Agricultural science researcher Michael Cashen lodged a development application with Wagga City Council in March for an agri-tourism venture on a 14-hectare block on Billagah Street, off Narrung Street.

“People are bypassing Wagga for attractions like this and we need more diversity in Wagga’s agri-tourism sector,” Mr Chashen said.

When complete, the family operated business - Bidgee Strawberries and Cream - is tipped to cultivate 84,000 strawberry plants on three hectares, producing more than 42 tonnes of hydroponic strawberries a year.

It hasn’t been an easy road with a council report identifying a number of potential issues with the site.

According to the council report, the proposed site is categorised as having a high to very high flood hazard and cannot strictly hold a commercial premises under RU1 zoning regulations.

The report also conceded there may be safety and contamination concerns given the site’s location between Wagga’s sewage treatment plant and a former landfill.

However commercial development director Adrian Butler said council recommended the approval based on a series of conditions designed to mitigate risks such as “flooding and odour matters”.

“The flood-prone nature of the site does not sterilise it from development … (and) the odour report submitted to support the application demonstrates that the site is below the maximum odour level recommended for sensitive receptors,” he said.

Mr Butler also claimed the recommended buffer around the sewage treatment plant was “a guide and not a legally enforceable distance”.

Though the development application is yet be be determined formally by council, Mr Cashen is confident his farm will be given the all-clear.

“We’ve had engineers assess the site for flooding and we’d say the site is at risk from a 1 in 60-year flood,” he said.

“We’ve also had McMahon Earth Science look at the site and they’ve found no contamination.”

McMahon Earth Science has been contacted for comment.