A FOURTH generation Murrami farming family has been approved to start up a new project, which they believe will provide several economic benefits to the wider community in the coming years.
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Charton & Bang was given approval by Leeton Shire Council last week to construct an organic processing facility at its Murrami location.
Company director John Barton addressed councillors at the ordinary meeting and was afterwards pleased the development application had been given the green light.
The organic composting facility proposes to process 4500 tonnes of compost annually on site once operational, as well as create at least two to three jobs at the beginning before growing to be more in the coming years.
"Based on the numbers we have, it's going to be a $750,000 business each year and we will hope to grow that as time goes on," Mr Barton said.
Two submissions against the development application were submitted to council.
"My family has been here since 1922 ... I'm the fourth generation and the fifth generation is currently helping out on the farm, which operates directly across from this site," Mr Barton said.
"We care about the local area and we feel we have a reputation to keep up.
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"Our primary motivation in wanting to operate this sort of business is that ... we have a strong belief food production is critical to human life and the single best thing we thought we could do ... was we could find ways to help farming adapt into the future.
"Changes in climate, changes in the economic climate and doing whatever we could to keep farming efficient as it can be right now."
Mr Barton has been working in the organic processing industry for 11 years.
Concerns regarding the water table were addressed, with Mr Barton promising none of compost will enter the waterways as a result of the process.
"This whole business is very important to us ... we have set up several others already and really we wanted to jump up and down when this was approved by council for this area," Mr Barton said.
"We're really looking forward to the opportunity to do this here."
Concerns about odour were also addressed, but this doesn't appear to be an issue for the facility.
Detailed plans will soon be finalised and then construction will get under way.
Residents wanting to know more can visit http://chartonbang.com.au/wp/.
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