Farmers will no longer need EPA licences when using 5000 or more tyres to weigh down silage.
After more than than two years of consultation between Dairy Australia, the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Environment (DELWP), the EPA and the VFF, the move will see the need for EPA licenses scrapped in favour of a registration system.
VFF President Emma Germano said the compromise “is a step in the right direction towards simplifying the process for farmers and avoiding costly and time-consuming red-tape.”
“It was an absolute headache for farmers to obtain a license or face eye-watering fines. The move to compromise and introduce a registration system is a workable solution,” Ms Germano said.
VFF United Dairyfarmers of Victoria President Mark Billing said the decision is welcome news for dairy farmers throughout the State.
“Farmers helped provide invaluable information that was used to design these new regulations. We believe this move will streamline compliance and remove the need for a license.”
“It’s certainly a better outcome than the current licensing system and will benefit farmers who are storing large quantities of silage,” Mr Billing said.
The VFF thanks DELWP and EPA for the open and consultative process undertaken and looks forward to the new regulations being gazetted in the near future.
The VFF will continue working with all stakeholders to provide clear industry guidance to farmers prior to registration requirement being introduced on 1 July 2023.