Ridgewood_12-002_PrelimOMP_110913

                                                                   MWA Environmental




       A disinfection process may also be undertaken between batches.

       Litter can be replaced either completely at the end of each batch or partially
       reused (wet and heavily loaded litter removed and some litter reused).
       Typically, litter moisture content and odour emissions are more readily
       managed if fresh litter is used each batch but ultimately this is a function of
       the management of the farm. If part of the litter is to be reused for the
       following batch then it is usually piled within the shed until the
       commencement of preparation for the arrival of new birds.

       The volume of litter potentially generated by a full clean-out has been
       calculated as follows for the purpose of designing the stockpile areas:

                  •    75mm depth of litter within the 8 sheds (conservative
                       assumption)
                  •    full litter replacement of all sheds at the end of each batch
                       (conservative assumption)
                  •    total floor area of 8 sheds 13,695m2
                      
 Total litter volume of 1027m3 per batch2


       Poultry farms without the capacity to reuse spent litter on-site export the
       material from site as a waste product for application on pastures and/or
       composting by an external company. The litter would be collected by an
       approved regulated waste transport company and delivered to the off-site
       location for application or processing. The Hayes Traffic Engineering report
       notes that this litter export process can generate up to 5 additional truck and
       dog trips per day.

       Litter is typically removed from the shed using a bobcat or small tractor.

       Shed cleanout is typically undertaken during daylight hours.

       A component of the proposed development is to reuse the spent litter on-
       site as a fertiliser for the avocado orchard to largely replace the use of
       imported fertilisers. For this purpose, the spent litter will be removed from
       the sheds by bobcat, tractor and/or loader and transferred to truck to be
       stockpiled at either of the two bunded stockpile areas. Further details are
       provided in Section 3.1.7 below.

       In the event that litter cannot be stockpiled on the site at the end of a batch
       then, as regularly occurs at poultry farms without the capacity to reuse the
       material on-site, it may be removed from the site as waste.




2 0.075 x 13695 = 1027m3



Ridgewood 12-002                           10                      11 September 2013