RURAL – INTENSIVE LAND USES 2 – Mt Lofty example

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See broilers

Local councils are concerned with the environmental effect of intensive land uses. This is particularly important in water catchment areas and near towns and cities.

CASE STUDY ENVRIONMENTAL CONTROLS ON THE MOUNT LOFTY RANGES WATERSHED – SA

BROADACRE FARMING

Broadacre farming activities, essentially the growing of crops, are acceptable as long as they do not affect water quality. This should not occur if the land and management practices are of a high standard.

Horticulture, including market gardens and orchards, is acceptable provided that the land is suitable and the activity is well managed, so that there are no problems with soil erosion or excessive use of any agricultural chemicals.

Careful consideration should be given to the establishment of any new horticultural areas to ensure that the land cultivated is not excessively steep and is sufficiently removed from any watercourse to avoid problems of accelerated erosion and direct runoff into streams.

NON INTENSIVE STOCK GRAZING

Non-intensive stock grazing is acceptable as long as care is taken to prevent overgrazing which can result in erosion. Also, stock shelters
have to be properly managed to prevent localised erosion and manure accumulation.

DAIRIES

New dairies are not permitted in Watershed Zone 1. They may be permitted in Zone 2, subject to conditions about the locations of milking sheds, yards, etc, and the management of waste. Written applications for a permit must be made to the Engineering and Water Supply Department.

Existing dairies are permitted to continue. However, approval must be obtained to rebuild, extend or modify any dairy, or to relocate a dairy within Zone 1. Owners of existing dairies are encouraged to adopt good management practices, paying particular attention to the location of structures and to the disposal of wastes. Regulation 37.3 of the Waterworks Act describes the responsibilities of dairy farmers.

KENNELS, POULTRY FARMS STOCKYARDS

The Waterworks Act Regulations apply to:


No new kennels, poultry farms or stockyards are permitted in Zone 1. They may be permitted in Zone 2, subject to conditions about the location of structures and the management of waste. Existing dog kennels, poultry farms and stockyards will be allowed to remain. However, approval must be obtained to rebuild, extend or modify
them or to relocate them within Zone 1.

Owners of existing dog kennels, poultry farms or stockyards are encouraged to adopt good management practices, paying particular attention to the location of structures and to the disposal of wastes. Regulation 37.3 of the Waterworks Act describes the responsibilities of owners.

STABLES

The Waterworks Act applies to stables housing two or more horses. New stables can not be established in Watershed Zone 1, but may be allowed in Zone 2. Written applications for a permit must be made to the Engineering and Water Supply Department. Permits may be issued, subject to conditions about the location of structures and the management of waste.

Existing stables are permitted to continue but approval must be obtained to rebuild, extend or modify any stables, or to relocate stables within Zone 1. The following conditions also have to be met:


The entire area of land required for the stables, as described above, must be secured on the same title as the land on which the stable buildings are located. Leased land will not be considered as a secured parcel of land.

The adoption of good management practices, with particular emphasis on the location of structures and the management of waste, is encouraged. Regulation 37.3 of the Waterworks Act describes the responsibilities of owners.

PIGGERlES, FEEDLOTS, ZOOS

The Waterworks Act applies to:


The owners of existing piggeries, feedlots and zoos are encouraged to adopt good management practices, with particular attention given to the location of structures and the management of waste. Regulation 37.2 of the Waterworks Act describes the responsibilities of owners.

FARM DAMS

A permit must be obtained from the Engineering and Water Suppl Department before any dam which will obstruct the free flow of water in a stream or watercourse in the Watershed is constructed. Regulation 37.4 of the Waterworks Act describes the responsibilities of owners.

RUBBISH DUMPS

New rubbish dumps should not be established in the Watershed, and in addition, badly sited or poorly managed dumps already operating should be closed. Where closures are impractical, the risk of water pollution will be kept to a minimum by placing conditions on the management of the dumps.

SEPTIC TANK INSTALLATION

The design and selection of the wastewater disposal system should be considered at the planning stage of any development. Particular consideration must be given to site conditions of the property, such as slope, soil type, and proximity to a watercourse. Information on the suitability of a particular site for a septic tank and soakage drains can
be obtained from the South Australian Health Commission. Some of the requirements applying in the Mount Lofty Ranges Watershed are:


All septic tank systems must be approved by the South Australian Health Commission. Should a site be considered unsuitable for a septic tank and soakage drains, alternative waste disposal methods should be discussed with the local council health surveyor.

QUARRYING AND MINING

Quarrying and mining operations may be permitted, on condition that any associated operations do not result in a deterioration of water quality. Regulation 37.5 describes the responsibility of operators.

RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES

Existing recreational activities within the Watershed can continue, providing that all wastes are collected and disposed of in an approved manner.

RESERVOIR RESERVES

Reservoir reserves are not open to the public except at established lookout points. The reserves around reservoirs generally provide buffer
zones at least 0.8 km wide (to high water level).

DEFINITIONS UNDER THE WATERWORKS ACT REGULATIONS

FEEDLOT means any building, enclosure, yard or structure on any land upon or within which cattle, sheep or any other stock or animals whatsoever, are held, confined or kept and are usually fed either wholly or partly, by a feeding method other than natural grazing.

PIGGERY means any building, enclosure, yard or structure on any land upon or within which one or more pigs are kept or run, whether temporarily or permanently.

ZOO means any building, enclosure, yard or structure on any land upon or within which any animals, birds, reptiles or any creatures whatsoever are kept primarily for the purpose of display or exhibition, irrespective of whether any charge is made or payment required for such display or exhibition.

COWSHED and COW YARD means any structure or collection of structures used for the holding or milking of dairy cows.

DOG KENNEL means any structure or collection of structures used for the confinement and feeding of three or more dogs.

POULTRY SHED and POULTRY YARD means any structure or collection of structures within which twenty-four or more fowls, geese, ducks and turkeys are kept.

STABLE means any structure or collection of structures used wholly or partly for the confinement and feeding of two or more horses.

STOCKYARDS means any structures for the confinement and feeding of stock but does not include any structure used from time to time solely for loading or veterinary purposes.





EXAMPLE – DAIRIES

Water used to wash down milking sheds and associated yard areas should not be allowed to enter surface watercourses and/or underground water aquifers. For the purpose of these guidelines "surface watercourses" include natural wetlands and manmade channels that drain into creeks, rivers or natural wetlands.

MILKING SHED AND YARD CLEANING


The entire milking herd should be confined on a concrete surface which drains to the wastewater management system, until all milking has been completed.

LAGOON SYSTEMS

Single storage lagoons should not be used for managing washdown from milking sheds where more than 150 cows are milked daily. Lagoons should be located at least 200m from neighbouring houses in order to minimise potential odour problems.

Where a lagoon(s) is built on a hillside or in any other situation where surface runoff may enter the lagoon or damage the banks, clean surface runoff from surrounding areas must be diverted away from the lagoon. Diversion banks should be capable of diverting runoff from a one hour rainfall event with an average recurrence interval of 1 in 25 years.

A freeboard of at least 0.6 metres must be provided above the maximum water depth. Despite the exclusion of surface runoff from adjacent areas, emergency spillways should be incorporated into the design of lagoons to protect them from possible damage caused by severe storms.

Lagoons must be desludged on a regular basis. Sludge should be removed prior to sludge levels reaching 2/3 of the normal lagoon depth.
Milking shed washdown water must not be stored in on-stream farm dams that can overflow on an occasional basis.

IRRIGATION SYSTEMS

Milking shed washdown water must not be irrigated onto land within 100m of a watercourse during the months of May to October inclusive. At other times of the year milking shed washdown water should not be irrigated within 50m of a watercourse. In addition, milking shed washdown water should not be applied to steeply sloping land (greater than 1 in 4 slope), waterlogged soils, or land where vegetation cover is sparse.

Sprinklers used to irrigate milking shed washdown water onto pasture or fodder crops must be moved on a regular basis. During wet times of the year (May to October) the rate of waste, water application should be less than the water infiltration capacity of the soil to avoid surface runoff of wastewater. At other times of the year wastewater should be applied to pasture or fodder crop at a rate which will utilise the nutrients as efficiently as possible.

Where a pump is used as part of a continuous wastewater disposal system, sumps should be designed to provide at least 2 days' holding capacity for milking shed washdown water, or some other alternative method should be in place for containing washdown water in case of mechanical breakdown or a back-up pump not being available.


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