COUNCILLOR Glyn Rees has called on the council to get on with a decision on the massive grain facility proposed for Allora.

The grain facility, which was first approved in 2013, has been the subject of much discussion between developer Chris Hood and the Southern Downs Regional Council in recent years.

It's been more than three years since the development application was lodged - and there's been little movement since.

A decision on the facility has again been deferred after rigorous debate on a request to come to a negotiated decision at a meeting last week.

Allora-based Cr Rees was very vocal during debate the debate, describing the 3ha grain site as "important for the town".

Cr Rees said the proposed development had been on the council books for too long.

"From a small country town perspective we shouldn't be putting impediments in the way," he said.

"I do think this is something that really has to go ahead for the Allora community - everyone in the area will benefit."

Most of the debate surrounded a condition requiring Mr Hood to plant trees on a 2m-high mound on the northern boundary of the facility and within a road reserve on Warwick-Allora Rd.

Some councillors questioned the importance of the condition, calling for it to be dropped so the development could go ahead.

Deputy Mayor Cr Ross Bartley said he didn't consider it important.

"We're supposed to be pro-development - make things easy," he said.

"The northern neighbour says he's happy to not have the buffer - he recognises it's a rural industry."

But Director of Planning and Development Ken Harris said the condition was there for a reason.

"You're going to have a very major visual impact on your tourism route," he said.

"This will be a very large facility with a very prominent visual impact.

"Your role as councillors is to make decisions on the best planning outcomes - whether an applicant or neighbour wants it or not is not part of it."

The facility will house four grain storage bunkers each 37m wide, 350m long and 7.8m tall.

There will also be silos, administration buildings and car parks at the site.

Cr Bartley and Cr Rees argued that the visual impact would be offset by the benefits for the town.

"As far as the visual impact, at some point the town will have to face the fact agricultural industries are keeping us afloat," Cr Rees.

"I wouldn't be too concerned about the visual impact."

The Deputy Mayor said farms were semi-industrial and not meant to be "pretty".

"They're not out there to create something scenic, they're out there to create a productive environment," he said.

"If it takes one more month to get this decision right then I'm fine with that."

Cr Jamie Mackenzie raised issues about the tree line on the road reserve and proposed the issue be discussed at the December council meeting.

"Because this development supports the economy with new jobs I've supported it since 2013," he said.

"Ideally we would like to move forward with this development."

Cr Denise Ingram took a harder stance on the issue, hitting out at her few councillors.

"We can't just think 'this poor man it'll cost him so much," she said.

"My concern is we're saying how longs it's taking and yet we're talking about deferring it again - what camp are we in?"

Mr Hood also wants to negotiate on conditions that would restrict him to operating the facility between 7am and 6pm.

The developer has told the council he'd like operate 23 hours a day, seven days a week.