flyLobbying

Due to lobbying by SFAG :

  • The government appointed Stable Fly Management Steering Group has been reactivated

  • Raw Poultry Manure can now only be used for horticulture during three months of the year – June, July and August

  • A total ban on the use of Raw Poultry Manure in Shires covered by the Health (Poultry Manure) Regulations will come into force in 2011

  • Numerous letters, including copies of SFAG’s publicity folder, have been sent to Members of Parliament of all persuasions, to publicise the problem at a political level, and asking for their support in Parliament for legislation to combat the effects of stable flies

flyPublicity of the stable fly problem

  • Production of a publicity folder to draw attention to the impacts of stable flies on the community

  • Presentations to Shire Councils

  • Displays at Gingin Expo

  • Media releases

flyCollaboration

  • Support has been obtained from local government, particularly the Shires of Gingin, Dandaragan, and the City of Swan and good working relationships developed

  • Working collaboratively with Vegetables WA representatives to determine ways forward to combat stable fly infestation in raw manure and vegetable crop waste, including having constructive input into the section of the VWA Good Practice Guide entitled Good Practice Management of Manures and Vegetable Crop Residue

  • Working collaboratively with the Shire of Gingin officers on reporting and monitoring stable fly outbreaks

flyBiosecurity & Agricultural Management (BAM) Act 2007

  • Lobbying the State Government to have the section of the VWA Good Practice Guide entitled Good Practice Management of Manures and Vegetable Crop Residue enshrined in the BAM Act legislation

flyResearch and Information Gathering

  • Committee members have attended the Waste Management Boards public consultation workshop on Interim Standards for Organics Applied to Land and Draft Organic Strategy in order to have input into dealing with organic wastes

  • The Group has carried out its own research into the composting industry, visiting sites and learning about this industry’s endeavours, with a view to helping find solutions for horticulturalists, who will require alternatives to the use of raw poultry manure when it is finally banned