❓ Halligan asks about support for horticulturalists due to the unavailability of chicken litter fertiliser. Chance responds detailing government efforts to address stable fly issues linked to chicken litter, including composting initiatives and seasonal bans, acknowledging ongoing challenges and local government inconsistencies.
AnsweredQoN 1440Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I am aware of the minister’s concern for the horticulturalists in the northern suburbs. Because chicken litter is no longer available to them as a fertiliser, will the minister tell the House what he has done to try to assist them in obtaining a viable alternative? Hon KIM CHANCE
AnswerView source ↗
Honourable members, particularly those who live or whose electorates are in areas in which there is an interface between the horticultural sector and semi-rural and residential sectors, but particularly the semi-rural sector where horses and dogs are commonly kept, will be aware of the horrendous difficulties that have been experienced with stable fly. The principal breeding element of stable fly, which can kill an animal in the most horrendous way, is the chicken litter, as it is referred to, that is applied to market gardens and other horticultural pursuits, particularly when the chicken litter is not rotary hoed into the soil immediately on application, and particularly if it is watered after exposure. Chicken litter is a combination of chicken manure and sawdust, at around a 50-50 ratio. It is a product of the meat bird industry and not the egg bird industry, which disposes of its waste in a pure form, and, as a pure form, seems to be less attractive to stable fly as a breeding medium. The means of addressing this issue has been a point of contention for successive Governments over a number of years. Indeed, my predecessor, Hon Monty House, put in place a quite comprehensive process for trying to deal with the issue. The end result of those attempts to mitigate the issue was a recommendation that chicken litter be disposed of through a composting process. Indeed, one very large horticulturalist in Western Australia then undertook a set of composting trials, which were of marginal success. Some debate remains in the horticultural sector about whether composting trials should have continued. Notwithstanding that, when Labor came to government, it continued those trials, with the belief that composting ultimately was the answer. Along with the then Minister for Health, Hon Bob Kucera, and the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure, Hon Alannah MacTiernan, we proceeded to assist to set up composting centres. Indeed, a considerable amount of chicken litter now goes into compost. Even composted chicken litter is not a medium that will attract significant numbers of stable fly. To further assist that, and by agreement with the then Minister for Health, the Western Australian Government introduced a ban on the spreading of chicken litter during a number of months of the year - the wetter months. I do not think that ban has changed. It breaks up the year into a five-month period and a seven-month period. During the seven-month period - I hope I am right - chicken litter can be used. However, during the five wetter months, it cannot be used. Hon Ray Halligan interjected. Hon KIM CHANCE: Yes. I appreciate that that is a compromise, because at this stage we have not answered all the questions around the problems of converting to compost. That is why the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure has such an important role in this; that is, it is her role to designate where that practice can be carried out. Obviously, it is not a really popular practice with neighbours, although we have some very innovative people in that area in the private sector, who I think will ultimately finance us. However, I acknowledge that we are in a transition stage, that we do not have a perfect solution and that issues are involved that are even more complicated by local government regulations. As the honourable member knows, in the shire of Gingin at least, some black and white solutions have been offered. Although the Shire of Gingin has every right to implement whatever rules it thinks are appropriate, those rules have caused great difficulties and some degree of inconsistency in practices between neighbouring horticulturalists. Notwithstanding all those difficulties - the difficulties for both the chicken and horticultural industries remain - anecdotally, the results in mitigating the stable fly problem have been far better than expected. Although we have an ongoing problem, the solution to the problem that we first set out to resolve across government has been more successful than we thought it might be. Our monitoring of complaints from animal owners and veterinarians has indicated that. I have recently asked people who live in those areas, including, yesterday I think, Hon Frank Hough - who lives in an interface area - who indicated that the stable fly issue has not been raised with him. I find that quite remarkable given the area in which he lives. He said that he has never sought comment on stable flies but nobody has ever complained to him about them. My feeling is that five years ago that would not have been the case and he would have been hounded by complaints.
Hon KIM CHANCE replied : Honourable members, particularly those who live or whose electorates are in areas in which there is an interface between the horticultural sector and semi-rural and residential sectors, but particularly the semi-rural sector where horses and dogs are commonly kept, will be aware of the horrendous difficulties that have been experienced with stable fly. The principal breeding element of stable fly, which can kill an animal in the most horrendous way, is the chicken litter, as it is referred to, that is applied to market gardens and other horticultural pursuits, particularly when the chicken litter is not rotary hoed into the soil immediately on application, and particularly if it is watered after exposure. Chicken litter is a combination of chicken manure and sawdust, at around a 50-50 ratio. It is a product of the meat bird industry and not the egg bird industry, which disposes of its waste in a pure form, and, as a pure form, seems to be less attractive to stable fly as a breeding medium. The means of addressing this issue has been a point of contention for successive Governments over a number of years. Indeed, my predecessor, Hon Monty House, put in place a quite comprehensive process for trying to deal with the issue. The end result of those attempts to mitigate the issue was a recommendation that chicken litter be disposed of through a composting process. Indeed, one very large horticulturalist in Western Australia then undertook a set of composting trials, which were of marginal success. Some debate remains in the horticultural sector about whether composting trials should have continued. Notwithstanding that, when Labor came to government, it continued those trials, with the belief that composting ultimately was the answer. Along with the then Minister for Health, Hon Bob Kucera, and the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure, Hon Alannah MacTiernan, we proceeded to assist to set up composting centres. Indeed, a considerable amount of chicken litter now goes into compost. Even composted chicken litter is not a medium that will attract significant numbers of stable fly. To further assist that, and by agreement with the then Minister for Health, the Western Australian Government introduced a ban on the spreading of chicken litter during a number of months of the year - the wetter months. I do not think that ban has changed. It breaks up the year into a five-month period and a seven-month period. During the seven-month period - I hope I am right - chicken litter can be used. However, during the five wetter months, it cannot be used. Hon Ray Halligan interjected. Hon KIM CHANCE: Yes. I appreciate that that is a compromise, because at this stage we have not answered all the questions around the problems of converting to compost. That is why the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure has such an important role in this; that is, it is her role to designate where that practice can be carried out. Obviously, it is not a really popular practice with neighbours, although we have some very innovative people in that area in the private sector, who I think will ultimately finance us. However, I acknowledge that we are in a transition stage, that we do not have a perfect solution and that issues are involved that are even more complicated by local government regulations. As the honourable member knows, in the shire of Gingin at least, some black and white solutions have been offered. Although the Shire of Gingin has every right to implement whatever rules it thinks are appropriate, those rules have caused great difficulties and some degree of inconsistency in practices between neighbouring horticulturalists. Notwithstanding all those difficulties - the difficulties for both the chicken and horticultural industries remain - anecdotally, the results in mitigating the stable fly problem have been far better than expected. Although we have an ongoing problem, the solution to the problem that we first set out to resolve across government has been more successful than we thought it might be. Our monitoring of complaints from animal owners and veterinarians has indicated that. I have recently asked people who live in those areas, including, yesterday I think, Hon Frank Hough - who lives in an interface area - who indicated that the stable fly issue has not been raised with him. I find that quite remarkable given the area in which he lives. He said that he has never sought comment on stable flies but nobody has ever complained to him about them. My feeling is that five years ago that would not have been the case and he would have been hounded by complaints.
Honourable members, particularly those who live or whose electorates are in areas in which there is an interface between the horticultural sector and semi-rural and residential sectors, but particularly the semi-rural sector where horses and dogs are commonly kept, will be aware of the horrendous difficulties that have been experienced with stable fly. The principal breeding element of stable fly, which can kill an animal in the most horrendous way, is the chicken litter, as it is referred to, that is applied to market gardens and other horticultural pursuits, particularly when the chicken litter is not rotary hoed into the soil immediately on application, and particularly if it is watered after exposure. Chicken litter is a combination of chicken manure and sawdust, at around a 50-50 ratio. It is a product of the meat bird industry and not the egg bird industry, which disposes of its waste in a pure form, and, as a pure form, seems to be less attractive to stable fly as a breeding medium. The means of addressing this issue has been a point of contention for successive Governments over a number of years. Indeed, my predecessor, Hon Monty House, put in place a quite comprehensive process for trying to deal with the issue. The end result of those attempts to mitigate the issue was a recommendation that chicken litter be disposed of through a composting process. Indeed, one very large horticulturalist in Western Australia then undertook a set of composting trials, which were of marginal success. Some debate remains in the horticultural sector about whether composting trials should have continued. Notwithstanding that, when Labor came to government, it continued those trials, with the belief that composting ultimately was the answer. Along with the then Minister for Health, Hon Bob Kucera, and the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure, Hon Alannah MacTiernan, we proceeded to assist to set up composting centres. Indeed, a considerable amount of chicken litter now goes into compost. Even composted chicken litter is not a medium that will attract significant numbers of stable fly. To further assist that, and by agreement with the then Minister for Health, the Western Australian Government introduced a ban on the spreading of chicken litter during a number of months of the year - the wetter months. I do not think that ban has changed. It breaks up the year into a five-month period and a seven-month period. During the seven-month period - I hope I am right - chicken litter can be used. However, during the five wetter months, it cannot be used. Hon Ray Halligan interjected. Hon KIM CHANCE: Yes. I appreciate that that is a compromise, because at this stage we have not answered all the questions around the problems of converting to compost. That is why the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure has such an important role in this; that is, it is her role to designate where that practice can be carried out. Obviously, it is not a really popular practice with neighbours, although we have some very innovative people in that area in the private sector, who I think will ultimately finance us. However, I acknowledge that we are in a transition stage, that we do not have a perfect solution and that issues are involved that are even more complicated by local government regulations. As the honourable member knows, in the shire of Gingin at least, some black and white solutions have been offered. Although the Shire of Gingin has every right to implement whatever rules it thinks are appropriate, those rules have caused great difficulties and some degree of inconsistency in practices between neighbouring horticulturalists. Notwithstanding all those difficulties - the difficulties for both the chicken and horticultural industries remain - anecdotally, the results in mitigating the stable fly problem have been far better than expected. Although we have an ongoing problem, the solution to the problem that we first set out to resolve across government has been more successful than we thought it might be. Our monitoring of complaints from animal owners and veterinarians has indicated that. I have recently asked people who live in those areas, including, yesterday I think, Hon Frank Hough - who lives in an interface area - who indicated that the stable fly issue has not been raised with him. I find that quite remarkable given the area in which he lives. He said that he has never sought comment on stable flies but nobody has ever complained to him about them. My feeling is that five years ago that would not have been the case and he would have been hounded by complaints.
The means of addressing this issue has been a point of contention for successive Governments over a number of years. Indeed, my predecessor, Hon Monty House, put in place a quite comprehensive process for trying to deal with the issue. The end result of those attempts to mitigate the issue was a recommendation that chicken litter be disposed of through a composting process. Indeed, one very large horticulturalist in Western Australia then undertook a set of composting trials, which were of marginal success. Some debate remains in the horticultural sector about whether composting trials should have continued. Notwithstanding that, when Labor came to government, it continued those trials, with the belief that composting ultimately was the answer. Along with the then Minister for Health, Hon Bob Kucera, and the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure, Hon Alannah MacTiernan, we proceeded to assist to set up composting centres. Indeed, a considerable amount of chicken litter now goes into compost. Even composted chicken litter is not a medium that will attract significant numbers of stable fly. To further assist that, and by agreement with the then Minister for Health, the Western Australian Government introduced a ban on the spreading of chicken litter during a number of months of the year - the wetter months. I do not think that ban has changed. It breaks up the year into a five-month period and a seven-month period. During the seven-month period - I hope I am right - chicken litter can be used. However, during the five wetter months, it cannot be used. Hon Ray Halligan interjected. Hon KIM CHANCE: Yes. I appreciate that that is a compromise, because at this stage we have not answered all the questions around the problems of converting to compost. That is why the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure has such an important role in this; that is, it is her role to designate where that practice can be carried out. Obviously, it is not a really popular practice with neighbours, although we have some very innovative people in that area in the private sector, who I think will ultimately finance us. However, I acknowledge that we are in a transition stage, that we do not have a perfect solution and that issues are involved that are even more complicated by local government regulations. As the honourable member knows, in the shire of Gingin at least, some black and white solutions have been offered. Although the Shire of Gingin has every right to implement whatever rules it thinks are appropriate, those rules have caused great difficulties and some degree of inconsistency in practices between neighbouring horticulturalists. Notwithstanding all those difficulties - the difficulties for both the chicken and horticultural industries remain - anecdotally, the results in mitigating the stable fly problem have been far better than expected. Although we have an ongoing problem, the solution to the problem that we first set out to resolve across government has been more successful than we thought it might be. Our monitoring of complaints from animal owners and veterinarians has indicated that. I have recently asked people who live in those areas, including, yesterday I think, Hon Frank Hough - who lives in an interface area - who indicated that the stable fly issue has not been raised with him. I find that quite remarkable given the area in which he lives. He said that he has never sought comment on stable flies but nobody has ever complained to him about them. My feeling is that five years ago that would not have been the case and he would have been hounded by complaints.
To further assist that, and by agreement with the then Minister for Health, the Western Australian Government introduced a ban on the spreading of chicken litter during a number of months of the year - the wetter months. I do not think that ban has changed. It breaks up the year into a five-month period and a seven-month period. During the seven-month period - I hope I am right - chicken litter can be used. However, during the five wetter months, it cannot be used. Hon Ray Halligan interjected. Hon KIM CHANCE: Yes. I appreciate that that is a compromise, because at this stage we have not answered all the questions around the problems of converting to compost. That is why the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure has such an important role in this; that is, it is her role to designate where that practice can be carried out. Obviously, it is not a really popular practice with neighbours, although we have some very innovative people in that area in the private sector, who I think will ultimately finance us. However, I acknowledge that we are in a transition stage, that we do not have a perfect solution and that issues are involved that are even more complicated by local government regulations. As the honourable member knows, in the shire of Gingin at least, some black and white solutions have been offered. Although the Shire of Gingin has every right to implement whatever rules it thinks are appropriate, those rules have caused great difficulties and some degree of inconsistency in practices between neighbouring horticulturalists. Notwithstanding all those difficulties - the difficulties for both the chicken and horticultural industries remain - anecdotally, the results in mitigating the stable fly problem have been far better than expected. Although we have an ongoing problem, the solution to the problem that we first set out to resolve across government has been more successful than we thought it might be. Our monitoring of complaints from animal owners and veterinarians has indicated that. I have recently asked people who live in those areas, including, yesterday I think, Hon Frank Hough - who lives in an interface area - who indicated that the stable fly issue has not been raised with him. I find that quite remarkable given the area in which he lives. He said that he has never sought comment on stable flies but nobody has ever complained to him about them. My feeling is that five years ago that would not have been the case and he would have been hounded by complaints.
Hon Ray Halligan interjected. Hon KIM CHANCE: Yes. I appreciate that that is a compromise, because at this stage we have not answered all the questions around the problems of converting to compost. That is why the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure has such an important role in this; that is, it is her role to designate where that practice can be carried out. Obviously, it is not a really popular practice with neighbours, although we have some very innovative people in that area in the private sector, who I think will ultimately finance us. However, I acknowledge that we are in a transition stage, that we do not have a perfect solution and that issues are involved that are even more complicated by local government regulations. As the honourable member knows, in the shire of Gingin at least, some black and white solutions have been offered. Although the Shire of Gingin has every right to implement whatever rules it thinks are appropriate, those rules have caused great difficulties and some degree of inconsistency in practices between neighbouring horticulturalists. Notwithstanding all those difficulties - the difficulties for both the chicken and horticultural industries remain - anecdotally, the results in mitigating the stable fly problem have been far better than expected. Although we have an ongoing problem, the solution to the problem that we first set out to resolve across government has been more successful than we thought it might be. Our monitoring of complaints from animal owners and veterinarians has indicated that. I have recently asked people who live in those areas, including, yesterday I think, Hon Frank Hough - who lives in an interface area - who indicated that the stable fly issue has not been raised with him. I find that quite remarkable given the area in which he lives. He said that he has never sought comment on stable flies but nobody has ever complained to him about them. My feeling is that five years ago that would not have been the case and he would have been hounded by complaints.
Hon KIM CHANCE: Yes. I appreciate that that is a compromise, because at this stage we have not answered all the questions around the problems of converting to compost. That is why the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure has such an important role in this; that is, it is her role to designate where that practice can be carried out. Obviously, it is not a really popular practice with neighbours, although we have some very innovative people in that area in the private sector, who I think will ultimately finance us. However, I acknowledge that we are in a transition stage, that we do not have a perfect solution and that issues are involved that are even more complicated by local government regulations. As the honourable member knows, in the shire of Gingin at least, some black and white solutions have been offered. Although the Shire of Gingin has every right to implement whatever rules it thinks are appropriate, those rules have caused great difficulties and some degree of inconsistency in practices between neighbouring horticulturalists. Notwithstanding all those difficulties - the difficulties for both the chicken and horticultural industries remain - anecdotally, the results in mitigating the stable fly problem have been far better than expected. Although we have an ongoing problem, the solution to the problem that we first set out to resolve across government has been more successful than we thought it might be. Our monitoring of complaints from animal owners and veterinarians has indicated that. I have recently asked people who live in those areas, including, yesterday I think, Hon Frank Hough - who lives in an interface area - who indicated that the stable fly issue has not been raised with him. I find that quite remarkable given the area in which he lives. He said that he has never sought comment on stable flies but nobody has ever complained to him about them. My feeling is that five years ago that would not have been the case and he would have been hounded by complaints.
Hon KIM CHANCE replied : Honourable members, particularly those who live or whose electorates are in areas in which there is an interface between the horticultural sector and semi-rural and residential sectors, but particularly the semi-rural sector where horses and dogs are commonly kept, will be aware of the horrendous difficulties that have been experienced with stable fly. The principal breeding element of stable fly, which can kill an animal in the most horrendous way, is the chicken litter, as it is referred to, that is applied to market gardens and other horticultural pursuits, particularly when the chicken litter is not rotary hoed into the soil immediately on application, and particularly if it is watered after exposure. Chicken litter is a combination of chicken manure and sawdust, at around a 50-50 ratio. It is a product of the meat bird industry and not the egg bird industry, which disposes of its waste in a pure form, and, as a pure form, seems to be less attractive to stable fly as a breeding medium. The means of addressing this issue has been a point of contention for successive Governments over a number of years. Indeed, my predecessor, Hon Monty House, put in place a quite comprehensive process for trying to deal with the issue. The end result of those attempts to mitigate the issue was a recommendation that chicken litter be disposed of through a composting process. Indeed, one very large horticulturalist in Western Australia then undertook a set of composting trials, which were of marginal success. Some debate remains in the horticultural sector about whether composting trials should have continued. Notwithstanding that, when Labor came to government, it continued those trials, with the belief that composting ultimately was the answer. Along with the then Minister for Health, Hon Bob Kucera, and the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure, Hon Alannah MacTiernan, we proceeded to assist to set up composting centres. Indeed, a considerable amount of chicken litter now goes into compost. Even composted chicken litter is not a medium that will attract significant numbers of stable fly. To further assist that, and by agreement with the then Minister for Health, the Western Australian Government introduced a ban on the spreading of chicken litter during a number of months of the year - the wetter months. I do not think that ban has changed. It breaks up the year into a five-month period and a seven-month period. During the seven-month period - I hope I am right - chicken litter can be used. However, during the five wetter months, it cannot be used. Hon Ray Halligan interjected. Hon KIM CHANCE: Yes. I appreciate that that is a compromise, because at this stage we have not answered all the questions around the problems of converting to compost. That is why the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure has such an important role in this; that is, it is her role to designate where that practice can be carried out. Obviously, it is not a really popular practice with neighbours, although we have some very innovative people in that area in the private sector, who I think will ultimately finance us. However, I acknowledge that we are in a transition stage, that we do not have a perfect solution and that issues are involved that are even more complicated by local government regulations. As the honourable member knows, in the shire of Gingin at least, some black and white solutions have been offered. Although the Shire of Gingin has every right to implement whatever rules it thinks are appropriate, those rules have caused great difficulties and some degree of inconsistency in practices between neighbouring horticulturalists. Notwithstanding all those difficulties - the difficulties for both the chicken and horticultural industries remain - anecdotally, the results in mitigating the stable fly problem have been far better than expected. Although we have an ongoing problem, the solution to the problem that we first set out to resolve across government has been more successful than we thought it might be. Our monitoring of complaints from animal owners and veterinarians has indicated that. I have recently asked people who live in those areas, including, yesterday I think, Hon Frank Hough - who lives in an interface area - who indicated that the stable fly issue has not been raised with him. I find that quite remarkable given the area in which he lives. He said that he has never sought comment on stable flies but nobody has ever complained to him about them. My feeling is that five years ago that would not have been the case and he would have been hounded by complaints.
Honourable members, particularly those who live or whose electorates are in areas in which there is an interface between the horticultural sector and semi-rural and residential sectors, but particularly the semi-rural sector where horses and dogs are commonly kept, will be aware of the horrendous difficulties that have been experienced with stable fly. The principal breeding element of stable fly, which can kill an animal in the most horrendous way, is the chicken litter, as it is referred to, that is applied to market gardens and other horticultural pursuits, particularly when the chicken litter is not rotary hoed into the soil immediately on application, and particularly if it is watered after exposure. Chicken litter is a combination of chicken manure and sawdust, at around a 50-50 ratio. It is a product of the meat bird industry and not the egg bird industry, which disposes of its waste in a pure form, and, as a pure form, seems to be less attractive to stable fly as a breeding medium. The means of addressing this issue has been a point of contention for successive Governments over a number of years. Indeed, my predecessor, Hon Monty House, put in place a quite comprehensive process for trying to deal with the issue. The end result of those attempts to mitigate the issue was a recommendation that chicken litter be disposed of through a composting process. Indeed, one very large horticulturalist in Western Australia then undertook a set of composting trials, which were of marginal success. Some debate remains in the horticultural sector about whether composting trials should have continued. Notwithstanding that, when Labor came to government, it continued those trials, with the belief that composting ultimately was the answer. Along with the then Minister for Health, Hon Bob Kucera, and the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure, Hon Alannah MacTiernan, we proceeded to assist to set up composting centres. Indeed, a considerable amount of chicken litter now goes into compost. Even composted chicken litter is not a medium that will attract significant numbers of stable fly. To further assist that, and by agreement with the then Minister for Health, the Western Australian Government introduced a ban on the spreading of chicken litter during a number of months of the year - the wetter months. I do not think that ban has changed. It breaks up the year into a five-month period and a seven-month period. During the seven-month period - I hope I am right - chicken litter can be used. However, during the five wetter months, it cannot be used. Hon Ray Halligan interjected. Hon KIM CHANCE: Yes. I appreciate that that is a compromise, because at this stage we have not answered all the questions around the problems of converting to compost. That is why the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure has such an important role in this; that is, it is her role to designate where that practice can be carried out. Obviously, it is not a really popular practice with neighbours, although we have some very innovative people in that area in the private sector, who I think will ultimately finance us. However, I acknowledge that we are in a transition stage, that we do not have a perfect solution and that issues are involved that are even more complicated by local government regulations. As the honourable member knows, in the shire of Gingin at least, some black and white solutions have been offered. Although the Shire of Gingin has every right to implement whatever rules it thinks are appropriate, those rules have caused great difficulties and some degree of inconsistency in practices between neighbouring horticulturalists. Notwithstanding all those difficulties - the difficulties for both the chicken and horticultural industries remain - anecdotally, the results in mitigating the stable fly problem have been far better than expected. Although we have an ongoing problem, the solution to the problem that we first set out to resolve across government has been more successful than we thought it might be. Our monitoring of complaints from animal owners and veterinarians has indicated that. I have recently asked people who live in those areas, including, yesterday I think, Hon Frank Hough - who lives in an interface area - who indicated that the stable fly issue has not been raised with him. I find that quite remarkable given the area in which he lives. He said that he has never sought comment on stable flies but nobody has ever complained to him about them. My feeling is that five years ago that would not have been the case and he would have been hounded by complaints.
The means of addressing this issue has been a point of contention for successive Governments over a number of years. Indeed, my predecessor, Hon Monty House, put in place a quite comprehensive process for trying to deal with the issue. The end result of those attempts to mitigate the issue was a recommendation that chicken litter be disposed of through a composting process. Indeed, one very large horticulturalist in Western Australia then undertook a set of composting trials, which were of marginal success. Some debate remains in the horticultural sector about whether composting trials should have continued. Notwithstanding that, when Labor came to government, it continued those trials, with the belief that composting ultimately was the answer. Along with the then Minister for Health, Hon Bob Kucera, and the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure, Hon Alannah MacTiernan, we proceeded to assist to set up composting centres. Indeed, a considerable amount of chicken litter now goes into compost. Even composted chicken litter is not a medium that will attract significant numbers of stable fly. To further assist that, and by agreement with the then Minister for Health, the Western Australian Government introduced a ban on the spreading of chicken litter during a number of months of the year - the wetter months. I do not think that ban has changed. It breaks up the year into a five-month period and a seven-month period. During the seven-month period - I hope I am right - chicken litter can be used. However, during the five wetter months, it cannot be used. Hon Ray Halligan interjected. Hon KIM CHANCE: Yes. I appreciate that that is a compromise, because at this stage we have not answered all the questions around the problems of converting to compost. That is why the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure has such an important role in this; that is, it is her role to designate where that practice can be carried out. Obviously, it is not a really popular practice with neighbours, although we have some very innovative people in that area in the private sector, who I think will ultimately finance us. However, I acknowledge that we are in a transition stage, that we do not have a perfect solution and that issues are involved that are even more complicated by local government regulations. As the honourable member knows, in the shire of Gingin at least, some black and white solutions have been offered. Although the Shire of Gingin has every right to implement whatever rules it thinks are appropriate, those rules have caused great difficulties and some degree of inconsistency in practices between neighbouring horticulturalists. Notwithstanding all those difficulties - the difficulties for both the chicken and horticultural industries remain - anecdotally, the results in mitigating the stable fly problem have been far better than expected. Although we have an ongoing problem, the solution to the problem that we first set out to resolve across government has been more successful than we thought it might be. Our monitoring of complaints from animal owners and veterinarians has indicated that. I have recently asked people who live in those areas, including, yesterday I think, Hon Frank Hough - who lives in an interface area - who indicated that the stable fly issue has not been raised with him. I find that quite remarkable given the area in which he lives. He said that he has never sought comment on stable flies but nobody has ever complained to him about them. My feeling is that five years ago that would not have been the case and he would have been hounded by complaints.
To further assist that, and by agreement with the then Minister for Health, the Western Australian Government introduced a ban on the spreading of chicken litter during a number of months of the year - the wetter months. I do not think that ban has changed. It breaks up the year into a five-month period and a seven-month period. During the seven-month period - I hope I am right - chicken litter can be used. However, during the five wetter months, it cannot be used. Hon Ray Halligan interjected. Hon KIM CHANCE: Yes. I appreciate that that is a compromise, because at this stage we have not answered all the questions around the problems of converting to compost. That is why the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure has such an important role in this; that is, it is her role to designate where that practice can be carried out. Obviously, it is not a really popular practice with neighbours, although we have some very innovative people in that area in the private sector, who I think will ultimately finance us. However, I acknowledge that we are in a transition stage, that we do not have a perfect solution and that issues are involved that are even more complicated by local government regulations. As the honourable member knows, in the shire of Gingin at least, some black and white solutions have been offered. Although the Shire of Gingin has every right to implement whatever rules it thinks are appropriate, those rules have caused great difficulties and some degree of inconsistency in practices between neighbouring horticulturalists. Notwithstanding all those difficulties - the difficulties for both the chicken and horticultural industries remain - anecdotally, the results in mitigating the stable fly problem have been far better than expected. Although we have an ongoing problem, the solution to the problem that we first set out to resolve across government has been more successful than we thought it might be. Our monitoring of complaints from animal owners and veterinarians has indicated that. I have recently asked people who live in those areas, including, yesterday I think, Hon Frank Hough - who lives in an interface area - who indicated that the stable fly issue has not been raised with him. I find that quite remarkable given the area in which he lives. He said that he has never sought comment on stable flies but nobody has ever complained to him about them. My feeling is that five years ago that would not have been the case and he would have been hounded by complaints.
Hon Ray Halligan interjected. Hon KIM CHANCE: Yes. I appreciate that that is a compromise, because at this stage we have not answered all the questions around the problems of converting to compost. That is why the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure has such an important role in this; that is, it is her role to designate where that practice can be carried out. Obviously, it is not a really popular practice with neighbours, although we have some very innovative people in that area in the private sector, who I think will ultimately finance us. However, I acknowledge that we are in a transition stage, that we do not have a perfect solution and that issues are involved that are even more complicated by local government regulations. As the honourable member knows, in the shire of Gingin at least, some black and white solutions have been offered. Although the Shire of Gingin has every right to implement whatever rules it thinks are appropriate, those rules have caused great difficulties and some degree of inconsistency in practices between neighbouring horticulturalists. Notwithstanding all those difficulties - the difficulties for both the chicken and horticultural industries remain - anecdotally, the results in mitigating the stable fly problem have been far better than expected. Although we have an ongoing problem, the solution to the problem that we first set out to resolve across government has been more successful than we thought it might be. Our monitoring of complaints from animal owners and veterinarians has indicated that. I have recently asked people who live in those areas, including, yesterday I think, Hon Frank Hough - who lives in an interface area - who indicated that the stable fly issue has not been raised with him. I find that quite remarkable given the area in which he lives. He said that he has never sought comment on stable flies but nobody has ever complained to him about them. My feeling is that five years ago that would not have been the case and he would have been hounded by complaints.
Hon KIM CHANCE: Yes. I appreciate that that is a compromise, because at this stage we have not answered all the questions around the problems of converting to compost. That is why the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure has such an important role in this; that is, it is her role to designate where that practice can be carried out. Obviously, it is not a really popular practice with neighbours, although we have some very innovative people in that area in the private sector, who I think will ultimately finance us. However, I acknowledge that we are in a transition stage, that we do not have a perfect solution and that issues are involved that are even more complicated by local government regulations. As the honourable member knows, in the shire of Gingin at least, some black and white solutions have been offered. Although the Shire of Gingin has every right to implement whatever rules it thinks are appropriate, those rules have caused great difficulties and some degree of inconsistency in practices between neighbouring horticulturalists. Notwithstanding all those difficulties - the difficulties for both the chicken and horticultural industries remain - anecdotally, the results in mitigating the stable fly problem have been far better than expected. Although we have an ongoing problem, the solution to the problem that we first set out to resolve across government has been more successful than we thought it might be. Our monitoring of complaints from animal owners and veterinarians has indicated that. I have recently asked people who live in those areas, including, yesterday I think, Hon Frank Hough - who lives in an interface area - who indicated that the stable fly issue has not been raised with him. I find that quite remarkable given the area in which he lives. He said that he has never sought comment on stable flies but nobody has ever complained to him about them. My feeling is that five years ago that would not have been the case and he would have been hounded by complaints.
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