The Australian Livestock and Rural Transporters Association (ALRTA), together with the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR), will launch a campaign to promote a registered code of practice – Managing effluent in the livestock supply chain, also known as the Effluent Code, in Toowoomba on Friday 23 June 2023.
A sign pointing to roadside livestock transport effluent disposal point in New Zealand.
The campaign aims to raise awareness and encourage the adoption of the Effluent Code by engaging with livestock supply chain stakeholders in interactive information sessions, held at strategic rural and regional locations across Australia, and also through various media channels, including print and social media.
ALRTA National President, Scott McDonald, said that the project is a collaborative effort between ALRTA and NHVR with contributions from industry stakeholders, including Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA), and is funded by the NHVR’s Heavy Vehicle Safety Initiative, supported by the Australian Government.
The effluent management practices for transported livestock, as described in the Effluent Code, help to improve animal welfare outcomes, mitigate biosecurity threats, contribute towards sustainability, support livestock transporters, and make the roads safer for all road users by advocating a proactive risk management approach.
“The potential benefits of implementing the Effluent Code can only be realised if parties in the chain work together to take action,” Mr McDonald said.
“It is in our own best interests as a supply chain to raise awareness of the recommendations in the Effluent Code to help minimise the risk of livestock effluent spillage,“ he said.
Chair of the ALRTA’s Driver and Animal Welfare Committee Mr Graeme Hoare said, “In developing the Effluent Code, livestock preparation and handling, and transport planning were identified as critical activities in safe road transport journeys for livestock, making the Effluent Code particularly relevant to producers and transporters.”
“However, the code of practice is relevant to all parties who have a primary duty for the safety of heavy vehicle transport activities, including feedlot managers, agents, saleyard managers and processors, as they also have a role to play in eliminating or minimising effluent spillage during road transport.”
“We need to start at livestock preparation and manage this issue right through the chain at production and sale points,“ he said.
Toowoomba Regional Council Infrastructure Committee Chair Cr Carol Taylor said Council was enthusiastic in its support for this important project as improved management of livestock effluent in transit would benefit all communities and significantly enhance the reputation of the livestock industry, which is an important contributor to the local agricultural sector.
“We want this industry to continue to grow alongside our rural and regional communities, but it must be done responsibly while also keeping our road corridors clean and safe,” she said.
Source: ALRTA