A $15 MILLION medicinal cannabis cultivation and processing facility will be established north of Bathurst under a proposal now before Bathurst Regional Council.
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The plan is to grow medicinal cannabis in a massive 4350 square metre greenhouse to be built on the property, with the plants to be harvested, processed and packaged on-site for distribution.
The plans also include a 1860 square metre processing building, 390 square metre office and 35-space car park with associated landscaping.
A Statement of Environmental Effects (SoEE) lodged with the development application to council says the facility would employ up to 50 people when fully operational.
It states the facility would produce cannabis-based products "aimed at managing chronic pain, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, as well as pain associated with palliative care".
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"The proposed development is an indoor cultivation operation," the SoEE states.
"The facility utilises controlled environment horticulture, excluding pest and disease, which may render the crop unsaleable or require treatment which may damage plant health or make the crop unsuitable for use. No pesticides are proposed."
The site will be monitored 24 hours a day and will include perimeter fencing and a vault to store the finished product, as required by state and federal legislation.
Mature plants will be dried in a low-humidity environment until the target moisture content is reached.
Flowers will be harvested from the stems and the remaining plant material will be destroyed. Some trimming by hand will be required.
The SoEE says the project will be powered by a mix of electric and solar energy sources with natural gas an option for the future.
"It is proposed to retreat the water through a reverse osmosis system or option to tank and reuse it," the SoEE states.
"An application for an irrigation licence has been made to enable the irrigation of the crops with water from the Macquarie River. High yield requires high quality water."
According to the Australian Government's HealthDirect website, cannabis has been shown to relieve pain, prevent or reduce vomiting, and has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
The plans were lodged with council on Tuesday and will be considered by a new council following the December 4 election.
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