|
Living Together in Rural Victoria
Legitimate Rural Land Managment Activities
Much of the rural environment is like an industrial zone, where the industry is agriculture.
To ensure that agriculture has a minimal impact on the environment, farmers are increasingly required to operate to higher levels of regulation – especially as their production systems intensify. At the same time, agricultural industries are developing their own codes of practice and best management guidelines in order to continually improve the manner in which agriculture is practiced. There is currently a focus across Victoria on implementing sustainable farming practice.
Legitimate land management activities common in rural Victoria that may cause impacts, include the following:
Native Vegetation Clearing
Land clearing is regulated by a permit system operated by local government. No significant land clearing can occur without appropriate approvals.
If you are concerned about vegetation clearing in your area:
- talk to the landholder first; then
- if you need further information, contact your local Council.
Ploughing and Cultivating
Soil preparation for sowing crops and pastures is one of the essential activities of agricultural production and there are few constraints on farmers ploughing their land for productive use. | |
Night Harvesting
Night harvesting and other farming activities at night are a legitimate part of modern agricultural practice, and increasingly, progressive agricultural industries are implementing around-the-clock work practices at peak periods to get the harvest in faster, and optimise food quality.
- Night harvesting can be noisy.
- Operations may require powerful spotlights.
- Night-time vehicle movements may increase.
Chemical Sprays for Weed and Pest Control
Ensuring responsible use of chemicals in agriculture is an ongoing consideration of the farming community and a legitimate concern for the wider public. Chemical sprays are widely used in agriculture to control pests and deliver high quality, disease-free produce to domestic and export markets.
- Effective weed and pest control is a responsibility of all rural land owners that often requires the use of chemical sprays.
- Most farmers undertake training to ensure appropriate chemical spray application.
- It is an offence to use agricultural chemicals that cause damage to plants or stock beyond the target area.
- The Code of Practice for farm chemical spray application advises against spraying when wind speeds are >15 km/hr or are <3 km/hr, to ensure spray drift is minimised.
- Legislation requires that people using certain chemicals are trained and hold permits for their use.
- There are restrictions on chemical use in declared Chemical Control Areas.
- The movement through the air of solvents or impurities present in some formulations may be wrongly considered to be spray drift.
Seasonal Employment
One of the features of rural life in Australia has been the movement of seasonal labourers around rural areas at peak times. Many of the swagmen echoed in songs and poems were simply out-of-work labourers, moving on to another area, looking for work.
From a residential amenity point of view, the impacts can be significant when a quiet, rural neighbourhood accommodates hundreds of seasonal workers. However, the benefits of seasonal industries to the local community can be great:
- in the wealth the produce generates for the local community; and
- in the economic buoyancy that the seasonal workers bring to the community’s service industries, such as motels and caravan parks, cafes, pubs and restaurants.
Pumping Irrigation Water from Rivers, Dams and the Ground
Water rights, irrigation supplies and water management are currently some of the hottest issues in rural Australia, and are the cause of increasing numbers of queries and concerns from rural residents and farmers alike.
- Water can be pumped from rivers, dams and bores, and in all cases, if it is used for irrigated crops, then a licence is required.
- Water licences are strictly managed across regional Victoria by rural Water Authorities.
- Pumping irrigation water is usually monitored and measured.
- Stock and domestic supplies do not need a licence.
- Sometimes it is recommended that irrigation occur during the night to reduce evaporation losses and spread the demand for water over the full 24 hour supply period.
- Diesel pump motors can be noisy, with the low frequency sound carrying large distances.
Effluent Water and Water Recycling from Intensive Animal Industries
Re-using water is of great benefit to rural industries and to the environment. But it needs to be properly and responsibly managed – particularly if it is wastewater from intensive animal industries, or human sources.
- Re-use of wastewater is regulated by the Environment Protection Authority and is a common licensed activity.
Key Recommendations
- Talk to your neighbouring farmers about any farm activities that might concern you – knowing what to expect can help you plan to minimise the impacts you experience.
- If you are concerned about the activities on a neighbouring property, seek information from government agencies regarding what are likely to be legitimate activities and what aren’t.
- Seek information from industry bodies regarding best management guidelines and how they might apply to farming in your local area.
- Participate in and encourage your neighbours to participate in complementary land management activities, including landcare projects and other community-based programs, in order to minimise off-site impacts.
What You Can Do
Ploughing and Cultivating
If this sort of change of use is likely to impact your visual amenity, consider the actions you can take on your own property to improve your outlook, such as planting trees and shrubs to provide a visual barrier.
Night Harvesting
Talk to your neighbour and find out how long the activity will last, and plan your living arrangements accordingly.
Chemical Sprays for Weed and Pest Control
Discuss the issue with your neighbour first and let them know your concerns. Vegetative windbreaks can significantly reduce the risk of unintentional spray drift onto your land. If you are still concerned, contact the DPI Customer Service Centre for further information.
Seasonal Employment
Before you buy, find out whether the agriculture industries require a significant seasonal labour work-force. If so, and this is likely to cause you distress, make other living arrangements during this time of the year – plan your holidays to coincide with the harvest season. Alternatively, you can turn the problem into a profit and set up seasonal accommodation or other services.
Pumping Irrigation Water from Rivers, Dams and the Ground
If you are concerned about a neighbour’s water usage and irrigation patterns, try to talk to them first, then if you are still concerned, contact your regional Water Authority or the Department of Primary Industries for further information.
Effluent Water and Water Recycling from Intensive Animal Industries
If you are concerned about the impacts from water recycling practices, in particular those from intensive industries, try talking to your neighbour to see if the issue can be addressed. Or, you can contact the Environment Protection Authority, or the Department of Primary Industries for more information.
Who to Contact
- Department of Primary Industries, 136 186 - Landcare, native vegetation, ploughing and cultivating, night harvesting, chemical sprays, irrigation and water drainage management, water recycling
- Environmental Protection Authority (external link), (03) 9695 2700 - water recycling
- Rural Water Authorities - Irrigation and water drainage management
Further Information
Please Note: By electing to visit the links below, you will be leaving the DPI website.
Catchment Management Authorities
|
