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Environmental Management in Viticulture - Langhorne Creek
Climate |
Irrigation Management |
Environmental Strategies
A three-year Environmental Management System (EMS) trial to introduce environmental stewardship into irrigated viticulture at Langhorne Creek was established in 2002. The project is funded by the Murray Darling Basin Commission (MDBC) under the Watermark programme and builds on the Angas Bremer Code of Practice for Irrigators. The project is sponsored by the Angas Bremer Water Management Committee (ABWMC) and Langhorne Creek Wine Grapegrowers Association (LCWGA).
Objectives
- To develop voluntary, user friendly and flexible environmental systems that can be applied to continuously improve environmental management in the basin.
- To develop linkages between catchment scale targets and on farm practices.
- To test whether creating a recognised approach to environmental stewardship and raising standards of vineyard based environmental management is a cost effective way to achieve environmental outcomes.
Steering Committee
The project Steering Committee has broad representation from growers, catchment groups, government, and industry and includes representatives from MDBC, ABWMC, LCWGA, PIRSA, DLWBC, MDCWMB, CRCV, SAWIA, and URS as Project Manager.
Participants
20 vineyard properties are involved in the trial representing the major portion of planted vineyards in Langhorne Creek. 26 people individually participate in project activities.
Activities
- Carried out a participant baseline environmental survey
- Developed local environmental standards (as Environmental Best Management Practices -BMPs) from environmental risk assessment of the district.
- Assembled resources and developed programmes to carry out individual property EMS.
- Provide assistance for the development of individual property EMS using the CRCV developed VERA tool for risk assessment and planning. (The continuous improvement system of Planning, Implementation, Monitoring and Review is used, with logical steps against a broad ISO14001 framework. Environmental issues are addressed using the district environmental BMPs).
- Provide support for other regional EMS viticulture projects
- Lobbied for and participate in the development of a framework for a wine industry EMS
- Provide resources and processes for other district environmental issues including irrigation by flood diversion to assist in the maintenance and enhancement of the biodiversity of the Redgum swamps, and for aquifer storage and recovery.
Monitoring and Measuring
Under the trial, monitoring is being developed with property and catchment Key Performance Indicators to provide relevant information to meet trial objectives.
The Future
It is envisaged that the processes commenced will become the ongoing EMS system for all of the region and will meet wine industry and market requirements plus provide for catchment objectives.
Publications
- K.L. Muller. A Partnership Approach to Environmental Stewardship in Langhorne Creek, SA. Presented at the Presented at the Second National Wine Industry Environment Conference & Exhibition Adelaide, South Australia 25-26 November 2002 [Download 247 Kb PDF file]
- Environmental Management in Viticulture at Langhorne Creek. Poster presented by RG Trezona, K Muller and LJ Jaensch [307 Kb PDF file].
Awards
- 2004 Alexandrina Council Environment Awards — Industrial Initiative — Langhorne Creek Environmental Options Trial.
Contact
Project Officer, Rick Trezona, phone 08 85363791, email rstrezona@hotkey.net.au
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