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ECONOMICS AND INDUSTRY STANDING COMMITTEE THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND CONSERVATION'S MANAGEMENT OF FORMER PASTORAL LEASES Report No. 4 in the 38th Parliament 2010 Published by the Legislative Assembly, Parliament of Western Australia, Perth, 19 August 2010. Printed by the Government Printer, State Law Publisher, Western Australia. Economics and Industry Standing Committee The Department of Environment and Conservation's Management of Former Pastoral Leases ISBN: 978-1-921355-91-2 (Series: Western Australia. Parliament. Legislative Assembly. Committees. Economics and Industry Standing Committee. Report No. 4) 328.365 99-0 Copies available from: State Law Publisher 10 William Street PERTH WA 6000 Telephone: (08) 9321 7688 Facsimile: (08) 9321 7536 Email: [email protected] Copies available on-line: www.parliament.wa.gov.au ECONOMICS AND INDUSTRY STANDING COMMITTEE THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND CONSERVATION'S MANAGEMENT OF FORMER PASTORAL LEASES Report No. 4 Presented by: Dr M.D. Nahan, MLA Laid on the Table of the Legislative Assembly on 19 August 2010 ECONOMICS AND INDUSTRY STANDING COMMITTEE COMMITTEE MEMBERS Chair Dr M.D. Nahan, MLA Member for Riverton Deputy Chair Mr W.J. Johnston, MLA Member for Cannington Members Mrs L.M. Harvey, MLA Member for Scarborough Mr M.P. Murray, MLA Member for Collie-Preston Mr J.E. McGrath, MLA Member for South Perth COMMITTEE STAFF Principal Research Officer Dr Loraine Abernethie, PhD (from 17 March 2010 until 27 May 2010) Mr Tim Hughes, BA (Hons) (from 27 May 2010) Research Officer Mrs Kristy Bryden, BCom, BA COMMITTEE ADDRESS Economics and Industry Standing Committee Legislative Assembly Tel: (08) 9222 7496 Parliament House Fax: (08) 9222 7804 Harvest Terrace Email: [email protected] PERTH WA 6000 Website: www.parliament.wa.gov.au/eisc - i - ECONOMICS AND INDUSTRY STANDING COMMITTEE TABLE OF CONTENTS COMMITTEE MEMBERS ................................................................................................................................ i COMMITTEE STAFF........................................................................................................................................ i COMMITTEE ADDRESS ................................................................................................................................. i COMMITTEE’S FUNCTIONS AND POWERS.............................................................................................. v INQUIRY TERMS OF REFERENCE ............................................................................................................ vii CHAIR’S FOREWORD................................................................................................................................... ix ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS ......................................................................................................... xi EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ............................................................................................................................ xiii FINDINGS..................................................................................................................................................... xvii RECOMMENDATIONS................................................................................................................................ xxi MINISTERIAL RESPONSE....................................................................................................................... xxvii CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 THE COMMITTEE................................................................................................................................ 1 1.2 BACKGROUND TO THE INQUIRY ................................................................................................... 1 1.3 INQUIRY PROCESS............................................................................................................................. 3 CHAPTER 2 DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND CONSERVATION’S ACQUISITION OF PASTORAL LEASES.................................................................................................................... 5 2.1 BACKGROUND.................................................................................................................................... 5 2.2 OBJECTIVES OF PASTORAL LEASE ACQUISITIONS................................................................... 6 2.3 METHOD OF ACQUISITION .............................................................................................................. 9 2.4 IMPACT OF ACQUISITION .............................................................................................................. 13 2.5 WORKING IN THE RANGELANDS................................................................................................. 19 CHAPTER 3 DEFINING PEST ANIMALS AND WEEDS ............................................................................ 21 CHAPTER 4 PASTORAL HERITAGE............................................................................................................ 25 CHAPTER 5 GOOD NEIGHBOUR POLICY AND NEIGHBOUR RELATIONS...................................... 27 5.1 RELATIONSHIPS WITH PASTORALISTS AND INDUSTRY PARTICIPANTS........................... 28 5.2 RELATIONSHIPS WITH TRADITIONAL OWNERS ...................................................................... 35 CHAPTER 6 MANAGEMENT OF PEST ANIMALS AND WEEDS............................................................ 39 6.1 LAND REGENERATION STRATEGIES........................................................................................... 39 (a) Destocking .......................................................................................................................... 39 (b) Water Source Removal ....................................................................................................... 40 (c) Fencing................................................................................................................................ 50 6.2 PEST ANIMAL MANAGEMENT ...................................................................................................... 53 (a) Pest Animal Control Programs............................................................................................ 53 (b) Pest Animal Control - Opportunities for Improved Management....................................... 61 6.3 PEST WEED CONTROL PROGRAMS.............................................................................................. 62 6.4 FUNDING FOR PEST ANIMAL AND WEED CONTROL PROGRAMS........................................ 64 CHAPTER 7 PASTORAL HERITAGE PROGRAMS.................................................................................... 67 CHAPTER 8 ECONOMIC POTENTIAL OF NON-PASTORAL USES OF LAND UNDER MANAGEMENT.......................................................................................................................... 75 (a) Tourism............................................................................................................................... 75 (b) Mining................................................................................................................................. 77 (c) Carbon Sequestration .......................................................................................................... 77 (d) Agriculture, Horticulture and Aquaculture ......................................................................... 78 (e) Other Suggestions ...............................................................................................................79 APPENDIX ONE ...................................................................................................................................................... 81 SUBMISSIONS RECEIVED .......................................................................................................................... 81 APPENDIX TWO..................................................................................................................................................... 85 HEARINGS..................................................................................................................................................... 85 APPENDIX THREE................................................................................................................................................. 87 BRIEFINGS HELD......................................................................................................................................... 87 - iii - ECONOMICS AND INDUSTRY STANDING COMMITTEE APPENDIX FOUR ....................................................................................................................................................91 LEGISLATION................................................................................................................................................91 ECONOMICS AND INDUSTRY STANDING COMMITTEE COMMITTEE’S FUNCTIONS AND POWERS The functions of the Committee are to review and report to the Assembly on: - (a) the outcomes and administration of the departments within the Committee’s portfolio responsibilities; (b) annual reports of government departments laid on the Table of the House; (c) the adequacy of legislation and regulations within its jurisdiction; and (d) any matters referred to it by the Assembly including a bill, motion, petition, vote or