Effluent Management

​​​​All dairy farm premises generate dairy effluent. It is important that this effluent is soundly managed and not ignored. Dairy Farmers, like all members of society, have a duty not to pollute the environment.

A Farm Dairy Premises Effluent Management Code of Practice (the Code) has been designed to ensure that dairy farm effluent is managed in a responsible manner which is unlikely to have a negative impact on the environment:

  Farm Dairy Premises Effluent Management Code of Practice   (544Kb)

​​This booklet is a useful resource for understanding Effluent Management on dairy farms, and who to call for assistance:

  Effluent Management Booklet   (1Mb)

The Effluent and Manure Management Database for the Australian Dairy Industry website  stores information that underpins guidelines for dairy effluent management. It includes advice for:
  • On-farm effluent designs
  • Principles for effective effluent management
  • Design criteria for components of effluent containment and reuse systems
  • Decision support systems and relevant tools

An Effluent Management Plan needs to be developed and implemented for farm dairy premises in Tasmania. The following elements should be considered when developing a Farm Dairy Premises Effluent Management Plan:
  • Statement of Intention
  • Property background and scale of enterprise
  • Statement of the farm’s current effluent system and management
  • Contributions to the effluent stream (water audit)
  • Environmental variable specific to the farm
  • Effluent system options and design specifications
  • Effluent system siting and integration
  • System management notes
  • Effluent conveyance and application notes
  • Nutrients (budgets and mapping)
  • Manure stockpile management (whole property)
  • OH&S requirements
  • Contingency measures

​​​The following list of service provider businesses have undertaken industry training and are able to offer farmers relevant services with respect to planning, design and management.



​Get t​​​he most out of effluent - Fert$m​art

Many farmers are now finding that when they get soil and fertiliser management ‘right’, they can produce more feed at no extra cost, and with careful planning fertiliser becomes a strategic tool to boost feed when it’s most needed. Fert$mart ​provides farmers and advisors with a planning approach and the know-how to achieve this.​

We highly recommend you visit the Fert$mart website​​.

​Get inspired - read their Tasman​ian case studies​.​

Dam Works Permit Guidelines

These Guidelines provide advice for obtaining a dam permit under the Water Management Act 1999.

Dam Works Permit Guidelines​




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