Winter rain more than the average
Winter in the district may seem a bit drier than normal, but it isn’t.
The first two months of winter have produced 190.6 millimetres of rain at Warragul, 12 millimetres more than the average of the past 115 years.
July’s total of 106 millimetres was only the fourth time in the past 15 years when more than 100 millimetres was recorded for the month.
But overall, the year so far has had below average rainfall.
The 458.4 millimetres is 70 millimetres down on the average.
More than half of last month’s rain fell in the first nine days with the heaviest falls, on July 8 and 9, bringing 41.4 millimetres.
Mt Baw Baw yesterday reported variable skiing conditions on a 30-centimetre base of snow.
However, all 17 trails were open and six of the seven lifts operating.
The most recent snow at Mt Baw Baw was a sprinkling of one centimetre early last week but the forecast is for about six centimetres of snow to fall tomorrow.
A crackdown on dairy effluent being allowed to contaminate waterways has proven costly for a Neerim Junction farmer.
The Environment Protection Authority has fined the farmer $1903 and imposed several work orders to fix the problem.
EPA Gippsland manager Stephen Landsell said it was the sixth fine issued in the past year in the region.
Three farmers at Maffra and others at Boolarra and Winindoo in the Rosedale area have also been fined.
In addition, half of all dairy farms inspected in Gippsland last financial year were issued with pollution abatement notices to address risks and impacts from effluent management systems, he said.
Action against the Neerim Junction farm on Nayook-Powelltown Rd followed reports to the EPA by members of the public.
Mr Landsell said as well as the fine the farmer was ordered to stop dairy effluent polluting land or entering surface waters and to immediately repair a broken trafficable solids sump pump.
He is also required to install an effluent containment system by next January.
Mr Landsell said it was disappointing that experienced farmers were continuing to do the wrong thing.
“Effluent in waterways reduces water quality, disrupts the natural nutrient balance and can lead to excessive algae and reduced fish stocks”.
The potential to transfer disease was another reason the EPA takes the breaches so seriously, he added.
Compliance orders issued do not stipulate specific remedies to problems but allow farmers to choose a system or management plan that works best for them and their site.
The EPA and representatives from AgVic will be at the South Gippsland Dairy Expo next month to discuss compliance obligations.
Mr Landsell said they’d be happy to talk through any issues or concerns with farmers.