ON TRACK Delivering NRM in the SA Arid Lands 2010-11 ON TRACK Delivering natural resources management in the SA Arid Lands 2010-11 Protecting our land, plants and animals Understanding and securing our water resources Supporting our industries and communities 1 Welcome It is with great pleasure that I introduce this first edition of On Track. Having now completed the first year the achievements of former Presiding of delivery of the South Australian Arid Member Chris Reed, previous members Lands (SAAL) Regional Natural Resources of the Board, and General Manager John Management (NRM) Plan which sets the Gavin. Almost all of the activities you will direction for natural resources management read about here were initiated through their in the region to 2020, On Track is a report efforts and the current Board is building on to our community on the progress we made their endeavours. in 2010-11 on meeting the Plan’s targets. This year was also marked by the True to the SAAL NRM Board’s platform establishment of the new Department of and the spirit of natural resources Environment and Natural Resources in July management, On Track’s focus is on 2010 which brings together staff from the community. Outback office of the former Department We showcase the variety of projects and for Environment and Heritage and the staff activities where community members are of the SAAL NRM Board. working with the Board. This new integrated service will use a We share with you the experiences of landscape approach to manage natural some of the landholders and community resources across public and private land members involved with our programs and provide a single face for environment including Ecosystem Management and natural resources services in our Understanding™, Pest Management and region. Rangelands Rehabilitation, and our many This is a significant undertaking and, volunteer projects. with integration taking place behind the An Inland Bearded Dragon (Pogona vitticeps) Peter Pyman We show you how all landholders are scenes, the community will start to see the benefitting from our efforts to manage the benefits of a more coordinated approach region’s pest plants and animals, protect to the management of our region’s natural our threatened species, rehabilitate our resources. land, conserve our soils, and manage our Finally, on behalf of the Board and our water resources. dedicated staff, I thank our community, And we encourage you to get involved. volunteers, NRM Groups, Advisory Committees, funding bodies, and Indeed, On Track reveals that natural partner organisations for their efforts resources management really is about in contributing to the sustainable engaging people and working with them management of our region’s natural to improve their capacity to manage their resources and encourage you to continue backyard – and how critical it is to have to get involved with our various programs. your support to help deliver on the Plan. Enjoy the read! With all landholders in the SAAL NRM Region now paying a regional (land-based) NRM levy, the publication is also significant Janet Brook in keeping us accountable and we trust Presiding Member, that you will see that your contribution is SA Arid Lands being put to good use. Natural Resources With my first year as Presiding Member not Management Board yet complete, I would like to acknowledge An outback 4WD convoy Matt Turner 2 ON TRACK Delivering NRM in the SA Arid Lands 2010-11 Matt Turner Welcome Contents Welcome 2 Our region 4 Our Plan for the Region 5 Our land & biodiversity 6 Threatened fauna program 7 Woma Python survey 8 Kowari booklet and survey 9 Pest management programs 10 Biteback program for dingo control 11 Pest Management and Rangelands Rehabilitation 12 Ecosystem Management Understanding™ 13 Significant Environmental Benefit offsets 14 National Total Grazing Pressure workshop 15 Simpson Desert National Rangeland NRM Alliance 16 Dingo Research Project 17 Wedge Tailed Eagle (Aquila audax) Our activities 18 Our water 20 Allocating and maintaining GAB water 21 An assessment of the Neales River and Cooper Creek catchments 22 Neales River catchment native fish surveys 24 An Inland Bearded Dragon (Pogona vitticeps) Peter Pyman Reg Dodd GAB spring and waterhole management survey 25 Protecting rockholes in the Gawler Ranges 26 Flinders Ranges Mogurnda survey 27 Our community 28 Industry Partnerships Program 29 Aboriginal community projects 30 NRM Education 31 NRM Volunteers 32 NRM Communications 33 NRM Group activities 34 Our finances 36 Our performance 38 Our Board 40 An outback 4WD convoy Matt Turner Algebuckina Bridge 3 Our region Wilpena Pound, Flinders Ranges The South Australian Arid Lands (SAAL) Natural Resources Management (NRM) Region covers over half of South Australia and includes some of the driest parts of the State. It has the largest percentage of intact Tourism has also exploded in recent years natural resources management. Sheep and ecosystems and natural biodiversity in all as unprecedented numbers of people visit cattle are run extensively and rely on native of South Australia. The human population the region to enjoy the outback experience vegetation for feed. in this arid and semi-arid region is small including some of South Australia’s most Natural landscapes provide the basis – less than 2 per cent of the State – and environmentally significant conservation for the tourism industry, and water is a geographically dispersed. The largest reserves and National Parks, and its two critical resource supporting biodiversity, towns – Coober Pedy and Roxby Downs great inland water systems, the Lake Eyre communities and industries. Most water – are both associated with mining and are and the Great Artesian Basins. supplies in the region are sourced from the home to less than 5000 people, while the In this region more than any other, Great Artesian Basin, one of the world’s remaining scattered towns all have less communities and industries are intrinsically largest underground water reservoirs. than 1000 occupants. linked to the environment and to integrated There are 12 landholdings under Aboriginal management or co-management. The region’s environmental processes are determined by irregular rainfall and other episodic weather events that rarely follow predictable annual cycles. Vast tracts of the region – over 40,000,000 Marla hectares – are taken up by sheep and cattle stations and pastoralism remains Oodnadatta Marla - Oodnadatta the dominant land use. Although much Algebuckina Innamincka smaller in area occupied, the mining, gas Marree - Innamincka and petroleum industries have become Moomba increasingly significant land users. Anna Creek Coober Pedy Coward Springs Curdimurka Marree Kingoonya Arkaroola Village Andamooka Tarcoola Roxby Downs Leigh Creek Kingoonya Glendambo North Flinders Woomera Parachilna Hawker Gawler Ranges Legend North East Olary Waterways and Lakes Port Augusta Iron Knob Yunta National Parks and Reserves Iron Baron Whyalla Dog Fence 4 Our Plan ON TRACK for the Region Delivering NRM in the SA Arid Lands 2010-11 On Track presents an overview of activities delivered by the SAAL NRM Board during 2010-11. These activities contribute towards achieving the short and long-term targets contained in the SAAL Regional NRM Plan. The SAAL Regional NRM Plan is pivotal which includes an integrated framework to achieving better management of the of long- and short-term targets to achieve region’s natural assets. It outlines a range improvements in the condition of natural of programs to help protect ground resources in the region. This is reviewed and surface water; ensure sustainable every five years. industries; achieve best practice Volume 2 describes the three-year management of pastoral lands; conserve Business Plan that represents the SAAL natural ecosystems and biodiversity; and NRM Board’s contribution towards encourage community participation. The achieving the region’s vision and SAAL Regional NRM Plan is linked to both targets through the Board’s actions and the State NRM Plan and South Australia’s investments. The Business Plan identifies Strategic Plan, and provides direction, and expected sources of investment funds and outline priorities, for all partners who invest is reviewed annually. in the region. Collaboration is the key to effective delivery The SAAL Regional NRM Plan was of the SAAL Regional NRM Plan and the adopted by the Minister for Environment Board works closely with community and Conservation in August 2010. It groups, industry associations, government consists of two volumes: Volume 1 details agencies, and individuals. the state of the region assessment and the policy and regulatory framework. It also contains a 10-year Strategic Plan, Measuring performance of the SAAL Regional NRM Plan SAAL FIRST ANNUAL ON TRACK Regional Focus on SAAL NRM Board activities and overall progress towards MATs Contact the Board 8648 5977 for your NRM Plan copy of the SAAL Regional NRM Plan. adopted WE ARE HERE (end of year 1) 2010 2012 2015 2020 2030 ANNUAL ACTIVITIES Outputs that contribute to MATs and/or RCTs 1-5 YEAR MANAGEMENT ACTION TaRGETS (MATs) 50 intermediate targets that contribute towards achieving 10-year resource condition targets 10 YEAR RESOURCE CONDITION TaRGETS (RCTs) 10 long-term targets expressed in terms of the condition of status of natural resources. Reported 5-yearly 20-YEAR GOALS AND VISION Three overarching goals and a vision expressing the long-term overall philosophy for natural resources management in the region 5 Our land & biodiversity 157 properties participating in NRM activities Plum-headed Finch (Neochima modesta) 394 land managers 391,241 20,589,210 772,292 participating in hectares managed hectares managed hectares managed NRM activities for weeds for pest animals for biodiversity/ (including sustainability dingoes) Terry Dennis Terry Maintaining the soils, native vegetation and native wildlife in the SAAL NRM Region is critical to the sustainability of our industries and communities. The region contains some of the State’s as goats, camels, donkeys, horses and introductions or spread of these weeds most environmentally significant and iconic rabbits.