ALRTA calls for national effluent disposal network

ALRTA has lodged a formal submission with Infrastructure Australia

IA is an independent advisory body that evaluates and prioritises infrastructure proposals for the next 15 years.

ALRTA President Stephen Marley said the red meat sector was a growing industry that supported 405,000 jobs.

"Most livestock is transported by road on at least one occasion during the production process," Mr Marley said.

"In 2018, there were more than one million semi-trailer equivalent livestock movements across Australia with a transport value exceeding $1 billion.

"One of the realities of livestock transport is that animals can lose up to 5 per cent of their weight as effluent during transit."

He said livestock trailers could not be sealed, as they were designed to provide ventilation for livestock.

"Effluent capture tanks can reduce the incidence of major spills, but do not have sufficient capacity to capture all effluent and must be supported by a network of legal effluent disposal sites."

Mr Marley cited the New Zealand example, where national and regional governments are jointly funding, building and operating purpose-built livestock effluent disposal facilities on public roads.

"This common-sense approach is exactly what is needed for the Australian rural livestock supply chain to co-exist and grow alongside expanding urban populations where livestock sale and processing facilities are typically concentrated," Mr Marley said.

"By prioritising the ALRTA proposal, Infrastructure Australia would be helping to improve road safety, animal welfare, biosecurity, amenity, environment and business sustainability".

The ALRTA proposal will be considered for inclusion in the 2021 Infrastructure Priority List.

Have you signed up to Stock & Land's daily newsletter? Register below to make sure you are up to date with everything that's important to Victorian agriculture.