Dairy Shed Water Licence Transition Program

Victorian dairy farmers can make sure water they use in the dairy shed is fully licensed under an amnesty period, running until 26 February 2010.

The Department of Sustainability and Environment is running the Dairy Shed Water Licence Transition Program to ensure the volume of water used in every dairy shed is fully licensed.

Dairy shed water includes water for washing yards, milking equipment, platforms and other plant.

Research shows medium-sized dairy farms can use 10 million litres of water or more in the dairy shed each year, yet many dairy farmers either have a licence for 2 to 4 million litres or do not hold a licence for this use.

DSE spokesperson, Patrick O’Halloran said the amnesty was a chance for farmers to make sure they’re operating by the book.

"With more than 5000 dairy farmers in the State, we need to make sure this commercial use of water is licensed and accounted for, as all commercial water uses need to be for sustainable resource management."

Find out more about the Dairy Shed Water...