Department of
Agriculture and Food
The land is in
your hands
A practical guide for owners of
small rural landholdings in
Western Australia
Supporting your success
Foreword
The land is in your hands is targeted at small landholders
throughout Western Australia and aims to promote a better
understanding of the importance of caring for the land and being
a good neighbour in the rural community.
Western Australia’s agricultural land is a valuable resource, as
are the diverse agri-food industries which rely on sustainable
land use.
The protection of the State’s natural resources and biodiversity
including its land from degradation and animals and plants from
pests and diseases, is a responsibility that must be addressed
by the community as a whole.
With growing numbers of Western Australians choosing to
purchase smaller rural properties, the availability of useful
resources such as this practical guide is imperative for effective
and long-term management of the land. It includes brief details
of the governing State regulations, contact details and further
references.
We hope you find this guide useful, and encourage you to
seek further information from the many references provided
throughout the pages.
Jodie Whitfield
Manager
Small Landholder Information Service
Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia
Third edition, February 2015
Acknowledgements
We would like to thank the following people for their assistance
in updating this publication.
• Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia
(DAFWA): Skye Badger, Heidi Blackburn, Sonya Broughton,
Gwen Craen, James Dee, Elizabeth Edwards, Richard
George, Beth Green, Yolandee Jones, Andrew Reeves,
Brian Smith, Lisa Smith, Andrew Taylor and Katie Webb.
• Department of Commerce - Worksafe
Contents
It’s your land - be sure it’s in good hands
2
Sources of information for small landholders
4
Making the most of your land
6
Caring for your land
10
Vegetation: a green framework
16
Water: a scarce resource
19
Controlling unwanted intruders
23
Livestock on your land
30
Safety on your property
39
Other important contacts
47
1
It’s your land be sure it’s in good
hands
2
Introduction
A growing number of Western Australians are choosing to purchase
small rural properties – many to enjoy a more tranquil lifestyle, others
to build a small, but profitable business on the land.
Today there are over 60 000 small rural landholders (defined as
owners of properties between 1-100 hectares (ha) in size), and it is
expected that this number will continue to grow.
Whether a property is 1ha or 2000ha, the rural landholder has many
responsibilities. The way you manage your land can have a major
impact on the people, properties and rural environment beyond
your fenceline.
Buying a rural property is probably one of the biggest
investments you’ll ever make.
Treat it with care – just as you would any residence. Your rural
property may have large expanses of paddocks that appear ‘empty’ of
assets, but the reality is every square metre of your land is important.
A patch of eroded soil, a mild weed infestation or insects in the
fruit trees may not seem very serious – but these problems can be
insidious. If left unchecked, they can devalue your property, spread
to adjacent small holdings and commercial properties and even leave
you in breach of the law.
On the other hand, a well managed, well maintained property can be
more productive, more profitable and more pleasurable to own
and occupy.
The land is in your hands is an information resource developed
especially for owners of small rural landholdings in Western Australia.
It covers all the critical topics you need to consider, from landcare to
water supply, weeds, pests, livestock and smart property design.
In large towns and cities life can be somewhat anonymous, not so
in the country. Rural communities have a strong spirit of communitymindedness and cooperation. As a member of a rural community,
you’ll likely be caught up in this way of life. You’ll soon realise the
importance of being a good neighbour and the value of having
good neighbours living near you.
The information in The land is in your hands is intended to
help you be a good neighbour by caring for your property in a
responsible and considerate way.
33
Sources of information for
small landholders
4
Small Landholder Information Service
The Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia Small
Landholder Information Service (SLIS) provides Western Australia’s
60 000 small landholders with information on aspects of effectively
managing their land, orchards and livestock. SLIS strengthens
agricultural skills by providing a free enquiry service, targeted
information products specifically tailored to small landholders and
information on learning opportunities throughout Western Australia.
All small landholders with a property size of less than 100ha can
benefit from this service. SLIS also aims to enhance the business
adaptability and resilience of small landholders by providing business
related information products.
The service also provides a free quarterly e-newsletter that highlights
vital seasonal and land management information, future events and
ideas for utilising your small property. Small landholders can sign up
to receive the e-newsletter on the SLIS website.
Contact details
Telephone: +61 (0)8 9780 6100
Email: [email protected]
Facebook: facebook.com/DAFWAsmalllandholders
Website: agric.wa.gov.au/slis
Pest and Disease Information Service
The Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia Pest
and Disease Information Service (PaDIS) provides advisory and
identification services on animal and plant pests, weeds and diseases
that impact Western Australia’s agriculture and food industries.
PaDIS provides information to help the community detect and report
unfamiliar pests, weeds and diseases, manage and report pests
of agricultural and quarantine concern. Examples of these pests
include Queensland fruit fly, European wasp, codling moth, West
Indian drywood termites, European house borer, red imported fire
ant, salvinia, water hyacinth, European starling, sparrow and Indian
ringneck parakeet.
If you discover an unusual animal or plant pest, disease or weed,
you may have a sample identified free of charge. The ‘Sending
specimens for identification’ on the PADIS website offers helpful
tips to ensure specimens are presented and posted correctly.
Contact details
Telephone: 1800 084 881
Email: [email protected]
Website: agric.wa.gov.au/padis
55
Making the most
of your land
6
What are your hopes and aspirations as a small rural landholder?
Do you plan to turn your land into a profit-making enterprise, or is it
simply to be a country retreat for the family?
Either way, some basic guidelines will help you develop your land
to maximise its potential, whether as a business or as a lifestyleenhancing asset.
Draw up a plan
If you’ve purchased a ‘greenfields’ site, with no buildings on it, you
can create your property from the ground up, applying the tried-andtrue principles of smart planning. Here are some of the key guidelines
to consider:
1.
Location of the house
Ideally, it should be:
• close to sheds and work areas but far enough away from the road
to minimise the impact of traffic noise
• sheltered by trees
• accessible to water supply, electricity and telephone services
• designed to maximise solar efficiency
• in a well-drained location
• positioned to minimise fire danger.
2.
Location of sheds
These should be:
• in close proximity to the house
• oriented so openings face away from prevailing rain-bearing wind
• positioned for easy vehicle access.
3.
Location and types of fences
Site your fences in order to:
• divide land allocated for different purposes
• create the appropriate number and size of paddocks
• provide watering points and shelter for animals
• provide access for stock and vehicles
• minimise erosion on slopes and contours
• allow similar types of land to be contained in one paddock.
Choose your fencing types carefully, for example:
• avoid low and barbed wire fences if you are keeping horses;
instead use high wooden fences
• use barbed or electrified wire to contain cattle
• use square mesh fences for sheep
• goats, alpacas and other livestock may require specialised fencing.
7
4.Water sources
For more
information
Noteworthy 2 –
Fencing for beginners
Noteworthy 24
– Developing a
property plan for small
landholdings
Irrigation requirement
calculator
irrigationcalculator.com
Ensure that your plan addresses the need to source water for
domestic and agricultural purposes. Water sources, quality and
conservation are covered in the section, ‘Water: a scarce resource’
on page 19.
It is possible to estimate the amount of water you will need for both
purposes. For example, each occupant of a home needs 132kL
a year for personal use. The water requirement for the different
crops can be calculated using the irrigation requirement calculator
(irrigationcalculator.com). The estimates for different livestock
consumption can be seen in Table 1.
Table 1 Estimated daily water consumption for livestock
Animal
Daily consumption (litres a day)
Sheep
- weaners
- adult dry sheep
- lactating ewes
Cattle
- weaners
- dry stock
- lactating cow
Dairy cattle
Horses
Pigs
- sow and litter
- boar or dry sow
Poultry (100 birds)
- laying hens
- broilers
2-4
2-6
4-10
25-50
35-80
40-100
70-250
40-50
25-45
12-15
33
6-32
5.Trees and vegetation
Does your property have areas that appear desolate and treeless?
If so, planting additional vegetation could greatly enhance the visual
appearance of your property. It may also aid in controlling salinity
and erosion.
On your plan of the property, plot details such as land contours, soil
types, location and types of existing vegetation, buildings, fences,
vehicle access and power lines.
Consider planting trees and shrubs along the natural contours of the
land, and creating shelter belts along ridges to help reduce erosion.
The location, purpose, soil type, prevailing wind and rainfall conditions
will determine your choice of plants.
6.
8
Surface water management
As it moves over the land, surface water will carry soil particles and
organic matter with it. In general, exposed soils, steep inclines and
long slopes will be most affected by water run-off, with these areas
prone to soil erosion.
Planning your property to minimise erosion should involve techniques
for preventing water from gathering too much momentum. Contour
banks, spur drains, cut-off drains and grassed waterways all help
prevent erosion.
Drains can help remove surface water on valley floors.
Before putting in a drain, you may need to obtain approval from your
local government authority (LGA). Any drain you install should be of
an appropriate design - otherwise it may increase erosion, or cause
flooding onto a neighbour’s property.
7.
Thorough planning
Do you have a vision to make your property productive or selfsufficient? If so, you should plan your business thoroughly and do as
much research as you can. These tips will help you develop a
viable property:
• develop a market study for the crop or enterprise you intend to
engage in
• develop a business plan that covers economics and production
systems
• talk to other landholders engaged in a similar venture
• attend field days targeted at commercial growers.
For more
information
Noteworthy 44 –
Marketing for small
producers
Noteworthy 48 –
Business planning for
small producers
Noteworthy 59 – Direct
selling channels for
small producers
Noteworthy 65 – A
guide to development
approvals for small
landholdings in
Western Australia
Your legal responsibilities
Planning approvals
Before you carry out modifications to your buildings, construct
new buildings or other structures, you may need development
approval from your LGA. LGAs are given the responsibility under
planning and local government Acts for approval decisions.
Generally the conditions are similar across all parts of the State,
but individual LGAs may have special requirements.
Some LGAs need to provide approval for dams, fences, removal
of trees, construction of retaining walls and roads. Most have a
requirement for approval before the establishment of intensive
agricultural activities like horticulture, plantations, feedlots or piggeries.
Approach your LGA early in your planning to ensure you have
obtained all the requirements the LGA is likely to need.
Sale of produce
As a landholder you also have responsibilities regarding produce
you wish to sell. For example, with hay, there is a requirement that
it be free from declared plant seeds. Fruit and vegetables may
need special packaging or meet minimum maturity or health and
safety standards.
In some industries, a ‘fee for service’ is deducted from the
proceeds to cover industry services such as exotic pest
surveillance or product promotion. Contact industry associations
for more information.
9
Caring for your land
10
Land degradation: what you can do
to help
To understand how to avoid and combat land degradation, it’s
important to know what the problem is. You can avoid problems by
planning your property carefully.
There are several types of land degradation and sometimes more
than one type will affect the same parcel of land.
Water erosion
This occurs when soil is ‘worn away’ by the action of water, often
when rain falls faster than it can soak into the ground. Water erosion
causes a two-fold problem:
• it leaves a gully where the soil has been washed away
• deposits soil elsewhere, sometimes causing the transferred soil to
smother plants, block drains, cause flooding and other damage.
Water erosion manifests itself in different ways. These are some of
the types of water erosion you may experience on your land, and
some suggestions on how to prevent it from occurring in the future.
Gully erosion
Gully erosion occurs when a natural drainage line is disturbed in
some way, causing the water that previously flowed safely over a
stable groundcover to flow over bare or disturbed ground.
Solution: Install gully head sills and fill gullies by using a road grader.
Plan and install a contour bank water management system. Carefully
manage natural drainage lines by avoiding any soil disturbance and
maximising vegetation cover.
Rill erosion
This occurs where numerous small channels are cut into a slope,
often after rain falls on newly disturbed ground. Rills are not as
obvious as gullies, but the resulting loss of top soil is still a problem.
Solution: Plan and install a contour water management system on
cropping land. Use minimum tillage.
Sheet erosion
This occurs when an even layer of soil is removed from a slope,
without creating obvious channels. Sheet erosion removes the
productive topsoil, exposing less productive subsoil.
Solution: Plan and install a contour water management system.
Retain plant cover during summer and early autumn.
11
11
Stock pad erosion
Livestock hooves can create tracks in the soil. Water flows down the
bare tracks, causing erosion. This is common where stock track down
slopes to dams or to gates at the lower levels of paddocks.
Solution: Locate watering points as far upslope in paddocks as
possible. Construct a grade bank system on slopes above dams.
Relocate fences along ridge crests or contours.
Road and firebreak erosion
This type of erosion occurs where water collects and runs along
wheel ruts or firebreak furrows. It is common where farm tracks and
firebreaks are poorly positioned.
Solution: Plan your firebreak system. Locate as many breaks
as possible along ridge crests or across slopes, preferably just
downslope of contour banks. Consider using herbicides for firebreaks
rather than cultivation.
Headland erosion in cropping areas
Headland erosion is caused by inappropriate cultivation patterns. It is
most common on sloping ground, where the crop seeding run corners
collect and concentrate paddock run-off, washing the soil away.
Solution: Consider realigning paddocks according to the contour.
Also use minimum tillage techniques.
Wind erosion
This occurs when groundcover is insufficient and soils are exposed
to wind. Soil particles begin to move in wind speeds of 8km/h. The
fine particles containing valuable nutrients become airborne as dust.
Commonly, the infertile larger sand particles are left behind.
Solution: Do not bare paddocks through overgrazing. Plant suitable
windbreaks and consider an ‘alley’ farm system and retain plant cover
or stubble at all times.
Salinity
Salinity is a very serious form of land degradation. It occurs in places
where natural salts in the soil profile are concentrated within the
surface soil layers (often by subsurface water movement). Salts may
also accumulate in certain parts of the landscape, such as valleys or
behind rock barriers.
12
Plants cannot survive abnormally high concentrations of salt around their
roots. Salinity may range from mild (where particularly sensitive pastures
die out first) to severe (bare white salt encrusted ground). Often the
problem originates beyond the boundary fence higher in the landscape.
Generally, the clearing of trees and/or water run-off in the past has
meant that more water enters the soil. Water can also accumulate
in low parts of the landscape and recharge locally. This causes
waterlogging and salt accumulation through evaporation. The salt
is then brought to the surface when the subsurface water meets a
barrier or enters a point of reduced soil depth.
The salinity of a water source may change over the years. Stream salinity
fluctuates seasonally because of rainfall and the salinity of dams, soaks
and tanks may increase during the summer because of evaporation.
If salinity levels become too high, the water may become unsuitable
for livestock. A Total Soluble Salts test will determine the amount of
milligrams of salt per litre (Table 2).
Table 2 Tolerances of livestock to dissolved salts in drinking
water (mg/L)
Livestock
Beef cattle
Dairy cattle
Dairy cattle milking
Sheep
Lambs, weaners, breeders
Horses
Pigs
Poultry
No adverse
effects on
animals
expected
0–4000
0–2500
0–4000
0–4000
0–2000
0–2000
Animals may have
Loss of production and
initial reluctance to
decline
animal condition
drink or there may and healthinwould
be expected.
be some scouring,
Stock
may
tolerate
these
but stock should
levels
for
short
periods
if
adapt without loss
introduced
gradually
of production
4000–5000
5000–10 000
2500–4000
4000–7000
3500
4000–10 000
10 000–13 000(a)
6000
4000–6000
6000–7000
3000
4000
2000–3000
3000–4000
(a) Note: Sheep on lush green feed may tolerate up to 13 000mg/L TDS
(2360mS/m) without loss of condition or production.
Reference: Modified ANZECC and ARMCANZ (2000), adapted from
ANZECC (1992).
Convert to total dissolved solids (Total Dissolved Salt (TDS); parts per
million (ppm) or mg/L) by multiplying conductivity values (millisiemens per
metre (mS/m)) by 5.5.
Solution: Salinity control requires planning on a subcatchment basis.
It may include a change of land use, such as the introduction of deeprooted perennials on identified recharge areas, and the design of
special water management systems.
13
Soil acidity
Although a natural process, soil acidity is often accelerated by normal
farm practices, such as adding nitrogen fertilisers and growing
legumes. Different species have different pH requirements. It is
important to maintain correct pH level for the species you are growing.
Solution: Soil test for pH (in calcium chloride (CaCl2)solution). If
the soil test indicates that the acidity is below 5.5, apply Grade I
agricultural lime to raise the soil pH and make it more alkaline.
Water repellence
This form of land degradation often occurs on sandy soils, where
water may not readily soak into a dry sand, but tends to ‘sit’ on the
top. Scratching underneath the ponding water often shows dry sand.
Water repellent soils are caused by a build-up of waxy material on the
soil particles.
Solution: The addition of soil wetting agents or incorporating clay into
the soil may help.
Soil compaction
This occurs when soil is compacted by the weight of stock or
machinery. Over time a ‘hard pan’ develops below the surface,
sometimes hard enough to act as a barrier to plant roots and
water penetration.
Solution: In light soils deep rip to break up the compacted soil.
On loam and clay soils, avoid stocking during the dry to
wetting-up period.
Soil structure decline
This occurs when the clods (soil aggregates) that make up many
loams and clays are broken down by over-cultivation of the soil. The
existence of clods normally allows a path for roots to grow between
them, helping water infiltrate down to the roots and removing waste
product gases. Soils with poor structure may tend to accumulate
water in pools, killing plants and restricting root growth. They can also
seal the surface, resulting in a very hard layer which seeds
cannot penetrate.
Solution: Gypsum applications may help some soils in the short
term, but organic matter must also be increased. It also helps to
reduce tillage of the soil. Heavy stocking of some wet clay soils
should be avoided.
14
Drainage and soil quality
Since the earliest days of farming in Western Australia, drainage has
been a part of establishing agricultural crops in certain areas
(e.g. the Swan Coastal Plain).
Drainage has been used to remove excess water which can cause
waterlogging, often leading to stressed plants and loss of nutrients.
However, drainage can lead to the export of soil nutrients into
waterways, causing eutrophication (the polluting of waterways by
excessive nutrients). It may also deprive shallow-rooted plants of the
water they need during spring.
Inland, where secondary salinity is a serious problem, drainage
is used to reduce the effects of salinity and relieve waterlogging.
However, this practice can transfer salinity to other peoples’
properties downstream, as well as affecting roads and
native vegetation.
For more
information
Noteworthy 9 – Soil
sampling and testing
on a small property
Noteworthy 11 –
Managing erosion on
your small property
Noteworthy 16 – Soil
acidity on your small
property
LimeWA
limewa.com.au
For these and other reasons, drainage must be done with care and
only after proper approvals have been obtained.
Landcare and you
Every region has a community-based catchment council that
accesses funding for landcare and other projects. These councils
identify and coordinate opportunities for sustainable natural resource
management (NRM) by implementing strategies that identify
regional priorities.
Catchment councils also support local groups and provide technical
advice on key land degradation problems. For wide-ranging
assistance to deal with all types of land degradation, you can join your
local landcare group.
Your legal responsibilities
An owner or occupier of land must complete a Notice of Intent and lodge it
with the Commissioner for Soil and Land Conservation at least 90 days before
starting the notifiable drainage activity.
Notices will require information relating to:
• area of land to be drained or pumped
• where the water is to be drained or pumped
• period of draining/pumping activity
• map of the proposal.
If you plan to pump or drain water to control salinity you are also required to seek
the endorsement of any downstream user that may be affected by the proposal.
Check with your LGA before you undertake any drainage activities.
15
Vegetation:
a green framework
16
In Western Australia, where once there was an unbroken expanse
of forest, woodland, wetland and heath, there is now a mosaic of
farmland, towns, industries, roads and railways with patches of
remnant vegetation scattered among them. These remnants are often
the only places where many species of native plants and animals are
able to survive.
The value of remnants will vary depending on viewpoint. A farmer
may see them as important to minimise soil erosion, watertable rise
or the spread of salinity or to provide shade and shelter for stock.
Other people may value the remnants for the flora and fauna they
contain, or because of the possibilities for recreation or ecotourism.
A single remnant will have many values at the same time. For
example, it may contain habitat for blue splendid fairy-wrens, and
they in turn assist the landholder by providing free insect control,
including eating the blowflies that can cause flystirke. It makes sense
for land managers to include in their property plans best-practice
management actions to maintain or improve their remnant vegetation.
Properties may be made more sustainable in the long term through
revegetation, for example along a creekline to improve water quality.
Revegetation may also act as a bush corridor to allow native animals
to move through the landscape.
It may not be necessary to revegetate from scratch. In some cases
you may be able to retain or regenerate existing native vegetation.
You will need to take into account factors such as soil types, drainage
conditions, slope of the terrain and existing and future fencelines.
For more
information
Noteworthy 72 – Plan
to plant on your small
property
Noteworthy 75 –
Revegetating your
small property
Molyneux (2002) The
‘Austraflora A-Z of
Australian plants’
Menkhorst ( 2010)
‘A field guide to the
mammals of Australia’
Morcombe (2004)
‘Field guide to
Australian Birds’
Department of Parks
and Wildlife
dpaw.wa.gov.au
Florabase
florabase.dpaw.wa.gov.au
You will have to complete the necessary earthworks, soil preparation,
pre-season weed and pest control and other chores that will give your
revegetation project the best possible chance of success.
Clearing native vegetation
As a landholder you may wish to clear native vegetation on your land
at some stage.
If you intend to clear native vegetation you will need to apply for a
permit from the Department of Environment and Regulation (DER),
or otherwise an exemption must apply. The DER ‘A guide to the
exemptions and regulations for clearing native vegetation’ will assist in
determining exemptions that apply.
A proposal to clear land for agricultural purposes can be a lengthy
process, due to the number of inherent environmental considerations
and the various referrals to government agencies that must
be undertaken.
17
17
For more
information
Certain items under the Environmental Protection (Clearing of Native
Vegetation) Regulations 2004 only exempt clearing to the extent that
the total combined clearing under any of these exemptions does not
exceed one hectare in any financial year.
Department of
Environment
Regulation
der.wa.gov.au
This means if you clear to construct a building, fence, vehicle or
walking track, collect firewood or to obtain fencing materials, the total
area cleared for all of these purposes may not add up to more than
one hectare in a financial year.
Department of
Planning
planning.wa.gov.au
There are a number of areas where the exemptions under the
Clearing Regulations do not apply.
A Guide to Clearing
Permits (2005)
A Guide to the
Exemptions and
Regulations for
Clearing Native
Vegetation (2005)
These areas are environmentally sensitive areas (ESA) declared by
the Minister under section 51B of the EP Act. If you want to clear
native vegetation in an ESA for one of the purposes under the
Clearing Regulations, you need to apply for a clearing permit. Seek
comment and guidance from your local DER office at an early stage
of your proposal.
Information on land clearing, including application forms, fact sheets
and guides can be found on the DER website.
Your legal responsibilities
Clearing land without obtaining the necessary approvals is a
serious breach of the Environmental Protection Act 1986 and
subject to substantial penalties. If you are unsure as to how the
Act relates to your proposed vegetation clearing, check with the
DER on +61 (0)8 6467 5000 or email [email protected].
LGAs may have specific conditions on subdivisions – check with
them for your requirements on clearing any trees.
18
Water:
a scarce resource
19
A reliable and adequate supply of water is essential for all
landholdings, however large or small. Water is needed for domestic
use, as well as for agricultural purposes.
Sources of water
Roof catchment
Most people in rural areas use their roofs to collect rainwater. Storage
tanks must be kept clean if the water is to be used for domestic
purposes. It is advisable to ensure that the tanks have a good cover
to reduce foreign bodies falling into the water and to stop algal growth
in the tank.
Aquifers
Any underground geological formation which can yield a useful
supply of water is called an aquifer. Aquifers may be unconfined
(open to direct recharge and sensitive to environmental conditions)
or confined (has an impervious layer above the stored water and
is recharged by indirect water flow). In unconfined and confined
aquifers, groundwater will stand in a bore or well at the level at which
it is struck (watertable).
In artesian aquifers, groundwater will rise up inside the bore to a level
dependent upon the hydrostatic pressure in the aquifer. This level
may be above the surface of the ground, in which case the bore
will flow.
Springs and soaks
These are formed where the watertable is at ground level, or where
the confined water can escape to the surface.
A common belief is that a spring should not be dug out, or the water
will be lost. This is true in some cases, but some springs may be
improved, rather than damaged, by digging.
Lakes and swamps
Lakes and swamps are formed where the watertable is higher than
ground level. They are usually seasonal if they are perched, that is
held above the true watertable by an impervious layer of material.
Rivers or streams
Sometimes rivers and streams are connected to a watertable. If so,
they may either receive contributions of flow from groundwater or,
conversely, lose part of their flow as recharge to the watertable.
20
Bores
Bores may be drilled into confined or unconfined aquifers. If you are
considering drilling for water, advice on the groundwater and any
licensing requirements for your property can be obtained from
the Department of Water (DoW).
Wells
Wells are dug to the existing watertable. This task is best carried out
when the watertable is at its lowest (e.g. during summer).
Dams
Dams fall into the following categories listed below:
• Excavated earth tanks - This is the common ‘farm dam’ where
most water is stored below the original ground level.
• Gully dams - A gully dam is a single wall dam built across a
watercourse to hold back the flow. Damming of creeks or gullies
needs to be carried out carefully. A spillway must be provided for
overflow water to return to the creek without causing erosion. In
many locations, gully dams may turn saline. Take advice before
locating dams on gullies.
• Turkey nest tanks - A turkey nest tank is a completely enclosed
earth embankment. It is usually filled by pumping or by piped entry
from a roaded catchment.
Never introduce
exotic plants or fish to
waterways.
The natural balance
of the ecosystem can
be upset when exotic
species displace
natives. Do not use
chemicals in or near
waterways without
first carefully reading
the labels or seeking
expert advice.
When deciding on the size and volume of the dam, allow for a loss of
50% of dam water to evaporation or seepage.
Use a qualified contractor to construct your dam. It can be a
complex project and a faulty dam can result in serious flooding and
destruction, which can cause the release of a large volume of water.
This could cause severe damage to property, roads and stock and
threaten human life.
Prior to the damming of flow lines in ‘proclaimed’ water catchments,
proposed works should be referred to the DoW.
Maintaining water quality
Living in the country, where population density is low, you may think
that your water is less likely to become polluted or contaminated.
Unfortunately this may not be the case. There are two main
causes of water pollution in rural areas:
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Plant nutrients, nitrogen and phosphorus
For more
information
Noteworthy 6 –
Treating blue-green
algae in small farm
dams
Noteworthy 7 –
Maintaining livestock
water quality on small
landholdings
Department of
Agriculture and Food,
Western Australia
agric.wa.gov.au
Toxic algal blooms –
DAFWA website
Animal Health
Laboratories
South Perth
Fertilisers and animal manures are important sources of nitrogen and
phosphorus entering waterways and can cause algae to grow. Bluegreen algae creates a highly visible ‘bloom’ on the water and some
varieties are highly poisonous. This phenomenon occurs mainly
in summer.
A simple way to inhibit the growth of algae is to spread straw (ideally,
barley straw) in the water at a rate of 100g of straw per 100L of water.
Do this in the spring, before the algal bloom is expected.
You can also prevent pollution of dams by installing piped inlets or
grass filter strips immediately up slope from the dam mouth.
Before you fertilise, make sure that it is really necessary by
undertaking soil testing and seeking agronomic advice to ensure that
you choose an appropriate product. If you decide to use fertiliser;
ensure that application type and timing are appropriate and that you
do not exceed the recommended application rate.
Bacteria from human and animal waste
This type of contamination can be extremely dangerous. Ensure
that your septic system is large enough to prevent excess effluent
from entering nearby drainage lines. Manure can be prevented from
washing into dams by installing filtration devices at the inlet end of
the dam.
Your legal responsibilities
Matters concerning the sourcing and use of water are under the
control of the DoW. Wetlands in the south-west are protected
under the Environmental Protection Authority environmental
protection policy. Refer to the Department of Parks and Wildlife
(DPaW) if you plan activities associated with wetlands.
22
Controlling
unwanted intruders
23
For more
information
Noteworthy 1 – Safe
chemical spraying for
small landholders
Pest and Disease
Information Service
(PaDIS) – 1800 084 881
Local catchment council
Land for Wildlife
dpaw.wa.gov.au/
management/offreserve-conservation/
land-for-wildlife
Weeds Australia
weeds.org.au
Environmental Weeds
Action Network WA
environmentalweeds
actionnetwork.org.au
Weeds need everyone’s attention
Weed management is a must for all landholders. If one Iandholder
diligently controls their weed problem but the adjoining neighbour
does not, re-infestation can occur.
Many garden plants have weedy tendencies, so landholders should
take care when purchasing new plants and disposing of garden
rubbish. Care should also be taken when purchasing hay and other
fodder that might contain weed seeds or toxic plants.
Weed identification should commence before you purchase your land.
If you are unsure of the plant species present on your land, obtain
advice from the Pest and Disease Information Service (PaDIS) or an
agronomist from your local agricultural supply company.
You will find it easy to identify many of the common weeds and
DAFWA has a range of information on their website with full-colour
photos and descriptions. Other government agencies, councils and
community groups also publish brochures, books and posters on
weeds of concern.
Some types of weeds impact on pasture or crop production.
Paterson’s curse, capeweed, wild radish and dock are common
examples. Other weeds, such as bridal creeper, Paterson’s curse and
arum lily can invade bushlands and create problems for animal health.
Samples of suspected declared plants (noxious weeds) should be
taken to your local DAFWA office or posted to the DAFWA AGWEST
Plant Laboratories.
Collect fresh samples, wrap them in paper or press between sheets
of cardboard and post immediately. Do not put fresh plant material in
plastic bags as it rots very quickly. Sampling kits are available from all
DAFWA offices. You can also post dried, pressed material.
To be positively identified, the plant must have flowers and/or fruits.
This service may attract fees unless the plant, seed, disease or insect
is suspected of being a new threat to agricultural industries.
Under the Biosecurity and Agriculture Management Act 2007 (BAM
Act) you are responsible for controlling declared plants on
your property.
24
Cape tulip
Blackberry
Narrow leaf cotton bush
Apple of Sodom
Doublegee
Paterson’s curse
Variegated thistle
25
25
Controlling weeds
There are several effective forms of weed control, including crop
rotation, pasture topping, grazing manipulation, herbicides, biological
control, scalping and mulching. You may be able to use more than
one of these methods simultaneously for an integrated solution.
Herbicides should only be used once you have obtained the correct
information and advice. If misused, herbicides can damage and
kill the very plants you are trying to protect. Before you apply any
chemicals read the labels. Make sure you use the appropriate safety
equipment or protective clothing.
It is important to plan ahead for weed control and this should be the
first step in any revegetation or windbreak projects you may have.
For best control you must make sure all spraying equipment is clean
and in good working order and have the correct chemicals and
wetting agents. When using herbicides there are several application
methods, including blanket weed wiper systems, backpacks, wands,
and traditional spray rigs. Discuss with your local agronomist
which system would be most suitable for your situation. For more
information on specific weed control techniques see the declared
plant control handbook; agric.wa.gov.au/herbicides/declared-plantcontrol-handbook.
Weed control: step-by-step
1. Obtain a positive identification of your weed.
2. Determine whether you have legal responsibility to control
the weed.
3. Find out if your neighbours have a problem with the same weed.
If so, talk to them about a combined weed control strategy.
4. Obtain advice from the suppliers of agricultural chemicals and/or
herbicides.
5. Consider your options and then implement management that will
provide the most effective control.
6. Inspect the area frequently to monitor the success of the treatment
and any incidence of re-infestation. It will take time for weed seed
banks to deplete. Persistence will pay off.
7. If you don’t wish to do the spraying yourself, book spray
contractors in advance and make sure they are licensed and
insured (see ‘Pest Control’ in the Yellow Pages).
8. Remember to replace weeds with useful plants.
Your legal responsibilities
26
Weed control is more than a discretionary activity for landholders.
There are legal requirements governing the control of weeds.
Your responsibility in this regard is stated in the Biosecurity and
Agriculture Management Act 2007.
Good management for orchards and
vineyards
Some landholders are attracted by the idea of having a few fruit trees
to produce fresh fruit. If you have an orchard on your property, or are
considering establishing one, you could be in for a surprise. It can
actually be more expensive to grow fruit than to buy it. Orchards take
a lot of work to keep healthy and productive.
If you decide to maintain or develop an orchard, information can be
found in the SLIS Noteworthy 50 ‘Establishing an orchard for small
landholders’.
Neglected orchards are a breeding ground for pests and
diseases. If you do not intend to develop your orchard, you will still
need to manage it properly, or remove the trees or vines − otherwise,
any infestations on your property could spread beyond
your boundaries.
A landowner is required to maintain their orchard to an acceptable
standard otherwise it could be determined to be neglected.
Information regarding neglected orchards can be found on the
DAFWA website.
Legal empowerment
The legal empowerment for DAFWA to direct an owner or person to
improve or remove a neglected orchard are outlined under regulation
86 of the Biosecurity and Agriculture Management Regulations 2013
(r. 86 Power to destroy abandoned or neglected plants, bees
and apiaries).
Department of Agriculture and Food biosecurity officers are
responsible for inspecting properties with fruit trees and vines, and
may require the removal of neglected orchards and vineyards or the
use of appropriate management methods.
Mediterranean fruit fly (Medfly, Ceratitis capitata) is by far
the worst pest of fruit tree crops in WA. Medfly is a pest from
Esperance through to Carnarvon. It is a requirement under the
Biosecurity and Agriculture Management Act 2007 for both
commercial and backyard orchardists to control Medfly in certain
areas (e.g. gazetted areas in the Perth Hills).
If growers do not apply appropriate control measures to highly
susceptible crops such as nectarines, peaches and apricots, total
crop loss is likely. Fruit fly damage can be hard to detect as infested
fruit often looks fine on the outside, but contains maggots on the
inside. The only organic option is to apply foliar baits containing
spinosad (e.g. Naturalure* Fruit Fly Bait Concentrate, Eco-Naturalure
Fruit Fly Bait).
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27
For more
information
Noteworthy 50 –
Establishing an
orchard for small
landholders
Department of
Agriculture and Food
agric.wa.gov.au
Controlling
Mediterranean fruit fly:
bait spraying
Controlling
Mediterranean fruit fly:
mass trapping and lure
and kill
Controlling
Mediterranean fruit fly:
cover sprays
Controlling
Mediterranean fruit fly:
orchard hygiene
Pest and Disease
Information Service
(PaDIS) info@agric.
wa.gov.au
Baits need to be applied weekly early in the season and twice weekly at
peak times (November-January). However baiting can be ineffective if
fruit fly populations in the surrounding area are high.
Community baiting schemes are highly effective by preventing
numbers from building up in town and hobby farms and moving into
orchard areas, but can be hard to implement. For further control
recommendations visit the DAFWA website.
Animal pests
Many animals cause damage to agriculture, the environment and/
or the social amenity. Some of these animals are present and others
could adapt to the environment if allowed into the State. Many
of these pest animals have specific management requirements
determined by DAFWA or DPaW, and include:
Rabbits Eat/damage vegetation/pasture and crops, cause erosion
Kangaroos Eat/damage vegetation, crops and damage fences, compete with stock for feed
Native birds Eat/damage trees and crops, damage fences
Exotic birds Eat/damage crops, compete with wildlife, spread disease, cause damage to buildings
Goats
Eat/damage vegetation, cause erosion, compete with other animals
Deer
Eat/damage vegetation and crops, spread disease, damage fences
Foxes
Predator of native wildlife, domestic poultry, lambs
Landholder responsibilities
It is the private landholder’s responsibility to:
• Control declared animals at large on your property even if you are
not growing crops or raising livestock (e.g. control rabbits). State
and local government also have obligations to control declared
animals on their land.
• Introduce and keep declared animals according to conditions set
by DAFWA and sometimes other agencies (e.g. in the case
of deer).
• Report declared animals at large on your land to DAFWA (e.g.
escaped deer, exotic birds).
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Control/management of declared
animals
Many pest animals are not permitted in WA. Declared animals that
have escaped from their enclosures may also be able to adapt to life
in the wild and cause damage to properties.
Categories assigned to declared pest animals indicate how DAFWA
requires particular species to be introduced, controlled/managed
or kept.
Common control methods include:
Baiting
The most cost-effective way to reduce rabbit and fox populations, particularly over large areas.
Fencing/
netting
Well-maintained fences/netting enclosures can provide
a permanent solution to pest problems, but are only viable if the area to be protected is relatively small or to protect a high-value crop.
Trapping/
shooting Only appropriate for low pest numbers and often not
suitable in built-up areas.
To enquire about the control of declared exotic animals contact
DAFWA.
To enquire about the control of declared native animals contact DPaW.
Your legal responsibilities
The Biosecurity and Agriculture Management Act 2007
(BAM Act) deals with the control of declared plants and animals.
Part II of the Act covers the biosecurity arrangements for Western
Australia including import requirements, and powers to prevent
the introduction and spread of declared plants and animals. As a
landholder, it is wise to become familiar with your responsibilities
under this Act.
You should also be aware that the BAM Act, provides for the
registration and use of brands and earmarks for stock, and
regulates the movement of stock.
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29
Livestock
on your land
30
Being a responsible livestock owner
You may wish to own livestock as an enterprise, or merely as pets.
Whatever animals you acquire you will need to ensure their welfare
and health and that you meet the legal ownership requirements.
Before you acquire livestock, be sure you can provide all of the
following:
• food and water
• protection from predators
• protection from diseases
• protection from inclement weather
• adequate fencing and handling facilities.
Check with your LGA for any restrictions on how many and which
types of animals you are allowed to keep on your property. If you then
decide to go ahead and get some animals, you will need to register
as an owner of livestock, with DAFWA.
Livestock includes sheep, goats, cattle, pigs, horses, deer, alpaca,
llama and buffalo. Once you are registered, you can own as many
types and number as you are allowed under the LGA. Registering as
an owner allows for better management if a disease outbreak occurs,
as owners you can be located and contacted.
It is important to understand that if you choose to have livestock as
pets that you need to comply with the same management laws as
commercial owners. The laws are there to protect the industry and
the welfare of all animals.
It’s wise to talk to neighbours who own the same types of livestock you
hope to buy. Their experiences can save you valuable time and money.
Your decision to buy livestock may be based on personal preferences.
Check stocking rates with your LGA.
If you are planning to run cattle, they will be easier to manage in
higher rainfall areas. Sheep and goats can do well in lower rainfall
areas. This is because of the type and amount of pasture they need
to eat each day that your property will have to provide. All animals
need access to clean drinking water.
More and more small landholders are raising exotic and specialised
animals such as emu, ostrich, alpaca and llama on their property.
Again, do your research. Check with your LGA for restrictions, check
with DAFWA for any ownership and identification requirements, compare
notes with neighbours and be sure you are fully prepared before you
bring these animals onto your property.
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How many animals?
You need to be sure your land can sustain the number of animals you
plan to run on it. There is a guide, based on a measurement which
refers to the animal’s food consumption. This measurement is called a
‘DSE’ – dry sheep equivalent.
DSE is a measurement that refers to how much a sheep that is not
pregnant or lactating eats in a day. It allows you to compare how
much feed you need to provide for your desired number of animals.
Each animal is given a DSE rating, as follows:
one pony
one light horse
one breeding ewe
one heifer
one dairy goat
one cashmere goat
one angora goat
one deer (50kg)
one alpaca (60-70kg)
one large wether
5 DSE
10 DSE
1.5 DSE
8 DSE
2 DSE
1 DSE
0.7 DSE
1.2 DSE
0.8 DSE
1 DSE
You can calculate how many animals can be run on your land,
depending on the type of pasture you have on your property.
Pasture type
Irrigated pasture on loams
Subterranean clover pasture on clays, loams
Subterranean clover pasture on wet sandy soils
Subterranean clover pasture on dry sands
Non-clover pasture on dry sands
DSE/hectare
supported
20-25 DSE
10 DSE
6-10 DSE
2-5 DSE
1-2 DSE
Please note that these stocking rates will vary depending on soil
conditions, location, topography and land management.
Identification and movement
regulation
Western Australia has a comprehensive, mandatory livestock
identification and ownership system. All livestock owners within WA
must be registered and their stock identified in accordance with
the Biosecurity and Agriculture Management (Identification and
Movement of Stock and Apiaries) Regulations 2013*.
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*BAM (IMSA) regulations
‘Livestock’ includes all ruminants (cattle, sheep, goats, deer,
bison, buffalo), equines (horses, mules, donkeys), South American
camelids (alpaca, llama, vicuna) and pigs, whether kept as pets or for
commercial purposes. Registered owners are issued with a property identification code
(PIC) and PIC card which lists the property/ies they have registered
for stock and the registered identifiers they may need to identify their
stock (e.g. stock brand, earmark or pig tattoo). The property/ies listed
may not belong to the owner of the animals, but it indicates where
their animals are kept and who owns them, as with agistment.
Registered identifiers include a brand (one number and two letters),
an earmark (two notches of a particular shape and location on the
ear) and a five digit pig tattoo. Each species of animal has a specific
set of identification requirements which you must adhere to within the
designated timeframes.
Any movement of cattle, sheep or goats (one or more animals)
between properties with different PICs must be recorded on the
National Livestock Identification System (NLIS) database. Whenever
you move livestock (except horses), you need to complete a waybill
and send it with the animals. It provides proof of ownership and can
be asked for by a stock inspector or police officer at any time. All
waybills must be legible and include the following information:
• a unique serial number
• the date of the movement
• owner’s name or registered trading name, PIC and physical
address of the property where the journey began
• owner’s registered identifiers on the animals
• number and description of stock
• name and signature of the person completing the waybill
• name of consignee, destination PIC and physical address
• the carrier’s details, signature and vehicle number plates.
Waybills are completed in triplicate, with the original going to the
destination owner, the first copy to the transporter and the second
copy you keep. They must be kept for seven years. There are two
different types of waybills that can be used depending on the
stock’s destination.
Plain waybill books are available from DAFWA and can be used
when the movement does not require a combined National Vendor
Declaration (NVD) waybill (e.g. transporting an animal to the vet or
agricultural show or between properties owned by the same person).
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33
However, the NVD/waybill is required by accredited producers,
abattoirs, saleyards, export depots and feedlots as the stock moving to
those locations are usually for human consumption. The NVD/waybill
provides valuable information about previous livestock treatments and
animal health such as vaccinations, drench and feed types.
If you intend to on-sell your stock, request that animals arrive at your
property with an NVD/waybill so that you can supply accurate health
details when you sell them.
There is an NVD/waybill book for cattle and buffalo, one for sheep
and another for goats.
Pigs require the PigPass NVD which is a form that combines the
waybill details with important information about the food safety and
health status of the stock. A PigPass NVD is required whenever pigs
are moved for sale, export or slaughter. PigPass NVDs are available
from pigpass.com.au or by phoning 1800 041 458.
To obtain NVD/waybills, you must first become accredited with
the Livestock Production Assurance (LPA) program. Once you
understand the program requirements and are accredited, you can
order the NVD/waybills you need. This can all be done online, or over
the phone. The LPA can be contacted on 1800 683 111 or at
mla.com.au/lpa. You will need to provide your PIC details. NVD/
waybills can be issued in books of 20 forms, or as five, 10 or 20
tokens that can be downloaded as needed.
Straying stock
As a stock owner, you are responsible for keeping your stock on your
property and preventing them from straying. You may be liable for
damages arising from stock which stray from your property, such as
car accidents and property damage. They can cause pasture and
infrastructure damage and unwanted mating. Straying stock are also
a biosecurity risk as they can spread disease and weed seeds.
In cases where straying stock is causing a nuisance, it should be
reported to the local government ranger.
Moving stock into Western Australia
If you plan to import livestock from interstate or overseas, you should
check to see if it is allowable and then research the requirements and
approvals you will need to obtain if it can go ahead. Restrictions on
stock movement are in place for a good reason — to help prevent
the spread or introduction of diseases such as liver fluke, footrot and
bovine Johne’s disease from interstate, and foot and mouth disease
and BSE (‘mad cow disease’) from overseas.
34
Veterinary chemical use
Western Australia has laws that control veterinary chemical use on
livestock to protect people, animals and the environment from harm.
By using veterinary chemicals appropriately, meat, milk and fibre
products will be free of harmful chemical residues.
When using chemicals on animals, you must follow all label or
veterinary directions, use only registered veterinary chemicals,
declare withholding periods when selling livestock and keep records
of all veterinary treatments given to livestock. Following these
requirements will help to maintain Australia’s reputation for safe and
reliable meat, milk and fibre products.
Altering the dose rate or application method of a chemical may
result in extended residues and change the withholding period
(i.e. the period of time after treatment that the animal must not be
slaughtered). Only a veterinarian can direct the use of chemicals in
this manner and they will also advise of the amended withholding
period to prevent harmful residues.
What are veterinary chemicals?
Veterinary chemicals are substances used to prevent, diagnose,
treat, modify physiology and alleviate disease or injury. Veterinary
chemicals include prescription medicines (e.g. antibiotics) and overthe-counter products (e.g. drenches and vaccines).
Veterinary chemicals approved for livestock are registered and, when
used according to the label directions, are safe to use on animals and
will not harm people or the environment.
Unregistered chemicals, including home remedies, cannot provide
the same level of confidence and safety. They may contain toxic
material, impurities or contaminants which pose a risk to the animal,
the environment and may cause residue contamination.
Common livestock veterinary chemicals include:
•
•
•
•
•
drenches for intestinal worms
lice, blowfly and tick treatments
vaccines (e.g. pulpy kidney, tetanus and scabby mouth)
antibiotics
pain relief (e.g. anti-inflammatory).
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35
For more
information
The Department of
Agriculture and Food,
WA agric.wa.gov.au
Suggested searches:
livestock ownership;
registering as an owner;
moving livestock.
Noteworthy 5 – Firsttime cattle ownership
for the small landholder
Noteworthy 7 –
Maintaining livestock
water quality on small
landholdings
Noteworthy 10 –
Supplementary feeding
livestock on your small
property
Noteworthy 12 –
Establishing pasture
for small landholders
Veterinary chemical record keeping
It is a legal requirement to keep records of all veterinary chemical
treatments on livestock for three years. This includes any written
advice from a veterinarian. Chemical use records are essential to
accurately complete your National Vendor Declaration (NVD) or
PigPass NVD form when selling stock.
Details of chemical use which must be recorded include:
•
•
•
•
•
•
individual animal or group identification
name of the product
date of administration
dose administered
treatment period
withholding period (WHP).
Safe feed for livestock
To protect the health of your animals and ensure any animal products
you produce are safe for human consumption, it is important that you
provide safe feed for your animals. You should request a commodity
vendor declaration when purchasing feed or fodder to ensure the feed
is free from chemicals and other prohibited substances.
Noteworthy 13 –
Livestock ownership
requirements for small
landholders
There are various feed restrictions which you must familiarise yourself
with and must observe. These restrictions help prevent outbreaks of
animal disease and protect Australia’s livestock markets.
Noteworthy 26 – Keep
sheep parasites at bay
Pigs:
Noteworthy 30 – Equine
management plans for
small landholdings
Noteworthy 31 –
Keeping horses on
small properties
Noteworthy 34 –
Productive pasture
management for small
landholders
Noteworthy 54 –
Keeping backyard
chickens
Noteworthy 67 –
Biosecurity plans for
small landholders
36
• You must not feed pigs any food or food scraps that contain meat,
or may have had contact with meat.
• Feeding meat or meat products to pigs is known as ‘swill feeding’
and is illegal.
• For more information, visit agric.wa.gov.au and search ‘pig feed’.
Cattle, sheep, goats, deer and other ruminant animals:
• You must not feed animal matter to ruminant animals.
• You must also prevent ruminants from accessing materials that
contain animal matter such as chicken, pig and pet food and
fertilisers like blood-and-bone and poultry manure.
For more details, visit agric.wa.gov.au and search ‘ruminant feed’.
Minimising risk of animal diseases
You should not allow any practices on your property which involve
the risk of your animals acquiring infections from outside sources
or accessing toxic chemicals. The following are some practices that
must be avoided. Some are prohibited by law:
• do not keep poultry in such a way that wild birds may contaminate
their feed or water
• do not feed swill (food or food waste that contains meat or has
been in contact with meat) to pigs
• do not feed pig or poultry feed to ruminants (e.g. sheep, cattle,
goats, deer)
• do not allow stock to graze any areas on your property which
may have persistent chemical residues or heavy metals e.g. DDT,
dieldrin, arsenic, lead.
Where possible, newly purchased animals should be kept isolated
from existing animals on the property for up to 30 days until it can be
determined that they are healthy and disease free and any required
vaccinations have been given. Quarantining new stock also means
that any weed seeds they may bring are contained to one area and
not spread all over your property.
When buying in feed, ensure you buy clean feed and get a
commodity vendor declaration (CVD) stating that the feed is free of
weeds, seeds and any diseases. The CVD also provides information
on any treatments that have been used, such as insect control in
storage facilities or chemical treatments to crops before cutting for hay.
A guide to the most common livestock
diseases
As a stock manager, you should be on the alert for signs of disease.
Some diseases are known to occur in Western Australia (endemic
diseases). Others such as foot and mouth disease, BSE (‘mad cow
disease’), sheep pox and rabies are exotic to Australia.
By contacting your local vet, you will receive expert help to determine
the nature of the disease. Remember, it is better to seek help
immediately, rather than take the risk of spreading a disease.
As the stock manager, you should also be aware of the need to
treat all animals humanely and not to neglect them. Codes of Practice
outline the responsibilities of owners and stock handlers to ensure
that animals are well cared for. Copies can be obtained from the
DAFWA website at agric.wa.gov.au.
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37
If you are not sure of the correct way to house and manage your
livestock so that the welfare of the animals is not compromised, make
sure you consult your local vet or a person who is experienced in
keeping animals of the same kind.
When a disease is notifiable
Whilst Western Australia is relatively free of significant infectious
diseases, a number of diseases are notifiable under the State’s stock
diseases legislation.
In Western Australia, the Biosecurity and Agriculture Management
Act 2007 legislates that some diseases must be reported to the
government if they are known or suspected to be present.
Notifiable stock diseases include diseases of camelids (alpaca, llama),
cattle, deer, goats, horses, pigs, poultry and sheep. They also include
diseases of crustaceans, fish and molluscs.
Diseases of significance to Western Australia that must be reported
are listed in the reportable animal diseases list on the DAFWA
website. These diseases, and details of their legal status, are also
listed in the Western Australian Organism List.
A person who suspects that a reportable disease is or may be
present in animals is legally required to report this as soon as
possible. You should also keep the affected stock isolated until they
have been examined by a vet or an inspector.
The Emergency Animal Disease Hotline number is: 1800 675 888
Your legal responsibilities
38
If you are keeping livestock, or plan to introduce livestock to your
property, you should familiarise yourself with your responsibilities
under the Biosecurity and Agriculture Management Act 2007 and
its regulations. Also, be sure to check with your local shire as to
any restrictions or management requirements on keeping certain
animals in your area. The Exotic Diseases of Animals Act 1993
and regulations specify notifiable disease and the conditions to
control and prevent the introduction of disease.
Safety on your property
39
Keeping your small property safe
Small properties present safety issues, associated with equipment
and vehicles, use of pesticides, handling of animals, dams and
reservoirs and even day-to-day risk of skin cancer and heat stress.
Working on a property requires a wide variety of manual handling
tasks requiring force, repetitive movements, stooping, static and
awkward postures, continual bending and twisting at the waist,
and handling heavy objects. These can cause several problems,
including serious back injuries, musculoskeletal disorders, including
occupational overuse syndromes, acute injuries, like muscle or
tendon sprains and strains and injuries from slips, trips and falls.
Care should be taken to identify the dangers and risks from manual
handling and make changes to help avoid accidents and injuries.
WorkSafe Western Australia recommends that all rural property
owners carry out a check of their farms using the ‘Agricultural safety
and health checklist’. The easy-to-follow checklist can be used to
rate potential hazards and risks on your property and help you control
and prevent the risk of serious injury or disease (commerce.wa.gov.
au/publications/agricultural-safety-and-health-checklist).
This checklist includes the most common hazards on agricultural
properties. It is not an exhaustive list, but a good starting point.
Use the checklist in conjunction with the Agricultural safety and health
workbook to provide you with details on each of the hazard areas.
You can carry out the inspection all at once or over a period of time.
No matter how you do the inspection, review it regularly to ensure you
maintain a safe property.
In order to prevent injuries property owners need to:
• ensure all machinery, equipment and workplaces are in safe
working condition and that guards are in place
• for maintenance jobs ensure a checklist procedure to ensure
guarding is replaced and that there are procedures to prevent
machinery being accidentally started during maintenance
• never make adjustments to headers, hay mowers, balers, augers
etc. while the machinery is still running
• make sure tractors have an approved ROPS (roll-over protection
structure) and seatbelt fitted and used; tractor rollovers are a
major cause of farm injury and death
• do not allow passengers on tractors and trailing implements
• wear suitable clothing and safety equipment such as earplugs, eye
protection and/or dust masks when required
40
• beware of overhead powerlines when moving augers, balers and
headers, and ensure that the intake points are guarded
• ensure appropriate supervision for all workers, family members
and visitors; everyone’s whereabouts must be known; those
operating equipment should be adequately informed and trained in
its use
• ensure that children cannot climb into silos, and that the loading/
unloading mechanism cannot be started when someone is in the silo;
always have an observer outside the silo whilst someone is inside
• ensure manufacturer approved safety helmets are worn when
operating any bikes. Consult the operators manual for load rating,
carrying of passengers and age restrictions, children under 16
should not operate quad bikes.
• check that fire extinguishers, first aid kits and emergency numbers
are accessible, and in an easy to access location known by those
on the property.
Is your small property a workplace?
Occupational safety and health laws in Western Australia apply to all
workplaces, including agricultural properties.
Do you employ workers - full time, part time, casual or contract? All
workers have the right to a safe and healthy working environment and
to be protected from any hazard that may exist at the workplace.
A workplace means any place where employees or self-employed
persons work or are likely to be in the course of their work.
Under the occupational safety and health laws, self-employed
people, employers and employees, or a person or people in control
of a workplace, have a Duty of Care to make the workplace
safe. Everyone - employer or self-employed person - has a legal
responsibility to provide a safe working environment.
The Occupational Safety and Health Act 1984 requires all employers,
in consultation with their employees, to identify any potential hazards
that could harm the safety and health of any person in the workplace.
The employer must ensure that hazards and risks are identified
and effective procedures are in place to assess and control those
hazards and risks. Property owners should familiarise themselves
with occupational safety and health laws, relevant Australian
Standards, codes of practice and industry guides. Codes of
Practice, Guidance Notes and a wide variety of checklists are
available on the WorkSafe WA website.
41
For more
information
WorkSafe Western
Australia commerce.
wa.gov.au/WorkSafe or
1300 307 877
WorkSafe publications:
Agricultural safety and
health checklist
Occupational Safety
and Health Act 1984
Agricultural workbook
Farmsafe WA Alliance
farmsafewa.org/farmerresources.aspx or
+61 (0)8 9359 4118
Employers must, as far as is practicable, provide and maintain a
working environment where their employees are not exposed to
hazards. General duties include:
•
•
•
•
•
•
safe systems of work
information, instruction, training and supervision
consultation and cooperation
provision of personal protection
safe plant and substances
reporting systems for fatalities, injuries and disease.
Two good sources of practical information are WorkSafe and
Farmsafe WA Alliance.
Employing someone
There are two different systems of employment laws operating in
Western Australia. Your business will only be covered by one of
these. The state industrial relations system covers sole traders
and some partnerships so is the most common one covering small
businesses.
When you offer someone a job, you are entering into an employment
contract with that person. Employers are required to pay their
employees their correct entitlements, including rates of pay, leave and
allowances depending on the type of employment (e.g. full time, part
time, casual, fixed term, trainee/apprenticeship, sub-contractor, etc.).
All employers are legally required to keep time and wages records.
Failure to keep correct time and wages records may result in
significant penalties.
Contact Wageline to determine which system applies to your business
and your obligations when you first employ someone.
Child safety on farms
Children who live on farms or who come to visit are often at greater
risk of injury than the adults that work there. Parents need to be
aware of their child’s developmental ability before asking them to
perform tasks, and to ensure that children on the farm know the rules
about safety on the farm.
Do not leave children unsupervised. Parents should explain to
children that farms can be a dangerous place and that they are not a
place to ‘muck around’. Explain to them about the dangers and how
they can be safe when on the farm.
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Safe use of chemicals
Many farms use toxic chemicals for the control of weeds and pests.
It is vital that you should use chemicals, and dispose of empty
containers, safely.
Before you use chemicals obtain a Material Safety Data Sheet
(MSDS), read the instructions on the label carefully and follow them.
Also check weather conditions as rain and strong wind can reduce
their effectiveness and/or cause your chemicals to go off-target.
Ensure you are wearing the correct personal protective clothing and
equipment (PPE) according to the MSDS.
Keep chemicals locked away from children and animals. Do not
transport them inside passenger vehicles. Avoid storing them together
with seeds, fertilisers, protective clothing and stock-feed.
Only buy as you need − it’s not wise to store chemicals for lengthy
periods.
When mixing chemicals, be sure you’re in a well-ventilated area, away
from waterways or sewers. Have a personal washing facility nearby −
if there is no tap, place a bucket of clean water nearby.
You usually need to dilute chemicals with water. If this is the case,
install a non-return valve onto the water hose or pipe you are using.
This will prevent chemicals from siphoning back into your water
supply.
Quad bike safety on your property
Quad bikes or all-terrain vehicles (ATV) can be very handy. They are
capable of carrying small loads such as a hay bale, herding animals,
towing trailers, operating small spray units or simply providing
transport around your property. But they need to be treated with
respect and handled with care.
For more
information
Noteworthy 1 – Safe
chemical spraying for
small landholders
Noteworthy 3 –
Handling ATVs on small
properties
Noteworthy 4 –
Chainsaws for the small
landholder
Noteworthy 20 –
Bushfire survival plans
for small landholders
Department of Fire and
Emergency Services
Western Australia
dfes.wa.gov.au
The Homeowner’s Bush
Fire Survival Manual,
fifth edition, (2007).
Prepare. Act. Survive.
(2014)
Wageline commerce.
wa.gov.au/labourrelations/contactwageline or
1300 655 266
As opposed to a motorbike, where the rider and bike often go in
different directions, Quad bike accidents often involve the vehicle
rolling onto the rider. These accidents are unfortunately all too
common, with quad bikes typically the cause of more fatalities and
serious injuries on Australian farms than tractors.
Remember:
• only use a quad bike if there is no other alternative vehicle that is safer
• never ride a quad bike without wearing a manufacturer approved
helmet
43
43
• take corners slow and shift your weight accordingly (i.e. lean into
the turn to help prevent the vehicle from tipping over)
• do not overload the carry racks
• avoid steep slopes
• never carry a passenger unless operating an ATV designed for
two people
• read the owner’s manual from cover to cover
• brake evenly and firmly, and slow down when driving in unknown
terrain.
Whether working on a small property or one a little larger, handling
your ATV in the correct manner is vital to your safety and the safety of
others around you.
Preparing for bushfires
Severe bushfires are a threat every year. You can reduce their impact
on property and people by careful planning. Make sure you, your
family and your property are prepared for bushfires.
Firstly, if you are building in a bushfire-prone area, make sure
you build to standards described in Australian Standard 3959 –
Construction of buildings in bushfire prone areas. Your LGA also
has rules and regulations about firebreaks and burning off on rural
properties (e.g. restricted burning periods).
Firebreaks may not stop a major fire, but they can reduce its severity
and provide safe access to your property while firefighting. Firebreaks
may be installed and maintained by harrowing or chemical sprays.
They may also form a system of alleys between and around your
paddocks.
The Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES)
recommends a building protection zone (circle of safety) around your
home and buildings that is as big as possible but has at least a 20m
radius. The best safety zone is a wide green grass or gravel area.
Maintain your circles of safety by clearing away flammable trees,
dead leaves, twigs and branches, long grass and undergrowth. Avoid
locating haystacks or fuel supplies near buildings.
On the outer edge of the circle, plant a row of fire-resistant trees. A
green crop between the house and the bush will also create a natural
firebreak (e.g. small lawn areas, vegetable patches, frog ponds or
irrigated grass).
44
Store hay and other fodder away from your house as they can
spontaneously combust.
Weeds create fire hazards — ensure you carry out adequate weed
control in winter to prevent a fire hazard in summer.
You should locate at least one dam or other water supply (minimum of
10-20kL) close to the house to aid in firefighting. Also, be sure there
is more than one access road in and out of your property in the event
that one road should become blocked by fire.
Develop a bushfire evacuation plan for you and your family. Decide
what you will do – will you stay and defend your property or leave?
Also have a plan for where you will put your livestock in the event of a
bushfire.
If there is a bushfire in your area, you must make an early decision
on whether you will stay with the house or relocate. Staying in your
own or a neighbour’s home could be safer than trying to get away
on roads blocked by fire and smoke. Don’t leave the decision to
relocate until the fire is so close that you cannot get out safely.
Remember to prepare … stay and defend or go early!
Fighting bushfires
Safe firefighting practices involve teamwork, planning and
communication. Essential safety rules should be followed, such as:
•
•
•
•
•
never work alone
anticipate changes in the fire patterns due to weather
avoid steep slopes above a fire
identify escape routes
stay clear of vehicles and machinery.
Make sure you prepare yourself and your family by always having the
following on hand:
•
•
•
•
•
•
woollen blankets
buckets, mop, knapsack, ladder, rake
torch, battery-powered radio
safe storage box for valuables and important documents
backups for electronic devices
protective clothing such as cotton or woollen trousers, long
sleeved shirt or jumper, sturdy shoes/boots, hard hat or wide
brimmed hat, goggles and gloves.
45
You should also be vigilant about your personal health, ensuring you
drink sufficient fluids, take a break when you need one and wear
protective clothing.
If you want to upgrade your bushfire control and prevention skills
and serve your own community at the same time, you may consider
joining your local Volunteer Bushfire Brigade or a Bushfire Ready
Action Group. You will receive regular training on firefighting, fire
prevention and rescue techniques and become part of a close-knit
team of community-spirited people.
Your legal responsibilities
The Biosecurity and Agriculture Management Act 2007 deals with
the use of chemicals on farmlands. You should become familiar
with the provisions of this Act before you use chemicals.
To find out about your legal responsibilities pertaining to bushfire
prevention and control, check with your LGA.
You should also be aware of the Occupational Safety and Health
legislation which covers all industries and workplaces, including farms.
46
Other important contacts
47
Organisation
Address
Level 1
Aquaculture Council of
56 Marine Terrace
Western Australia
Fremantle 6959
Phone
Website
W:
aquaculturecouncilwa.
com
+61 (0)8 9432 7714
E: eo@
aquaculturecouncilwa.
com
Department of
Environment
Regulation (DER)
Level 4 The Atrium
168-170 St Georges
Terrace
Perth 6000
+61 (0)8 6467 5000
Department of Fire
and Emergency
Services (DFES)
20 Stockton Bend
Cockburn Central
6164
+61 (0)8 9395 9300 W: dfes.wa.gov.au
Department of
Fisheries (DoF)
Level 3 The Atrium
168-170 St Georges
Terrace
Perth 6000
+61 (0)8 9482 7333 W: fish.wa.gov.au
Department of Health
(DoH)
189 Royal Street
East Perth 6004
+61 (0)8 9222 4222 W: health.wa.gov.au
Department of Parks
and Wildlife (DPaW)
17 Dick Perry Ave
Technology Park
Western Precinct
Kensington 6151
+61 (0)8 9219 9000
Department of Water
(DoW)
168 St Georges
Terrace
Perth 6000
W: water.wa.gov.au
+61 (0)8 6364 7600 E: Atrium.Reception@
water.wa.gov.au
Environmental
Protection Authority
(EPA)
The Atrium 168-170 St
W: epa.wa.gov.au
Georges Terrace
+61 (0)8 6145 0800
E: [email protected]
Perth 6000
Office of the
Commissioner Soil &
Land Conservation
3 Baron-Hay Court
South Perth 6151
+61 (0)8 9368 3282
Quarantine Western
Australia
24 Fricker Rd
Perth Airport 6105
+61 (0)8 9334 1800
48
W: der.wa.gov.au
E: [email protected]
W: dpaw.wa.gov.au
E: [email protected]
Water Corporation
629 Newcastle Street
Leederville 6007
Western Australian
Local Government
Association (WALGA)
Level 1 170 Railway
W: walga.asn.au
Parade
+61 (0)8 9213 2000
E: [email protected]
West Leederville 6007
WorkSafe
Mason Bird Building
Level 1
1300 307 877
303 Sevenoaks Street
Cannington 6107
Catchment
Councils
Address
+61 (0)8 9423 7722
Phone
W: watercorporation.
com.au
W: commerce.wa.gov.au/
WorkSafe
E: safety@commerce.
wa.gov.au
Website
Wheatbelt NRM
269 Fitzgerald Street
Northam 6401
W: wheatbeltnrm.org.au
+61 (0)8 9670 3100 E: info@wheatbeltnrm.
org.au
Northern Agricultural
Catchment Council
(NACC)
201 Lester Avenue
Geraldton 6530
+61 (0)8 9938 0100 W: nacc.com.au
Peel-Harvey
Catchment Council
(PHCC)
58 Sutton Street
Mandurah 6210
W: peel-harvey.org.au
+61 (0)8 6369 8800 E: admin@peel-harvey.
org.au
Perth Region NRM
80 Great Northern
Highway
Middle Swan 6056
W: perthregionnrm.com
+61 (0)8 9374 3333 E: enquiries@
perthregionnrm.com
South West
Catchments Council
(SWCC)
PO Box 5066
Bunbury 6231
W: swccnrm.org.au
+61 (0)8 9780 6193 E: [email protected].
au
Warren Catchments
Council (WCC)
52 Bath Street
Manjimup 6258
+61 (0)8 9771 8180
W: warrencc.org.au
E: [email protected]
49
Contact details
Telephone: +61 (0)8 9780 6100
Email: [email protected]
Facebook: facebook.com/DAFWAsmalllandholders
Website: agric.wa.gov.au/slis