Elmore Leading Senior Constable Shane Bourke said police had received several complaints about cattle trucks stopping along the Northern Hwy near Runnymede Reserve and emptying effluent from their holding tanks.
Modern cattle trucks are fitted with onboard tanks to collect animal waste during transport, but those tanks fill up over time and must be emptied at a suitable location.
Senior Constable Bourke said drivers should take care when choosing where to discharge the waste, particularly near waterways.
He said the creek running alongside the Northern Hwy drained directly into the Campaspe River, meaning any effluent tipped nearby could flow straight into a key local waterway.
The waste could also create serious problems for local farmers if it found its way into dams used to water their livestock.
“If all the effluent gets into their dam, well it’s going to contaminate it as well,” Senior Constable Bourke said.
Senior Constable Bourke stressed the warning was not intended as criticism of livestock truck drivers, saying they generally did an excellent job transporting cattle, sheep and pigs.
“They do a great job,” he said.
“It’s just a reminder. Just be a bit more cautious where you dump your effluent tanks.”
He said the problem also pointed to a wider gap in infrastructure, with no designated facilities available for livestock transporters to legally and safely empty their tanks.
“There’s nothing ever been put in place for cattle trucks to be able to dump their tanks,” he said.
Senior Constable Bourke said the issue deserved serious attention, suggesting with the right infrastructure, the waste could be collected and repurposed rather than dumped alongside roads or near waterways.
The concerns were raised with police by residents, prompting Senior Constable Bourke to use the Police Beat to remind drivers to consider their surroundings before emptying their tanks.
