Across the Outback
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ACROSS THE OUTBACK Number 43 May 2009 Produced for Outback SA Feral Goat Program Kicks Off Arid Lands Muster a rural living expo ustralian and State Government funding is being applied to assist Alandholders remove feral goats from the rangelands of South Australia. The To support our community, SA Arid Lands NRM Board is one of three NRM Boards involved in this program, the Arid Lands Muster expo is assisted by the Department of Water, Land and Biodiversity Conservation, Department for Environment and Heritage and Rural Solutions SA. your opportunity to do a bit of socialising as well as hear industry The number of feral goats present in the rangelands of SA is increasing, having already reached levels where the damage caused is unacceptable. leaders talk on some of the big A population of 380,000 feral goats is estimated to represent a 15 percent issues of our region. The SAAL increase from the same time last year. The project will begin in May and will NRM Board is hosting the Arid assist participating landholders to implement a range of removal methods Lands Muster on 19-20 June at designed to reduce numbers to low levels. Landholders will benefit from a the Cooinda Club, Port Augusta. coordinated approach enabled by the project. (continued on page 7...) For more information see the flier in this issue, or contact the Board National Youth Week Celebrations on (08) 8648 5977. In March and April, five outback centres in South Australia staged community events for National Youth Week (NYW). The Outback Areas Community Development Trust in conjunction with the Office for Youth supported Leigh Fencing and Exotic Creek , Penong and Andamooka in running a series of fun events for young people. The Trust also supported NYW events in Marree and Woomera. Breeds of Sheep (continued on page 5...) As discussed in January, the Pastoral Board has received a number of complaints from lessees regarding exotic breeds of sheep breaching boundary fences and straying into their paddocks. In response to this and the increasing number of lessees running exotic breeds the Pastoral Board adopted a new fencing policy at its meeting on 2 April 2009. While the policy applies to all livestock, it is particularly relevant to the containment of exotic breeds of sheep. (continued on page 2...) A photograph competition was held in Leigh Creek to showcase local talent Across the Outback is published every second month for the Outback SA Government and Community Alliances. It is currently jointly funded by the Department of Water, Land and Biodiversity Conservation (on behalf of the Pastoral Board); Primary Industry and Resources at Port Augusta; the SA Arid Lands Natural Resources Management Board; the Department for Transport, Energy and Infrastructure; and the Outback Areas Community Development Trust. This paper is prepared and edited by Jenny Barker (SAAL NRM Board). Comments and suggestions are always welcome. Please contact [email protected] or 08 8463 3354 Pastoral Board Pastoral Board and Program Contacts: The Pastoral Board of SA Prescott Building, Entry 5, Waite Campus Waite Road, Urrbrae SA (GPO Box 2834, Adelaide SA 5001) Changes to the Pastoral Program General Enquiries: and staff Phone - (08) 8303 9751 Fax - (08) 8303 9320 There have been some changes to the Pastoral Program and staff as a Freecall - 1800 678 447 result of a restructure of the Department of Water, Land and Biodiversity Specific contacts in Adelaide and Port Augusta: Conservation (DWLBC). One of the outcomes of the restructure has Presiding Member: been the merging of the land management functions within DWLBC Michael McBride - 0427 087 966 under a Land Management Unit. This unit brings together the Pastoral Program Manager: Program and the Agricultural Land Management Program. The new Glenn Gale - (08) 8303 9345 land Management Unit will offer a critical mass of staff and resources Pastoral Board matters: to drive forward land management activities across both pastoral and Glenn Gale - (08) 8303 9345 agricultural areas of the state. The Pastoral Program will retain its own Public Access to pastoral lands: identity within the Land Management Unit, and staff in the program will David Oag - (08) 8648 5174 continue to provide support to Pastoral lessees and the Pastoral Board. Public Lease Assessments: Craig Baulderstone (08) 8303 9752 Through the new structure the Pastoral Program will be supported with delivery of services from within a Management Unit. Glenn was at Jamestown, which included larger group. previously the manager of the some work in the rangelands. Agricultural Land Management The restructure has also resulted Program. Glenn brings a high level David Leek, the former manager in a change of staff with Mr Glenn of skill and experience to this role, of the Pastoral Program, is now the Gale being been appointed as with a 25 year career in managing Manager of the Natural Resources the manager of the new Land programs and projects focussed Management Partnerships Unit on sustainable land management formed through the restructure. in collaboration with industry, David’s involvement with the region research and community-based will continue as his new role involves organisations. For much of the last strengthening the partnerships 10 years Glenn has been based between DWLBC and the boards at the Waite campus managing and organisations it works with on state-level programs. Prior to that sustainable management of natural he worked from several regional resources, including the Pastoral locations and began his career Board and the Natural Resources working on soil conservation projects Management Boards. with the Department of Agriculture Glenn Gale Fencing and Exotic Breeds of Sheep (...continued from page 1) The Board acknowledges that merino sheep can sometimes breach boundary fences, but in most instances this does not result in significant financial losses to the neighbour. The exotic dorper and damara breeds of sheep appear to have less respect for the standard “merino” type fences and as such can breach boundary fences more frequently and in greater numbers. Where breaches occur there is the potential for significant economic loss to the neighbouring lessee through wool contamination and loss of breeding integrity. The policy adopted by the Pastoral Board is that “landholders should be responsible for their livestock and not cause unreasonable economic loss to their neighbours. The cost of a standard type fence should be equally shared between neighbours and the cost of additional upgrades be borne by the landholder that requires a 2 3 Pastoral Board higher-grade fence”. For example, lessees carrying damaras or dorpers Outback Calendar: are responsible for any upgrade Get Back 2 Tarcoola Weekend June 6 required to contain these sheep. Marree Picnic Races and Gymkhana June 6 Lessees are also reminded of their Arid Lands Muster: A Rural Living Expo June 19-20 obligation under the Pastoral Land Oodnadatta Bronco Branding and Campdraft July 11 Management and Conservation Marree Camel Cup July 4 Act 1989 to maintain existing fencing in a stockproof condition. If your event or meeting date has been set, let us know. (Remember, Across the Outback The Board is also considering other is published bi-monthly so the next issue will be in July. Please email any additions to issues regarding exotic breeds of [email protected]) sheep. For example, these breeds appear to have a broader range of Pastoral Program in Adelaide or coverage from a regional to a diet and are very efficient foragers from our Port Augusta office. national scale. As is often the case, and so the dry sheep equivalent for it is not based on a consensus of exotic breeds could be higher than Rangelands 2008 - expert opinion or literature reviews, that for merino sheep. For further Taking the Pulse which often lack relevance to the information please contact Senior entire rangelands. Pastoral Inspector, Chris Turner, on toll Craig Baulderstone The themes of the report are climate free 1800 678 447 or (08) 8303 9755. Extreme climatic variability in the variability, landscape function, rangelands makes it difficult to sustainable management, total separate change resulting from New 4WD Tracks & grazing pressure, biodiversity, seasonal climate variation, from management of water resources Repeater Towers that driven by human activities. and socioeconomics. Brochure Australian Collaborative Rangeland To download a copy go to A new edition of the brochure “4WD Information System (ACRIS) is a http://www.environment.gov. Tracks & Repeater Towers” has partnership between Australian au/land/rangelands/acris/index. been produced. In its sixth year of Government organisations and html or you may order a summary publication, the brochure includes agencies in SA, WA, QLD, NT, and booklet that includes a full copy details of the newest operators to NSW are responsible for resource of the report on CD. Look for the open their properties to four-wheel management and biodiversity link to supporting publications. In a drive enthusiasts, as well as tracks, conservation. The role of the future edition of ATO, I will attempt camp spots and accommodation agencies is to collect and interpret to summarise some of the findings of options in rugged areas of SA. It also rangeland data and make this pioneering report. includes a map identifying Public them available to ACRIS. ACRIS facilitates data collation and Access Routes and repeater towers Maintenance for Citizens’ Band (CB) radio users. documentation for reporting on regional and national changes in of Public The brochure is a joint initiative the rangelands. Access Routes between Flinders Ranges and “Rangelands 2008 - Taking the Regular readers will be aware that Outback SA Tourism, Eyre Peninsula pulse” has been produced by ACRIS the Pastoral Board is responsible Tourism, Outback Areas Community to bring together comparative data for the management of the Public Development Trust and Department on conditions across the rangelands Access Route (PAR) network in of Water, Land and Biodiversity for the reporting period of 1992 to South Australia.