The Australian Livestock and Rural Transporters Association (ALRTA) is partnering with the District Council of Grant to establish a livestock effluent disposal pit at the Mount Gambier Saleyards in South Australia.
The project is funded under the Heavy Vehicle Safety Initiative (HVSI), administered by the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator, and works began on the facility in March.
“The newly installed pit will provide an opportunity for transporters to dispose of accumulated livestock effluent either at the end of their journey to the saleyards, or on their way to deliver a consignment further afield,” said Saleyards Manager, David Wallis.
“Evidently there are too few locations for transporters to properly dispose of effluent along the road network. The ALRTA offered $50,000 in funding to support planning and construction of an effluent disposal bay. Council will deliver this project to effectively provide an opportunity for livestock transporters to dispose of effluent in eastern South Australia.”
In the association’s weekly newsletter, ALRTA President Scott McDonald, said managing effluent in transit is a significant challenge for its members.
“Effluent capture tanks installed on purpose-built livestock trailers do a reasonable job of containment however there is a consequential need for transporters to access suitable facilities for effluent disposal when tanks become full in transit and at ‘end of journey’ facilities,” he said.
“Livestock effluent disposal facilities benefit the livestock supply chain and the community. They improve safety by ensuring cleaner roads and improved animal welfare outcomes and help to reduce the risk of non-compliance with biosecurity, environment and load restraint laws. That’s why the ALRTA is actively engaging with industry stakeholders and governments to develop a national network of effluent disposal points.”
“Our association greatly appreciates the support of the livestock transport industry demonstrated by District Council of Grant by building an effluent disposal pit on their site at Mount Gambier,” he said.
The Mount Gambier Saleyards disposal point is the second site funded via the HVSI, with a first site becoming operational in Horsham in July 2020. ALRTA is working on additional sites to be announced in the near future.