General News
11 February, 2025
Pavilion Farms committed to allowing rail trail to go ahead
Owner of Pavilion Farms, Michael Vukadinovic, has made a commitment to council that if the Castlemaine-Maryborough Rail Trail (CMRT) goes ahead the nearby broiler farm application will be relocated.
Mr Vukadinovic told The Maryborough District Advertiser that he has contacted council about his intentions to “defer the build” of proposed Farm 10. The contentious application put the CMRT’s future plans in doubt since public notice began in May last year.
“What I’m prepared to do is, I don’t want to stand in the way of a community project. I’m willing to defer the build of that farm until they get clarity on whether they’re going ahead or not. If they’re not going ahead, I’ll build the farm, if they are going ahead I’ll move the farm,” he said.
According to Mr Vukadinovic, in the last week he had sent an email stating his intentions to both the mayor and manager statutory services Peter Field. He also said he previously spoke to Mr Field around two weeks ago.
While the Central Goldfields Shire Council wouldn’t comment on “planning applications under assessment” Mr Field said council officers maintain communications with applicants and objectors.
While Mr Vukadinovic maintains there’s “nothing stopping them” from going ahead with the rail trail with the proposed farm there, he understands their perspective.
“I can see their issue saying there’s a farm 100 metres away and people might not want to use that trail. Because of that, I understand it might affect the usage of it in that area so I’ve committed to council that I’ll wait until they get clarity on whether they are going ahead or not,” he said.
Janice Simpson, CMRT president, confirmed with The Addy that the rail trail will be going ahead having already secured over $400,000 in funding.
However, Ms Simpson said Mr Vukadinovic would need to formalise his commitment before she could comment further.
“It’s either formal or it’s not. When it’s formal I’ll comment on it then,” she said.
For Ms Simpson, Mr Vukadinovic’s word would need to become a new planning application to council.
“We’ll make comment on any revised planning applications when and if it happens,” she said.
The Central Goldfields Shire Council plan on deciding the outcome of both Pavilion Farm’s applications in the first quarter of 2025.