Grazing Lands Regional NRM Assessment | 2015 1 Prepared by: NRM Planning @ Northern Gulf Resource Management Group Ltd Lead authors: Dr Gabriel Crowley & Natalie Waller Contributors: Sarah Rizvi, Prof Alan Dale, Peter Alden, Dr Paul Williams Reviewers & advisors: DrCarly Starr, Eric Vanderduys, Justin Perry, John Winter, Keith McDonald, Michael Anthony, Noel Preece, Rupert Russell, Niilo Gobius, Keith McDonald, Brynn Matthews, Bernie English, Joe Rolfe, Amanda Stones, Andrew Taylor, Joe Lockyer, John Colless, Mike Digby, Ricky Archer, Dr Jose Alvarez Romero Design work: Federico Vanni & Clare Powell Photography: Federico Vanni & Michael Anthony This project is supported by the Northern Gulf Resource Management Group Ltd through funding from the Australian Government Grazing Lands Regional NRM Assessment | 2015 2 CONTENTS 1.INTRODUCTION 6 1.1 THE NORTHERN GULF GRAZING LANDS REGION 6 1.2 DEMOGRAPHICS 10 1.3 SOCIAL ASSESSMENT 11 1.3.1 INCOME 11 1.3.2 EMPLOYMENT 11 1.3.3 HEALTH AND WELLBEING 12 1.3.4 EDUCATION 13 1.3.5 HOUSING 13 1.3.6 SOCIAL SERVICES 13 1.4 INDIGENOUS CULTURAL VALUES 14 1.4.1 INDIGENOUS PEOPLE AND NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT - THE NATIONAL CONTEXT 14 1.4.2 INDIGENOUS PASTORALISM 15 1.4.3 NATIVE TITLE 15 1.4.4 TRADITIONAL OWNER ENGAGEMENT IN THE NORTHERN GULF REGION 16 1.5 ENGAGEMENT OUTCOMES 28 1.5.1 COMMUNITY PRIORITIES 29 1.5.2 GRAZING LANDS NRM DILEMMAS WORKSHOP 31 1.5.3 GILBERT CATCHMENT RIVER CATCHMENT LANDHOLDER SURVEY 35 1.5.4 COMMUNITY SURVEY - GRAZING LANDS 35 1.6 COMMUNITY RESILIENCE TO CLIMATE CHANGE 37 1.6.1 ADAPTATION 39 1.6.2 CLIMATE AND SEASONAL CONDITIONS 42 2. DRIVERS AND BARRIERS 43 2.1 REGIONAL DRIVERS 43 2.1.1 THE NORTHERN GULF CATTLE INDUSTRY 43 2.1.2 CATTLE ENTERPRISES 46 2.1.3 PROFITABILITY 46 2.1.4 DIVERSIFICATION 49 2.1.5 FORAGE CROPS 49 2.1.6 IRRIGATED AGRICULTURE 50 2.2 BARRIERS TO INDUSTRY VIABILITY 51 2.2.1 SUPPLY CHAIN 51 2.2.2 SALE YARDS 51 2.2.3 MEAT WORKS 51 2.2.4 FREIGHT 52 2.2.5 HERD PERFORMANCE AND MARKET ACCESS 53 2.3 DRIVERS OF INDUSTRY GROWTH 53 2.3.1 DEMAND 53 2.4 DRIVERS OF PRACTICE CHANGE 54 2.5 LEGISLATIVE DRIVERS 57 2.5.1 TENURE 57 2.5.2 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 57 2.5.3 PASTORAL LEASE CONDITIONS 58 2.5.4 LAND CLEARING 58 2.5.5 LABOUR 59 Grazing Lands Regional NRM Assessment | 2015 3 2.6 POLICY DRIVERS 60 2.6.1 BEEF INDUSTRY ACTION PLAN 2014-2016 60 2.7 FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS 62 3. THE GRAZING LANDS CONSERVATION ECONOMY 62 3.1 DRIVERS OF THE CONSERVATION ECONOMY 62 3.2 INSTRUMENTS OF THE CONSERVATION ECONOMY 64 3.2.1 MARKET AND POLICY ESSENTIALS 65 3.2.2 PRIORITISATION OF CONSERVATION INVESTMENT 66 3.3.3 BIODIVERSITY AND CULTURAL HERITAGE 66 3.3.4 BIOSECURITY SURVEILLANCE 71 3.3.5 WEED AND PEST ANIMAL CONTROL 72 3.3.6 CARBON 72 3.3.7 SAVANNA BURNING 74 3.3.8 REDUCING METHANE EMISSIONS FROM BEEF CATTLE 75 3.3.9 INCREASING SOIL CARBON 76 3.3.10 GRAZING LAND STEWARDSHIP 79 3.3.11 SYNTHESIS 79 3.4 CONSERVATION ECONOMY OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE MONSOONAL NORTH 79 3.4.1 AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT FUNDING PROGRAMS 81 3.4.2 INDIGENOUS PROTECTED AREAS 83 3.4.3 WORKING ON COUNTRY 84 3.4.4. INDIGENOUS CARBON FARMING FUND 85 3.4.5 INDIGENOUS ADVANCEMENT STRATEGY 85 3.4.6 NATIONAL LANDCARE PROGRAMME, 20 MILLION TREES AND GREEN ARMY 86 3.5 NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT IN QUEENSLAND 87 3.5.1 DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND HERITAGE PROTECTION 87 3.5.2 INDIGENOUS CULTURAL AND NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT 89 3.5.3 NATURE REFUGES AND NATUREASSIST 90 3.5.4 DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES 92 3.5.5 SUSTAINABILITY LOANS 92 3.6 ENVIRONMENTAL OFFSET PROGRAMS 93 3.7 CARBON ECONOMY 96 3.7.1 FIRE MANAGEMENT TO ABATE NITROUS OXIDE AND METHANE 97 3.7.2 ADJUSTING CATTLE DIETS TO REDUCE METHANE EMISSIONS 99 3.7.3 IMPROVING HERD GENETICS AND MANAGEMENT TO REDUCE METHANE EMISSIONS 99 3.7.4 MANAGED REGROWTH 101 3.8 ECOTOURISM 103 3.9 NON-GOVERNMENT ORGANISATIONS 104 3.10 INDIGENOUS NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT 105 3.10.1 RANGER PROGRAMS AND PROTECTED AREA MANAGEMENT 105 3.10.2 INDIGENOUS CARBON PROJECTS 106 3.10.3 SUSTAINABLE USE OF WILDLIFE 107 3.10.4 BIOSECURITY SURVEILLANCE 108 3.11 SUSTAINABLE GRAZING 109 3.11.1 GRAZING LAND STEWARDSHIP 109 3.11.2 CARBON ECONOMY 110 3.11.3 BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED. 3.11.4 FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE 110 3.11.5 MARKET ACCESS AND ACCREDITATION 112 3.11.6 EXTENSION AND ADOPTION 115 Grazing Lands Regional NRM Assessment | 2015 4 3.12 CONCLUSIONS 115 4. GRAZING LANDS NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PLAN 116 4.1 LAND SURVEY 116 4.1.1 ASSETS 116 4.1.2 THREATS 123 4.2 FLORA ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED. 4.2.1 ASSETS ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED. 4.2.2 THREATS TO FLORA 142 4.3.2 THREATS TO FAUNA 163 APPENDIX 1: AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL AND STATE/TERRITORY-LEVEL CONSERVATION PRIORITISATION SYSTEMS 172 APPENDIX 2: HIGHEST PRIORITY WEEDS ON THE GRAZING LANDS AND THEIR PREDICTED RESPONSE TO CLIMATE CHANGE PREDICTIONS 178 Grazing Lands Regional NRM Assessment | 2015 5 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1 THE NORTHERN GULF GRAZING LANDS REGION Cattle grazing properties have existed in the Northern Gulf for more than a century and have played a significant part in the region's history and development. There are approximately 160 grazing properties, covering an area of roughly 17m ha. These enterprises rely principally on native pastures to turn off about 200,000 cattle per year. The communities of Northern Gulf grazing lands include: The Etheridge Shire, which covers an area of 39,323 square kilometres and has existed as a local government entity since 1882. The Shire’s population is 909, with 567 rateable properties. The shire is dominated by large broad hectare pastoral leases, which comprise of a combined estimated agricultural production value of $43.7m pa (Etheridge Shire Council, 2014). Etheridge includes the four small townships of: 1. Georgetown. The Gulf Developmental Road passes through the town, linking Cairns - 412 km to the east - and Normanton - 301 km to the west. Georgetown is the administrative centre of the Etheridge Shire Council. At the 2006 census, Georgetown had a population of 254. Georgetown is situated on the Etheridge River, which was the site of a gold rush in the 1870s; the town was established on the site of the diggings. By 1900, grazing had replaced gold mining as the region's primary source of income, which continues to this day. 2. Mount Surprise is also located on the Gulf Developmental Road, 285 km west of Cairns. At the 2006 census, Mount Surprise and the surrounding area had a population of 162. While Mount Surprise is surrounded by grazing leases, the town economy benefits from tourism, with a weekly service from the passenger rail service, The Savannahlander, and close proximity to Undara Volcanic National Park and Forty Mile Scrub National Park, as well as nearby gem fossicking areas. 3. Forsayth, which is 415 km by road from Cairns. At the 2006 census, Forsayth had a population of 101. The town is the terminus of the Etheridge Railway. It is now serviced by a weekly, privately operated, tourist train, The Savannahlander. Forsayth is also very close to the tourist attraction of Cobbold Gorge, and is close to the site of a major prospective wind farm development. 4. Einasleigh is the smallest town in the Etheridge Shire, with a population of only 60. Einasleigh sits on the Eastern edge of the Newcastle Range, on the banks of the Copperfield River. The Croydon Shire, encompassing an area of 29,538 square kilometres, has a total Shire population of 312, most of which are located in the township of Croydon itself. The economy of the Shire remains based around the pastoral and services industries. Croydon was at the centre of the gold rush, and once boasted a population of around 7,000. With successful promotion its mining heritage, the tourism sector continues to grow with increasing numbers travelling the Savannah Way. Croydon's town water supply is from Lake Belmore, the largest freshwater impoundment in the Gulf region (Croydon Shire Council, 2015). A large part of Mareeba Shire falls within the Northern Gulf NRM region. Most of the populated areas have been included in the Northern Tablelands assessment (Mt Molloy, Julatten, Dimbulah, Mutchilba and Irvinebank/Watsonville). Mareeba Shire also includes a large area of remote, broad hectare grazing country which has been included in the Grazing Lands section for the purposes of the NRM Plan. This area includes the townships of Almaden, Chillagoe and Mt Carbine. Grazing Lands Regional NRM Assessment | 2015 6 1. Almaden is a small community located on the Burke Developmental road between Dimbulah and Chillagoe. It main landmark is the Railway Hotel and the rail station which is a stop on the weekly Gulf Savannahlander rail service. 2. Chillagoe was once a thriving mining town for a range of minerals, but is now reduced to a small zinc mine and some marble quarries. At the 2006 census, Chillagoe had a population of 227. Just out of town is the Chillagoe-Mungana Caves National Park containing limestone caves. There are between 600 and 1,000 caves in the Chillagoe-Mungana area. The caves, the spectacular karst landscape and the mining and smelting history are the main tourist attractions to the region.