❓ Horticulturalists in the North Metropolitan Region are experiencing problems due to a lack of cost-effective substitutes for chicken manure. The Minister is aware and outlines ongoing efforts to address the issue, focusing on composting, power generation, and phosphoric acid treatment to mitigate stable fly infestation.
AnsweredQoN 1211Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
CHICKEN MANURE, LACK OF COST-EFFECTIVE SUBSTITUTES
(1) Is the minister aware of the problems being experienced by horticulturalists in the North Metropolitan Region due to a lack of cost-effective substitutes for chicken manure? (2) If so, what can the minister do to assist in overcoming such problems? Hon KIM CHANCE
(1) Is the minister aware of the problems being experienced by horticulturalists in the North Metropolitan Region due to a lack of cost-effective substitutes for chicken manure? (2) If so, what can the minister do to assist in overcoming such problems? Hon KIM CHANCE
AnswerView source ↗
(1) Yes; I have been for some time. (2) This is an ongoing issue. The honourable member would be aware that the use of raw chicken manure on horticultural land is approved for only the four winter months. That leaves us with eight months during spring, autumn and summer when the use of untreated chicken litter is prohibited. The Government’s principal belief, which was shared by the former Government, is that the most effective use for this material is as compost. Once the manure is composted, it does not pose the same risk of stable fly infestation as that posed by the raw material. Some of the difficulties that the Government has encountered include getting suitable sites for the composting treatment of the material approved by the Environmental Protection Authority. Hon Derrick Tomlinson: And local government authorities. Hon KIM CHANCE: Local government authorities have been difficult, particularly those authorities in areas with a history of high levels of stable fly infestation. Other proposals have been put forward. We are continuing to work with the proponents of the power generation solution, which would site a power generator powered by chicken litter roughly in the area of the Tiwest Joint Venture. That also is tied up in an involved process with the EPA. It is regrettable that we have had these difficulties. One or two other solutions have been proposed. The one that interests me most is the treatment of the material with phosphoric acid to acidify what is an alkaline material. Tests done so far indicate that the treated material is an unsuitable breeding ground for stable fly. That would be a simple and cheap answer. It is one for which I would like to see more testing. We expect that these problems will be resolved one way or another by next spring, when the regulations will click into gear again. It has been a difficult few months for horticulturists and broiler farm owners. We hope that we have made some inroads towards achieving our ends. Importantly, we have reduced the risk of stable fly breeding in the northern metropolitan area. That in itself was an objective worthy of reaching. Stable fly is a troublesome pest to humans, but a horrific danger to livestock, particularly thin-skinned livestock such as dogs and horses. I remember our former colleague Hon Murray Nixon advising this place that stable fly had killed horses and cattle in affected areas by eating them alive. That would be a horrific thing to happen. Controlling stable fly has been difficult, but the result has been worth the difficulty.
(2) If so, what can the minister do to assist in overcoming such problems? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: (1) Yes; I have been for some time. (2) This is an ongoing issue. The honourable member would be aware that the use of raw chicken manure on horticultural land is approved for only the four winter months. That leaves us with eight months during spring, autumn and summer when the use of untreated chicken litter is prohibited. The Government’s principal belief, which was shared by the former Government, is that the most effective use for this material is as compost. Once the manure is composted, it does not pose the same risk of stable fly infestation as that posed by the raw material. Some of the difficulties that the Government has encountered include getting suitable sites for the composting treatment of the material approved by the Environmental Protection Authority. Hon Derrick Tomlinson: And local government authorities. Hon KIM CHANCE: Local government authorities have been difficult, particularly those authorities in areas with a history of high levels of stable fly infestation. Other proposals have been put forward. We are continuing to work with the proponents of the power generation solution, which would site a power generator powered by chicken litter roughly in the area of the Tiwest Joint Venture. That also is tied up in an involved process with the EPA. It is regrettable that we have had these difficulties. One or two other solutions have been proposed. The one that interests me most is the treatment of the material with phosphoric acid to acidify what is an alkaline material. Tests done so far indicate that the treated material is an unsuitable breeding ground for stable fly. That would be a simple and cheap answer. It is one for which I would like to see more testing. We expect that these problems will be resolved one way or another by next spring, when the regulations will click into gear again. It has been a difficult few months for horticulturists and broiler farm owners. We hope that we have made some inroads towards achieving our ends. Importantly, we have reduced the risk of stable fly breeding in the northern metropolitan area. That in itself was an objective worthy of reaching. Stable fly is a troublesome pest to humans, but a horrific danger to livestock, particularly thin-skinned livestock such as dogs and horses. I remember our former colleague Hon Murray Nixon advising this place that stable fly had killed horses and cattle in affected areas by eating them alive. That would be a horrific thing to happen. Controlling stable fly has been difficult, but the result has been worth the difficulty.
Hon KIM CHANCE replied: (1) Yes; I have been for some time. (2) This is an ongoing issue. The honourable member would be aware that the use of raw chicken manure on horticultural land is approved for only the four winter months. That leaves us with eight months during spring, autumn and summer when the use of untreated chicken litter is prohibited. The Government’s principal belief, which was shared by the former Government, is that the most effective use for this material is as compost. Once the manure is composted, it does not pose the same risk of stable fly infestation as that posed by the raw material. Some of the difficulties that the Government has encountered include getting suitable sites for the composting treatment of the material approved by the Environmental Protection Authority. Hon Derrick Tomlinson: And local government authorities. Hon KIM CHANCE: Local government authorities have been difficult, particularly those authorities in areas with a history of high levels of stable fly infestation. Other proposals have been put forward. We are continuing to work with the proponents of the power generation solution, which would site a power generator powered by chicken litter roughly in the area of the Tiwest Joint Venture. That also is tied up in an involved process with the EPA. It is regrettable that we have had these difficulties. One or two other solutions have been proposed. The one that interests me most is the treatment of the material with phosphoric acid to acidify what is an alkaline material. Tests done so far indicate that the treated material is an unsuitable breeding ground for stable fly. That would be a simple and cheap answer. It is one for which I would like to see more testing. We expect that these problems will be resolved one way or another by next spring, when the regulations will click into gear again. It has been a difficult few months for horticulturists and broiler farm owners. We hope that we have made some inroads towards achieving our ends. Importantly, we have reduced the risk of stable fly breeding in the northern metropolitan area. That in itself was an objective worthy of reaching. Stable fly is a troublesome pest to humans, but a horrific danger to livestock, particularly thin-skinned livestock such as dogs and horses. I remember our former colleague Hon Murray Nixon advising this place that stable fly had killed horses and cattle in affected areas by eating them alive. That would be a horrific thing to happen. Controlling stable fly has been difficult, but the result has been worth the difficulty.
(1) Yes; I have been for some time. (2) This is an ongoing issue. The honourable member would be aware that the use of raw chicken manure on horticultural land is approved for only the four winter months. That leaves us with eight months during spring, autumn and summer when the use of untreated chicken litter is prohibited. The Government’s principal belief, which was shared by the former Government, is that the most effective use for this material is as compost. Once the manure is composted, it does not pose the same risk of stable fly infestation as that posed by the raw material. Some of the difficulties that the Government has encountered include getting suitable sites for the composting treatment of the material approved by the Environmental Protection Authority. Hon Derrick Tomlinson: And local government authorities. Hon KIM CHANCE: Local government authorities have been difficult, particularly those authorities in areas with a history of high levels of stable fly infestation. Other proposals have been put forward. We are continuing to work with the proponents of the power generation solution, which would site a power generator powered by chicken litter roughly in the area of the Tiwest Joint Venture. That also is tied up in an involved process with the EPA. It is regrettable that we have had these difficulties. One or two other solutions have been proposed. The one that interests me most is the treatment of the material with phosphoric acid to acidify what is an alkaline material. Tests done so far indicate that the treated material is an unsuitable breeding ground for stable fly. That would be a simple and cheap answer. It is one for which I would like to see more testing. We expect that these problems will be resolved one way or another by next spring, when the regulations will click into gear again. It has been a difficult few months for horticulturists and broiler farm owners. We hope that we have made some inroads towards achieving our ends. Importantly, we have reduced the risk of stable fly breeding in the northern metropolitan area. That in itself was an objective worthy of reaching. Stable fly is a troublesome pest to humans, but a horrific danger to livestock, particularly thin-skinned livestock such as dogs and horses. I remember our former colleague Hon Murray Nixon advising this place that stable fly had killed horses and cattle in affected areas by eating them alive. That would be a horrific thing to happen. Controlling stable fly has been difficult, but the result has been worth the difficulty.
(2) This is an ongoing issue. The honourable member would be aware that the use of raw chicken manure on horticultural land is approved for only the four winter months. That leaves us with eight months during spring, autumn and summer when the use of untreated chicken litter is prohibited. The Government’s principal belief, which was shared by the former Government, is that the most effective use for this material is as compost. Once the manure is composted, it does not pose the same risk of stable fly infestation as that posed by the raw material. Some of the difficulties that the Government has encountered include getting suitable sites for the composting treatment of the material approved by the Environmental Protection Authority. Hon Derrick Tomlinson: And local government authorities. Hon KIM CHANCE: Local government authorities have been difficult, particularly those authorities in areas with a history of high levels of stable fly infestation. Other proposals have been put forward. We are continuing to work with the proponents of the power generation solution, which would site a power generator powered by chicken litter roughly in the area of the Tiwest Joint Venture. That also is tied up in an involved process with the EPA. It is regrettable that we have had these difficulties. One or two other solutions have been proposed. The one that interests me most is the treatment of the material with phosphoric acid to acidify what is an alkaline material. Tests done so far indicate that the treated material is an unsuitable breeding ground for stable fly. That would be a simple and cheap answer. It is one for which I would like to see more testing. We expect that these problems will be resolved one way or another by next spring, when the regulations will click into gear again. It has been a difficult few months for horticulturists and broiler farm owners. We hope that we have made some inroads towards achieving our ends. Importantly, we have reduced the risk of stable fly breeding in the northern metropolitan area. That in itself was an objective worthy of reaching. Stable fly is a troublesome pest to humans, but a horrific danger to livestock, particularly thin-skinned livestock such as dogs and horses. I remember our former colleague Hon Murray Nixon advising this place that stable fly had killed horses and cattle in affected areas by eating them alive. That would be a horrific thing to happen. Controlling stable fly has been difficult, but the result has been worth the difficulty.
Hon KIM CHANCE: Local government authorities have been difficult, particularly those authorities in areas with a history of high levels of stable fly infestation. Other proposals have been put forward. We are continuing to work with the proponents of the power generation solution, which would site a power generator powered by chicken litter roughly in the area of the Tiwest Joint Venture. That also is tied up in an involved process with the EPA. It is regrettable that we have had these difficulties. One or two other solutions have been proposed. The one that interests me most is the treatment of the material with phosphoric acid to acidify what is an alkaline material. Tests done so far indicate that the treated material is an unsuitable breeding ground for stable fly. That would be a simple and cheap answer. It is one for which I would like to see more testing. We expect that these problems will be resolved one way or another by next spring, when the regulations will click into gear again. It has been a difficult few months for horticulturists and broiler farm owners. We hope that we have made some inroads towards achieving our ends. Importantly, we have reduced the risk of stable fly breeding in the northern metropolitan area. That in itself was an objective worthy of reaching. Stable fly is a troublesome pest to humans, but a horrific danger to livestock, particularly thin-skinned livestock such as dogs and horses. I remember our former colleague Hon Murray Nixon advising this place that stable fly had killed horses and cattle in affected areas by eating them alive. That would be a horrific thing to happen. Controlling stable fly has been difficult, but the result has been worth the difficulty.
One or two other solutions have been proposed. The one that interests me most is the treatment of the material with phosphoric acid to acidify what is an alkaline material. Tests done so far indicate that the treated material is an unsuitable breeding ground for stable fly. That would be a simple and cheap answer. It is one for which I would like to see more testing. We expect that these problems will be resolved one way or another by next spring, when the regulations will click into gear again. It has been a difficult few months for horticulturists and broiler farm owners. We hope that we have made some inroads towards achieving our ends. Importantly, we have reduced the risk of stable fly breeding in the northern metropolitan area. That in itself was an objective worthy of reaching. Stable fly is a troublesome pest to humans, but a horrific danger to livestock, particularly thin-skinned livestock such as dogs and horses. I remember our former colleague Hon Murray Nixon advising this place that stable fly had killed horses and cattle in affected areas by eating them alive. That would be a horrific thing to happen. Controlling stable fly has been difficult, but the result has been worth the difficulty.
It has been a difficult few months for horticulturists and broiler farm owners. We hope that we have made some inroads towards achieving our ends. Importantly, we have reduced the risk of stable fly breeding in the northern metropolitan area. That in itself was an objective worthy of reaching. Stable fly is a troublesome pest to humans, but a horrific danger to livestock, particularly thin-skinned livestock such as dogs and horses. I remember our former colleague Hon Murray Nixon advising this place that stable fly had killed horses and cattle in affected areas by eating them alive. That would be a horrific thing to happen. Controlling stable fly has been difficult, but the result has been worth the difficulty.
(2) If so, what can the minister do to assist in overcoming such problems? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: (1) Yes; I have been for some time. (2) This is an ongoing issue. The honourable member would be aware that the use of raw chicken manure on horticultural land is approved for only the four winter months. That leaves us with eight months during spring, autumn and summer when the use of untreated chicken litter is prohibited. The Government’s principal belief, which was shared by the former Government, is that the most effective use for this material is as compost. Once the manure is composted, it does not pose the same risk of stable fly infestation as that posed by the raw material. Some of the difficulties that the Government has encountered include getting suitable sites for the composting treatment of the material approved by the Environmental Protection Authority. Hon Derrick Tomlinson: And local government authorities. Hon KIM CHANCE: Local government authorities have been difficult, particularly those authorities in areas with a history of high levels of stable fly infestation. Other proposals have been put forward. We are continuing to work with the proponents of the power generation solution, which would site a power generator powered by chicken litter roughly in the area of the Tiwest Joint Venture. That also is tied up in an involved process with the EPA. It is regrettable that we have had these difficulties. One or two other solutions have been proposed. The one that interests me most is the treatment of the material with phosphoric acid to acidify what is an alkaline material. Tests done so far indicate that the treated material is an unsuitable breeding ground for stable fly. That would be a simple and cheap answer. It is one for which I would like to see more testing. We expect that these problems will be resolved one way or another by next spring, when the regulations will click into gear again. It has been a difficult few months for horticulturists and broiler farm owners. We hope that we have made some inroads towards achieving our ends. Importantly, we have reduced the risk of stable fly breeding in the northern metropolitan area. That in itself was an objective worthy of reaching. Stable fly is a troublesome pest to humans, but a horrific danger to livestock, particularly thin-skinned livestock such as dogs and horses. I remember our former colleague Hon Murray Nixon advising this place that stable fly had killed horses and cattle in affected areas by eating them alive. That would be a horrific thing to happen. Controlling stable fly has been difficult, but the result has been worth the difficulty.
Hon KIM CHANCE replied: (1) Yes; I have been for some time. (2) This is an ongoing issue. The honourable member would be aware that the use of raw chicken manure on horticultural land is approved for only the four winter months. That leaves us with eight months during spring, autumn and summer when the use of untreated chicken litter is prohibited. The Government’s principal belief, which was shared by the former Government, is that the most effective use for this material is as compost. Once the manure is composted, it does not pose the same risk of stable fly infestation as that posed by the raw material. Some of the difficulties that the Government has encountered include getting suitable sites for the composting treatment of the material approved by the Environmental Protection Authority. Hon Derrick Tomlinson: And local government authorities. Hon KIM CHANCE: Local government authorities have been difficult, particularly those authorities in areas with a history of high levels of stable fly infestation. Other proposals have been put forward. We are continuing to work with the proponents of the power generation solution, which would site a power generator powered by chicken litter roughly in the area of the Tiwest Joint Venture. That also is tied up in an involved process with the EPA. It is regrettable that we have had these difficulties. One or two other solutions have been proposed. The one that interests me most is the treatment of the material with phosphoric acid to acidify what is an alkaline material. Tests done so far indicate that the treated material is an unsuitable breeding ground for stable fly. That would be a simple and cheap answer. It is one for which I would like to see more testing. We expect that these problems will be resolved one way or another by next spring, when the regulations will click into gear again. It has been a difficult few months for horticulturists and broiler farm owners. We hope that we have made some inroads towards achieving our ends. Importantly, we have reduced the risk of stable fly breeding in the northern metropolitan area. That in itself was an objective worthy of reaching. Stable fly is a troublesome pest to humans, but a horrific danger to livestock, particularly thin-skinned livestock such as dogs and horses. I remember our former colleague Hon Murray Nixon advising this place that stable fly had killed horses and cattle in affected areas by eating them alive. That would be a horrific thing to happen. Controlling stable fly has been difficult, but the result has been worth the difficulty.
(1) Yes; I have been for some time. (2) This is an ongoing issue. The honourable member would be aware that the use of raw chicken manure on horticultural land is approved for only the four winter months. That leaves us with eight months during spring, autumn and summer when the use of untreated chicken litter is prohibited. The Government’s principal belief, which was shared by the former Government, is that the most effective use for this material is as compost. Once the manure is composted, it does not pose the same risk of stable fly infestation as that posed by the raw material. Some of the difficulties that the Government has encountered include getting suitable sites for the composting treatment of the material approved by the Environmental Protection Authority. Hon Derrick Tomlinson: And local government authorities. Hon KIM CHANCE: Local government authorities have been difficult, particularly those authorities in areas with a history of high levels of stable fly infestation. Other proposals have been put forward. We are continuing to work with the proponents of the power generation solution, which would site a power generator powered by chicken litter roughly in the area of the Tiwest Joint Venture. That also is tied up in an involved process with the EPA. It is regrettable that we have had these difficulties. One or two other solutions have been proposed. The one that interests me most is the treatment of the material with phosphoric acid to acidify what is an alkaline material. Tests done so far indicate that the treated material is an unsuitable breeding ground for stable fly. That would be a simple and cheap answer. It is one for which I would like to see more testing. We expect that these problems will be resolved one way or another by next spring, when the regulations will click into gear again. It has been a difficult few months for horticulturists and broiler farm owners. We hope that we have made some inroads towards achieving our ends. Importantly, we have reduced the risk of stable fly breeding in the northern metropolitan area. That in itself was an objective worthy of reaching. Stable fly is a troublesome pest to humans, but a horrific danger to livestock, particularly thin-skinned livestock such as dogs and horses. I remember our former colleague Hon Murray Nixon advising this place that stable fly had killed horses and cattle in affected areas by eating them alive. That would be a horrific thing to happen. Controlling stable fly has been difficult, but the result has been worth the difficulty.
(2) This is an ongoing issue. The honourable member would be aware that the use of raw chicken manure on horticultural land is approved for only the four winter months. That leaves us with eight months during spring, autumn and summer when the use of untreated chicken litter is prohibited. The Government’s principal belief, which was shared by the former Government, is that the most effective use for this material is as compost. Once the manure is composted, it does not pose the same risk of stable fly infestation as that posed by the raw material. Some of the difficulties that the Government has encountered include getting suitable sites for the composting treatment of the material approved by the Environmental Protection Authority. Hon Derrick Tomlinson: And local government authorities. Hon KIM CHANCE: Local government authorities have been difficult, particularly those authorities in areas with a history of high levels of stable fly infestation. Other proposals have been put forward. We are continuing to work with the proponents of the power generation solution, which would site a power generator powered by chicken litter roughly in the area of the Tiwest Joint Venture. That also is tied up in an involved process with the EPA. It is regrettable that we have had these difficulties. One or two other solutions have been proposed. The one that interests me most is the treatment of the material with phosphoric acid to acidify what is an alkaline material. Tests done so far indicate that the treated material is an unsuitable breeding ground for stable fly. That would be a simple and cheap answer. It is one for which I would like to see more testing. We expect that these problems will be resolved one way or another by next spring, when the regulations will click into gear again. It has been a difficult few months for horticulturists and broiler farm owners. We hope that we have made some inroads towards achieving our ends. Importantly, we have reduced the risk of stable fly breeding in the northern metropolitan area. That in itself was an objective worthy of reaching. Stable fly is a troublesome pest to humans, but a horrific danger to livestock, particularly thin-skinned livestock such as dogs and horses. I remember our former colleague Hon Murray Nixon advising this place that stable fly had killed horses and cattle in affected areas by eating them alive. That would be a horrific thing to happen. Controlling stable fly has been difficult, but the result has been worth the difficulty.
Hon KIM CHANCE: Local government authorities have been difficult, particularly those authorities in areas with a history of high levels of stable fly infestation. Other proposals have been put forward. We are continuing to work with the proponents of the power generation solution, which would site a power generator powered by chicken litter roughly in the area of the Tiwest Joint Venture. That also is tied up in an involved process with the EPA. It is regrettable that we have had these difficulties. One or two other solutions have been proposed. The one that interests me most is the treatment of the material with phosphoric acid to acidify what is an alkaline material. Tests done so far indicate that the treated material is an unsuitable breeding ground for stable fly. That would be a simple and cheap answer. It is one for which I would like to see more testing. We expect that these problems will be resolved one way or another by next spring, when the regulations will click into gear again. It has been a difficult few months for horticulturists and broiler farm owners. We hope that we have made some inroads towards achieving our ends. Importantly, we have reduced the risk of stable fly breeding in the northern metropolitan area. That in itself was an objective worthy of reaching. Stable fly is a troublesome pest to humans, but a horrific danger to livestock, particularly thin-skinned livestock such as dogs and horses. I remember our former colleague Hon Murray Nixon advising this place that stable fly had killed horses and cattle in affected areas by eating them alive. That would be a horrific thing to happen. Controlling stable fly has been difficult, but the result has been worth the difficulty.
One or two other solutions have been proposed. The one that interests me most is the treatment of the material with phosphoric acid to acidify what is an alkaline material. Tests done so far indicate that the treated material is an unsuitable breeding ground for stable fly. That would be a simple and cheap answer. It is one for which I would like to see more testing. We expect that these problems will be resolved one way or another by next spring, when the regulations will click into gear again. It has been a difficult few months for horticulturists and broiler farm owners. We hope that we have made some inroads towards achieving our ends. Importantly, we have reduced the risk of stable fly breeding in the northern metropolitan area. That in itself was an objective worthy of reaching. Stable fly is a troublesome pest to humans, but a horrific danger to livestock, particularly thin-skinned livestock such as dogs and horses. I remember our former colleague Hon Murray Nixon advising this place that stable fly had killed horses and cattle in affected areas by eating them alive. That would be a horrific thing to happen. Controlling stable fly has been difficult, but the result has been worth the difficulty.
It has been a difficult few months for horticulturists and broiler farm owners. We hope that we have made some inroads towards achieving our ends. Importantly, we have reduced the risk of stable fly breeding in the northern metropolitan area. That in itself was an objective worthy of reaching. Stable fly is a troublesome pest to humans, but a horrific danger to livestock, particularly thin-skinned livestock such as dogs and horses. I remember our former colleague Hon Murray Nixon advising this place that stable fly had killed horses and cattle in affected areas by eating them alive. That would be a horrific thing to happen. Controlling stable fly has been difficult, but the result has been worth the difficulty.
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