It comes as Hilltops Council formed an independent hearing and assessment panel to perform an unbiased investigation into the proposal. 

Blantyre farms’ proposal to build a $12 million piggery development in Harden which could hold more 25,000 pigs has been mired in opposition since it came before council earlier this year. 

 Animal rights activists from across Australia have led most of the opposition, which is centred mainly around the plan for sow stalls. 

But owner Edwina Beveridge has maintained the piggery would abide by legal standards to operate the site as well as providing jobs for the town.

On Wednesday, member of the Animal Justice Party and MLC Mark Pearson questioned Minister for Primary Industries Niall Blair on the development. 

Mr Pearson asked whether the state government would look to legislate against the use of sow stalls given the Blantyre plan involved the construction of 934 stalls. 

Mr Blair said there were no plays to legislate against sow stalls.

Animal rights campaigner Lisa Ryan, who is spearheading the local movement against the development, said she was believed there was enough opposition that the plan couldn’t possibly go ahead. 

“I think you will find that probably the vast majority of the community who are also immediate neighbours don’t want to have to look out their window and see 21 metal sheds,” she said. 

Hilltops Council general manager Anthony McMahon said the panel will report back its recommendations to the newly-merged council’s administrator, who will make the final decision. 

Any recommendations proposed will be made public, he said. 

“Following the initial meeting and site inspection, the panel has been given a month to provide their recommendations back to council which will then allow staff to progress a report for consideration by the administrator,” Mr McMahon said.