The Sensitive Sites Map 2016
The Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia (DAFWA) publishes a sensitive sites map each year to help locate sensitive commercial agricultural production systems, within WA’s agricultural regions.
A sensitive site is a property whose owner and DAFWA believe may be sensitive to impact from activities on nearby land. Examples of sensitive sites includes properties that are certified organic, certified biodynamic, aquaculture, horticulture, certified bee hives, viticulture and tree nurseries.
The 2016 sensitive sites map can be accessed from the DAFWA website - agric.wa.gov.au/sensitivesites.
Grapevines are particularly sensitive to off-target spray drift damage and smoke taint during sensitive growth stages. The resulting wine may contain smoke-related aromas and flavours. Smoke could arise from sources such as bushfires and controlled burns. There is scientific evidence that fruit from smoke-exposed vines can contain lower sugar than fruit from unsmoked vines. Exposure to smoke may also delay ripening of fruit.
Eucalyptus taint in wine from adjoining blue gum plantations, and pest and disease from neglected vineyards also pose a risk to viticulture properties.
The sensitive sites map can assist all growers and producers prepare risk assessment and risk mitigation plans for their ongoing production activities which take into account sensitive agricultural production systems, such as the viticulture industry.
Towards the end of each year, DAFWA invites commercial agricultural enterprises to register their interest in being included in the next year’s sensitive sites map. DAFWA may ask applicants for supporting documentary evidence, and may decline any application which fails to meet the guidelines.
For the 2016 map there was a 7% cent increase in the number of sensitive commercial properties registered – now totalling 288. Of these 123 are viticulture, 66 organic, 35 aquaculture, 25 bee hives, 26 biodynamic, 10 horticulture and 3 tree nurseries.
DAFWA will open registrations for the 2017 map sometime after November this year. If interested in registering, applicants can email sensitivesites@agric.wa.gov.au at any time.
Modika Perera – Department of Agriculture and Food WA (DAFWA)