, open landscapes or peaceful setting, these are legitimate matters to raise with Council.
Noise Impacts
The application does not appear to contain an independent acoustic assessment examining the noise impacts associated with housing up to 150 dogs.
You may wish to raise concerns regarding barking, particularly given that barking in kennel environments can be cumulative in nature. Noise may occur from feeding times, movement of animals, visitors arriving on site, interaction between dogs, puppies vocalising, and general daily operations.
If you live nearby, you may wish to explain how increased noise could affect your ability to enjoy your property or impact your quality of life.
Traffic and Road Safety
The proposal anticipates visitor traffic, staff vehicle movements, veterinary visits, commercial deliveries and waste collection services.
You may wish to comment on existing road conditions in the area and whether you believe local roads are suitable for increased commercial activity. Concerns about road safety, access points, visibility, traffic volumes or the absence of an independent traffic assessment may also be relevant.
Waste Management, Odour and Environmental Impacts
The proposal relies on animal waste storage, clinical waste storage, septic systems and waste collection services.
You may wish to ask whether sufficient information has been provided to demonstrate protection of groundwater, waterways and surrounding land. Concerns regarding odour, nutrient runoff, waste management and long-term environmental impacts are all relevant planning considerations.
If you have experience with rural properties, farming activities or animal facilities, you may also wish to comment on whether the projected waste volumes appear realistic for a facility of this size.
Animal Welfare Concerns
The application proposes up to 50 breeding dogs, up to 50 litters per year and up to 150 dogs on site. It also references artificial insemination, transcervical insemination, scheduled caesarean sections and a staffing ratio of approximately one staff member per 25 fertile dogs.
You may wish to raise concerns about whether animals can receive adequate individual attention, socialisation, enrichment and welfare monitoring at the proposed scale. While compliance with minimum standards is important, Council may also consider whether the intensity of the operation raises broader welfare concerns.
You may wish to express views regarding the scale of breeding proposed and whether intensive breeding operations are consistent with community expectations regarding animal welfare.
Clause 14.01-2L – Animal Husbandry
The Mount Alexander Planning Scheme seeks to ensure that animal husbandry activities do not negatively impact local amenity or the environment.
You may wish to state that, in your view, the application has not provided sufficient evidence to demonstrate that potential impacts relating to noise, odour, traffic, waste management and environmental protection can be adequately managed.
You may also wish to note that Council has not been provided with independent acoustic, traffic, odour or environmental assessments to support the application.
Farming Zone Considerations
The subject land is located within the Farming Zone.
You may wish to comment on whether the scale and intensity of the proposed development is consistent with the purpose of the Farming Zone, which seeks to support agriculture, maintain rural character and avoid land use conflicts.
Some residents may consider that a facility capable of housing up to 150 dogs, with purpose-built breeding infrastructure and commercial operations, is more intensive than what would ordinarily be expected in a rural landscape.
Broader Community Interest
You may wish to express concerns about the broader implications of approving a large-scale commercial dog breeding facility.
This may include concerns regarding existing pressures on animal shelters, rescue organisations, pounds and foster care networks, as well as community expectations regarding responsible breeding practices and animal welfare outcomes.
While Council is primarily assessing land use and planning matters, community expectations and public interest considerations can still be relevant to the overall assessment of the proposal.
Insufficient Information for Proper Assessment
A number of residents may be concerned that the application lacks sufficient independent expert assessment.
You may wish to state that Council should not make a decision until independent assessments addressing noise, traffic, odour, environmental impacts and cumulative amenity impacts have been provided and subjected to public scrutiny.
Concluding Your Objection
You may conclude your submission by requesting that Mount Alexander Shire Council refuse Planning Permit Application PA148/2025.
Alternatively, you may request that Council require additional independent investigations and expert assessments before any decision is made.
Most importantly, WRITE IN YOUR OWN WORDS. Objections that reflect genuine personal concerns about the proposal, the local area and the community are often more persuasive than identical form letters.
BAWCS 'caring with compassion'
