My Department, together with the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, has set up a technical working group to determine whether earth-lined stores, out-wintering pads and constructed wetlands should have a place in agricultural practice. The working group has taken expert advice from a variety of researchers and other sources and has been preparing detailed specifications and guidance documents for each of these systems. The specifications and guidance documents for the earth-lined stores, together with the group's recommendations, are expected shortly. Similar specifications and documents are being developed for constructed wetlands and a report is due when these have been finalised. A decision cannot be made in relation to out-wintering pads until the results of ongoing research into the environmental implications, operational details and construction requirements associated with the system become available.