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A Nutrient Filled Field Day

Craig, Ab and Joan Allott of Toora recently hosted a field day titled ‘Dealing with Effluent from Dairy Sheds and Feedpads’.

By Department of Primary Industries - 16th June 2005 - Back to News

The Allott’s demonstrated how modifications to their effluent system and management has saved them both time and money, a win-win situation.

The field day held at their Toora farm, was organised by the Environment Protection Authority (EPA), the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) Nutrient Extension Team, the West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority and the South Gippsland Landcare Network and included guest speakers from South Gippsland Water and Waterwatch.

"The Corner Inlet water catchment area, which includes the Allott’s farm, has high levels of phosphorus which can contribute to degraded water quality, and can then lead to algal blooms and other problems," explained Tanya Cowell, Waterwatch Facilitator, referring to a 2003 Waterwatch report. 

The farm is on the Agnes River within the catchment that provides water for the residents of the Toora, Port Welshpool, Port Franklin townships and 200 rural residents.

"Consequently it’s imperative that a high standard of water quality is maintained," said Ms Cowell.

The EPA have completed audits of dairy farm effluent systems in the Agnes catchment. Following the audit Craig and Ab were required to undertake work so that their effluent system fully contained all effluent on their property.

After consultation with Barrie Bradshaw from the DPI Nutrient Extension Team and four weeks of thinking about ‘nothing but shit’, Craig and Ab came up with an innovative and resourceful solution. 

The original system was very labour intensive and comprised of a small two pond storage system with application using a small vacuum tanker.

 "It would take two weeks to empty the pond with the cart and then I would pray that it didn’t rain," Craig said.

The revised system now includes enlarging the second pond and pumping to a header dam one and half kilometres away to the ‘back paddocks’.  From here the effluent is applied to pasture.

 "The results to pasture growth are amazing. It’s jumping out of it’s skin," Ab said.

The new system also includes a storm water diverter to ensure that rainwater falling on the yards is diverted away from the effluent ponds.

"This means we’re only storing effluent in the ponds and not all the rainwater from the yards as well," said Craig.

 The new system saves time and money.

"It only takes three hours to pump to the header dam.  We’re improving the back paddocks and not spending money on fertiliser," said Craig.

This is a win-win solution for the Allott’s as well as for the catchment.

For further information please contact the Gippsland DPI Nutrient Extension Team at Ellinbank on (03) 5624 2222 or at Maffra on (03) 5147 0800.

The Gippsland Nutrient Extension Team is funded by the Gippsland Lakes Action Plan, and the Natural Heritage Trust through the West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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