As part of our ongoing advocacy efforts, we’ve put your questions about the current avian influenza response and the waste disposal activity in Rutherglen to Agriculture Victoria.
Here are the responses:
Is the health of the Rutherglen community at risk?
Agriculture Victoria understands there is community concern regarding the use of the Rutherglen site for the disposal of biosecurity waste. We can assure community members that all material is being disposed of in accordance with strict controls.
In implementing the current bird flu response, Agriculture Victoria has assessed a range of environmental, human safety and disease prevention practices to ensure the safe disposal of biosecurity waste. The approach we are taking is aligned with national biosecurity management protocols and extensive and specialist expertise that we have developed over many years of biosecurity emergency response.
In Australia there is a low risk of people becoming infected with avian influenza viruses.
Why is the contaminated waste being transported to Rutherglen and not contained within the affected areas at Euroa?
While we prefer to dispose of biosecurity waste on the infected site, we could not do so in this case due to environmental considerations, such as shallow groundwater, and limited space at the impacted farms in Euroa. The farms were assessed to be unsuitable for the safe disposal of the biosecurity waste.
Following extensive consultation with the Environmental Protection Authority and GHD Waste Management consultants, the Agriculture Victoria Rutherglen farm was identified as the most suitable site for the safe disposal of this biosecurity waste.
I have seen the material being disposed at Rutherglen called biosecurity waste. What is that? What does that mean?
Biosecurity waste is the organic material being removed from the Euroa farms as a part of the bird flu response. It includes the humanely destroyed chickens, litter (i.e. poultry manure and nesting material from chicken sheds), eggs and chicken feed.
What exactly is the waste material?
The biosecurity waste is from the impacted commercial poultry properties in Euroa, and includes humanely destroyed chickens, litter (i.e. poultry manure and nesting material from chicken sheds), eggs and chicken feed. The chickens, eggs and feed material have been safely buried in deep pits on the Rutherglen site.
Litter material removed from the impacted commercial poultry properties in Euroa is now being transported to the Rutherglen farm where it is being composted. These activities have been authorised by the EPA and Agriculture Victoria will continue to monitor the Rutherglen farm in accordance with EPA requirements.
How can we have confidence in the process when we’ve been kept in the dark?
Agriculture Victoria acknowledges the importance of keeping the community informed about the bird flu response and activities on the Rutherglen farm and is committed to providing community updates as the response continues.
Agriculture Victoria is working with key stakeholders to ensure relevant information regarding the response is available through multiple information channels.
Community members are encouraged to regularly visit the Agriculture Victoria website or to call the customer service centre on 136 186 for up-to-date information.
Is there any risk to local wildlife/birdlife or livestock?
During a biosecurity emergency response, Agriculture Victoria undertakes extensive testing of wild birds and poultry to monitor for any spread of the virus. The current strain of bird flu has not been detected outside of the infected poultry farms near Euroa.
All impacted birds have been humanely destroyed and buried in deep pits and there is very minimal risk to the community, wildlife and local livestock, including backyard chickens and pet birds.
Is there any risk when trucks are being unloaded and is there evidence of airborne material/dust?
The unloading of biosecurity waste at the Rutherglen farm poses very minimal risk and is being undertaken in accordance with nationally agreed protocols for the disposal of these materials, and in accordance with authorisation from the EPA.
Strict practices to reduce biosecurity risk, such as wind monitoring, vehicle and equipment wash down, and watering down of dry matter, are in place at the Rutherglen farm. Security and traffic management are in place to prevent unauthorised access and to ensure safety given increased traffic movements in the area.
Are the trucks decontaminated once they leave Rutherglen?
All trucks involved in the transportation of the biosecurity waste are fully sealed and decontaminated before they leave Euroa. This is to minimise the risk of leaks or spills during transportation. Once the trucks unload biosecurity waste at the Rutherglen farm, they are again cleaned and decontaminated before leaving the site.
Any other vehicles that enter the disposal area at the Rutherglen farm are decontaminated before leaving.
What role has Indigo Shire played?
Activities carried out as a part of the bird flu response including the disposal activities at the Rutherglen farm are conducted under emergency provisions of the Livestock Disease Control Act 1994. As these activities are exempt from requiring council permits, Indigo Shire was not involved in the planning or approval process.
Going forward, Agriculture Victoria is committed to working with Indigo Shire Council in providing information on the response, including disposal activities at the Rutherglen farm, to the community.
What role does the Environment Protection Authority have in this process?
Agriculture Victoria has worked closely with the EPA and GHD Waste Management Group in identifying suitable sites for emergency animal disease waste disposal. In this case, the Agriculture Victoria Rutherglen farm was determined to be the most suitable site for the safe disposal of biosecurity waste.
The EPA has authorised the secure transportation of biosecurity waste to the Rutherglen farm and for its disposal, by deep burial and composting. Agriculture Victoria continues to work closely with the EPA to ensure all transportation and disposal activities meet EPA requirements.
How long do you expect to be using the Rutherglen facility for this disposal process?
Agriculture Victoria expects that the transportation of biosecurity waste to the Rutherglen farm will be completed by mid-April 2025.
The chickens, eggs and feed material have been safely buried in deep pits on the Rutherglen farm. Litter from the Euroa farms will be composted at Rutherglen farm. Compost is the result of natural decomposition which reduces the amount of waste going to landfill and produces a safe, organic by-product.
In line with EPA authorisation, Agriculture Victoria will monitor the site including undertaking soil and water testing.
Has the department notified properties surrounding the site and what advice has been given to local egg producers?
Agriculture Victoria has visited properties immediately neighbouring the Rutherglen farm to speak directly with landowners about the activities at the site.
A community drop-in session is being held in Rutherglen on 21 March and further information is available to the community members on the Agriculture Victoria website at: www.agriculture.vic.gov.au/avianflu. The website includes information for egg producers and backyard poultry owners.
Additional community drop-in sessions will be held over the coming weeks with dates and times to be provided. Up-to-date information is also available at https://agriculture.vic.gov.au/biosecurity/animal-diseases/poultry-diseases/avian-influenza-bird-flu/activity-at-agriculture-victorias-rutherglen-site