NSW Farmers has welcomed the joint initiative by the Federal and State Governments to reduce problems with livestock effluent on roadways.
The new program, Fixing Country Truck Washes, will provide $5 million each from the NSW and Federal Governments to build and upgrade truck wash out facilities.
NSW Farmers Business, Economics and Trade Chairman Peter Wilson said, “Over a number of years, both the trucking and farming sectors have worked together to develop sensible outcomes to manage the effluent problem.
“Providing more wash out bays across the State has been identified by our members as a key solution to the effluent problem.
“The transport and agriculture industries have spent a great deal of investment in managing effluent, with the fitting and retrofitting of containment tanks in livestock crates.
This program will lighten the load on existing infrastructure, freeing up livestock transporters to focus on the welfare of animals, the safety of others on the road, and biosecurity.
“The investment will partner with the NSW Government’s investments in the road network to build greater productivity for livestock farmers in NSW.
“We encourage the Government to partner this program with a renewed commitment to developing pragmatic approach to the regulation and enforcement of effluent.
“Such an approach should focus on major breaches, where the opportunity to use a wash down facility
