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Environmental Management Systems in the Yarra Valley - a case study on integration with quality assurance and integrated catchment management

by Jane Fisher,

Edited by Alison Medhurst

February 2005

RIRDC Publication No 05/028   RIRDC Project No DAV-186A

Executive Summary
The objective of this project was to develop and test a regional environmental management system (EMS) model for the Yarra Valley region in Victoria. An Environmental Management System (EMS) is defined as “a systematic and methodical approach to planning, implementing and reviewing an organisation’s efforts to manage its environmental risks and impacts” (DNRE, 2001) while providing opportunities for improved business performance (AFFA, 2002). An EMS gives a management framework based on a simple “plan, do, check, act” cycle that achieves continuous improvement. The project aimed to develop a prototype or model for linking farm QA and BMP’s to a regional EMS using consultative and negotiated methods.

A number of issues made the Yarra Valley an ideal place to pilot the concept of a regional EMS.

These issues include conflict on the urban rural fringe about traditional production methods and concerns about contributions to the level of pollution in the Yarra River and ultimately Port Phillip Bay. A regional EMS is seen as an important tool for growers to demonstrate to consumers that food grown in the Yarra Valley is produced in an environmentally responsible manner.

The model developed for development of a regional EMS consisted of the following steps:
 

• Stakeholder engagement – across horticultural and agricultural industries in the Yarra Valley, at a local, regional and national level;
• Deciding which EMS structure to follow of the several processes available;
• Development of tools for use in the process: regional environmental best practices and a regional self-assessment questionnaire;
• Development and delivery of training workshops;
• Implementation of tools, development and implementation of action plans by individual growers.


Participatory processes were used throughout the project to engage with stakeholders in identifying environmental issues and developing the tools to enable industry to adopt the regional EMS. This approach resulted in a high level of ownership and advocacy for the project by the participants. The primary outputs of the project were the production of Regional Environmental Best Management Practices for Viticulture in the Yarra Valley and a Self-Assessment Questionnaire.

As a result of this project and the ownership and support of the Yarra Valley wine grape growers, two grower-sourced funding opportunities (a GWRDC Regional Innovation and Technology Adoption grant and a Greater Victorian Wine Industry Development Committee grant) have been obtained to continue the implementation phase of the Yarra Valley EMS in viticulture.

 


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Last updated: 14 February 2005
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