ACROSS THE OUTBACKOCTOBER 2019 HEIDI WHO PHOTOGRAPHY WHO HEIDI Natural Resources SA Arid Lands | 01 From the Board On behalf of myself and the board members finishing their terms I would like to reflect on our time and say a few farewell words. Our time on the SA Arid Lands NRM Board One major Board responsibility is the Contents has been both rewarding and challenging. requirement to prepare a 10-year strategic The SAAL NRM region is one of the larger NRM plan for the region. 02 FROM THE BOARD NRM regions in Australia, covering more The SAAL Board recently released the 03 REGIONAL MANAGER UPDATE than 50% of South Australia. With a small second 10-year regional NRM plan. In population the SAAL region has a relatively preparing the plan the Board took an 04 NRM KIDS small levy base to reinvest in NRM over a entirely new approach focussing on 05 KANGAROO IMPACT STUDY IN huge area. As a result, the Board has always capturing the things most valued by our NORTH EAST been heavily reliant on our community community, incorporating them into an and other partners for their goodwill, adaptive management approach. In doing 05 COMMUNITY GRANTS AWARDED and stewardship to assist in achieving the so the Board consulted widely with the 06 RED MEAT PRODUCTION IN A Board’s goals. community and its stakeholders and we are CHANGING CLIMATE The NRM model has undergone major very proud of the final product, which will 07 PEST CONTROL SUCCESS changes over the years, through the provide the new Landscape Board with a integration of the NRM Boards with the useful framework to work from. 08 THREATENED PLANTS RECORDED Along with other Board successes the IN NEW LOCATIONS Department for Environment and Water, and now the introduction of the Landscapes Bill. introduction of the Community Grants 09 QUOLLS THRIVE DESPITE DRY Recognising the need to maintain Program to provide the community with CONDITIONS involvement with the community, one small grants to undertake NRM on ground 10 PLOTTING TO FIND NATIVE of our greatest successes has been the activities is high among them. The first ANIMALS revitalisation, retention and success of two rounds were over-subscribed, with the second round of small grants awarded in 11 GEOMORPHOLOGY: WHAT IT IS the six district NRM Groups. The Board AND HOW IT CAN BE APPLIED reinstated and has maintained funding June. Community grants will be an annual for group operations, staff support and feature of the incoming Landscapes Act, 14 BITEBACK NEWS activities. The groups are an accurate ensuring the Board’s program continues. 14 REALTIME RECORDS FOR WILD representation of the community with In closing I’d like to recognise the DOGS members from the Aboriginal community, government representatives who have 15 FIRST STEP FOR $25 MILLION DOG pastoral, mining and conservation sectors. been a part of our Board and assisted and FENCE REBUILD UNDERWAY Staff support and Group Project funds contributed to our Board at a level well remain a Board priority. A shout out above what was required. 16 FERAL HERBIVORE CULL IN MARLA OODNADATTA needs to go to those who have been, and I would also like to thank the long serving are, NRM Group members. providing an Board members who have recently finished 17 NURSERY TRIAL FOR CACTUS important two way conduit between the CONTROL their terms – Leonard Nutt, Catherine Board and the community. Hollingsworth, Ross Sawers, Rick Barratt, 18 ONLINE BIOSECURITY Wild dog control has long been a high Malcolm Pridham and Murray Tyler – as MANAGEMENT PROGRAM priority for the Board. Recently, we have well as current board members Mark 19 VOLUNTEERS CLOCK UP 17,000 been able to assign an appropriate level of Sutton, Jan Ferguson, Glenise Coulthard HOURS funding to support this program. There has and Ellen Litchfield. Their skills, knowledge, contribution and commitment are to be 20 FLOW CONTROL IN STOCK been much work done which will underpin WATERING SYSTEMS how wild dogs are controlled in South commended. I could not have taken on the Australia. Outside of directly funding wild role of chair of the SAAL Board without 22 SECRET ROCKS SHARES ITS their support. It is no small undertaking to SUCCESS dog control, the Board has worked tirelessly in progressing this issue whilst being take on the role of an NRM Board member 24 DESERT LADIES DAY SUCCESS mindful of the differing views around wild and it is going to be a difficult task to find dog control. individuals to fill their shoes. The Board has many statutory obligations Many thanks, Janet Brook under the NRM Act that would not be Presiding Member, SA Arid Lands NRM highly visible to the wider SAAL community. Board 02 | Natural Resources SA Arid Lands KAREN ENGLISH Regional Manager update Welcome to our next edition of Across the Outback. You may be aware the Board and its staff The investment of your levy into the are amid some significant reforms and regional landscape and its use to leverage DRAFT WAP SOON TO BE RELEASED transitions, so it is timely to update you other investment to support water on what this means for the region, the management, biosecurity needs, biodiversity Drafting of the new Water Allocation community and our valued partners in NRM. and conservation remain a priority. Plan (WAP) for the Far North Prescribed Wells Area (FNPWA) is in its The Landscape SA Bill has passed through We are working closely with many partners final stages and is expected to soon be the Legislative Council and some of to bring a range of initiatives, services, released for public consultation. the proposed amendments will now be supports and opportunities to the region. The SA Arid Lands NRM Board considered in the House of Assembly. Both You will read about some of them in this committed to the development of a houses of parliament will need to approve edition or hear about them in due course. new WAP after undertaking a review of the current plan as is required by the amendments before the next steps in As a community you will notice very few the Natural Resource Management bringing the new Act to life can occur. changes at the delivery end of the Board’s Act 2004. It agreed to develop a new In the meantime, with a hope that 2020 business. plan to reflect changes to legislation, emerging water demands, and sees the new legislation enacted, each We have some farewells from our Board of development of scientific findings. Board across SA has commenced with long standing members. These including The draft to be released for the potential transition processes towards our long term Presiding Member, Janet consultation will not change the operating under new administrative and Brook, along with Murray Tyler and Rick objectives of the WAP and will continue to protect the GAB Springs legislative arrangements. Barratt, two long serving and committed and maintain the rights of existing While the Boards continue to collaborate board members, whose terms all end in licences. at all levels with the regional structures and November. During the consultation phase, offices of the National Parks and Wildlife I would like to thank them for their all interested groups have the opportunity to comment on and Service, some adjustments have been made wonderful leadership, support and shape the final plan. The start of the for the NRM Boards. Personnel are now commitment to the staff and the region. consultation phase will be promoted supported by a Regional NRM Manager It has been a privilege to work with them via district Community Landscape throughout this period of transition and a and be a part of the vision they have for the Officers, letters posted to stakeholders in the FNPWA, on the SAAL website as level of separation in regional delivery in SA Arid Lands region and its unique and well as on its Facebook page. A copy response to the election promises of Boards WAPimportant values. of the draft WAP will be available to operating more autonomously. Enjoy this edition of Across the Outback download or view online. The Board staff continue to deliver the work and the update on how your levy and Board It is expected sessions will be held in the region throughout the of the Board, maintain the NRM Group have been working for you. consultation period at Coober Pedy, support and projects the Board is delivering Jodie Gregg-Smith Marree and in Adelaide, with dates as a part of the National Landcare Program Regional NRM Manager, SA Arid Lands and times to be advised. for the Australian Government. Natural Resources SA Arid Lands | 03 NRM kids KINGOONYA KIDS DAY Opportunities to get together The children also went on an don’t happen often in remote adventure through salt lakes areas, so when all of the and sandhills looking for district’s children turned out tracks with Clint Taylor on Bon for the Kingoonya Kids Day at Bon Reserve, a Bush Heritage North Well Station in July, the Australia property. BOUNCEBACK EXPERIENCE Kingoonya NRM Group was Thanks to hosts Lynly and Matt Hawker Area School students had a hands-on experience thrilled. Kerin and the families who in April, learning about the Bounceback program and the Sixteen children from across the travelled an average of 158km reintroduction of Western Quolls and possums at Ikara- Flinders Ranges National Park. Kingoonya and Gawler Ranges for their children to take part. They spent a morning with North Flinders Community districts were inspired with Landscape Officer Matt Westover walking along the invertebrates by Kris from Bugs Wilpena Creek looking for signs of rabbit and goat n Slugs and wowed with skulls, impacts, learning about the impact feral cats and foxes skins and a live python by the have on native species and how they are managed.