Rural Solutions SA’s environmental management credentials will be on show at the Environment Institute Australia New Zealand (EIANZ) conference.

Three papers were presented which demonstrate the team’s practical contributions to organic waste management and its expertise in delivering Environmental Management Systems (EMS). 

Wineries, piggeries, dairies, cattle and sheep feedlots generate a lot of organic waste. How can the impact on the environment be reduced? Can spreading  wastes be managed in a more measured, way?  

Extensive rural sector research and collaboration has seen consultant Trevor Clark lead the development of a manual aimed at answering these questions. The manual - created as an interactive CD - contains ‘WASTLOAD’ spreadsheet models for helping calculate the best and most sustainable balance of effluent, solids or a combination of both spread on the same area.  

This paper reports on the manual’s development and user feedback.
 
“Resource Not Waste, the New Paradigm” : The SA Dairy Effluent Project - is Trevor’s second paper that reports on a successful dairy effluent management program tested in the South East of South Australia.

This intensive collaboration involved a review of current practices, an updating of  the regional guide for Dairy Shed Effluent and technical assistance to farmers to upgrade their systems to meet legal requirements and best management practice.  A Dairy Development Guide detailing the process and steps involved in expansion or building a new dairy evolved from this process. 

The updated Guidelines and the Dairy Development Guide are available from the SA Dairy Industry Web site www.dairyindustrysa.com.au

The third paper - Pathways to Industry EMS and Environmental Assessment by consultant Michael O’Keefe - focuses on managing environmental issues resulting from a national trend of pig production expansion.

This project involved the development and use of management tools to reduce the potential impact of piggeries on the environment.  Two programs are currently being road-tested on piggeries throughout Australia.

The program’s objective is to develop and implement an auditable Environmental Management System (EMS) for small and large scale piggeries.  Piggeries can select from two levels of EMS certification: Level 1 utilises simplified templates which are less time consuming, where as Level 2 is based around ISO 14001. 

While still at experimental stages, both programs have achieved several positive outcomes. Lnkages between producers and regulators have improved and farmers have now realized they can differentiate their product through implementing an EMS. This naturally can lead to the marketing of a ‘clean and green product.’    

“Overall, these reports show how our team can work closely with farmers and partners in industry and government to achieve a real win: win for business and the environment, ” said Rural Solutions SA Executive Director, Locky McLaren.

Contact: Michael O'Keefe