A new livestock effluent disposal pit is now available to all livestock transporters
Funded by the Australian government through the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator’s (NHVR) Heavy Vehicle Safety Initiative, an effluent disposal pit has been opened at Mount Gambier and District Saleyards for livestock transporters.
The government says the facility aims to improve safety, efficiency and productivity for livestock transporters by providing a discharge point for effluent.
Rhe project was a joint initiative of the Australian Livestock and Rural Transporters Association (ALRTA) and the District Council of Grant.
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(L-R): John Beer, LRTAV; Cr Barry Kuhl; Tony Pasin MP, Federal Member for Barker; Mayor Richard Sage, District Council of Grant.
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Local ALRTA member Peter Edmonds says that Mount Gambier saleyards was an ideal location for installation of a livestock effluent disposal facility.
“It’s just off the Princes Highway, not a big detour into the site, and it draws in livestock trucks driving through Mount Gambier from the north as well as trucks from the west heading to Midfield Meats and beyond,” he says.
He recently trialled a B-double over the grids and commented that the facility is ideally set up to empty tanks from both crates into the two large grids.
“There are four floodlights installed, one on each corner of the facility, so the effluent pit can be used after dark. The short hoses have good pressure and are ideal for washing down tyres, mud flaps and plugs, but won’t stretch to clean out crates, so the effluent pits should be relatively quick to use and won’t become just another truck wash queue,” he says.
ALRTA president Scott McDonald says that the new facility benefits both 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 Grant Council and saleyards management, by building an effluent disposal pit on their site at Mount Gambier.”
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