The Australian Livestock and Rural Transporters Association (ALRTA) has secured $400,000 as part of the Australian Government’s 2018-19 Heavy Vehicle Safety Initiative program, to construct and operate a roadside livestock effluent disposal facility.

ALRTA national president, Kevin Keenan said the funding cements an industry-government partnership that will establish Australia’s first roadside effluent disposal facility for livestock carriers.

“Australia’s livestock supply chain will benefit greatly from the project and it will help drivers better comply with legislative requirements to contain effluent.

“Livestock processing facilities in Australia are not required to provide disposal areas for captured effluent and primary producers will not accept it onto their property due to biosecurity concerns.

“Considering this, we need to better manage effluent disposal on public roadways and roadside effluent disposal sites will be welcomed by the industry and other road users.

“We have identified South East Queensland as the ideal pilot site and the project is supported by the Queensland Government.  The facility will be located on the Warrego Highway, servicing more than 20,000 semi-trailer equivalent movements and removing up to 2,500,000 litres of effluent from the road corridor annually.

“Vehicles fitted with effluent capture tanks will be able to enter the site from the adjacent roadway, discharge tanks, and proceed back onto the Warrego Highway in a highly efficient manner. Captured effluent will be redirected for productive purposes such as irrigation, soil composting, worm farms or energy generation.”

Mr Keenan said that once completed the facility will serve as the foundation stone to expand the program in future.

“The longer-term aim is to construct a network of livestock effluent disposal facilities on key livestock transport corridors across Australia and this site is the vital first step towards that goal.

“I thank the Australian Government for supporting this pilot facility.  It will make a real difference for road safety, animal welfare, biosecurity and amenity,” said Mr Keenan.

Source: ALRTA