_Sea Cucumbers to Supplements

Collie was involved in an interesting recent planning application relating to the harvesting of Sea Cucumbers (animal not vegetable) and the processing of them to create health supplements in both capsule and tablet form. 

The process was defined under ‘industry’ and the relevant zoning allowed industry without a permit, subject to any threshold distances compliance.  The operational details (transport; intensity of use; quantity of raw material and outputs and amenity impacts) meant it did not require threshold distances other than being 30 metres from residential use – which it met. 

The only actual planning permit requirement related to the need for a dispensation in car parking, which the responsible authority approved on the basis that the high-end processing machines created virtually no waste, odour or large goods handling – and thus no intensive labour requirements.  Furthermore, most of the supplements (about 95 per cent) are packed for export to Asian markets, with the small amount remaining delivered through on-line purchase.  On this basis the site has no retailing or visitors and in fact visits are discouraged due to the need for a very hygienic establishment.