Rural Land in Australia A framework for the measurement and analysis of nationwide patterns of ownership change, aggregation and fragmentation NOVEMBER 2012 RIRDC Publication No. 12/038 Rural Land in Australia: A framework for the measurement and analysis of nationwide patterns of ownership change, aggregation and fragmentation by Bill Pritchard, Melissa Neave, Deanne Hickey, Laurence Troy November 2012 RIRDC Publication No. 12/038 RIRDC Project No. PRJ-000171 © 2012 Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation. All rights reserved. ISBN 978-1-74254-381-9 ISSN 1440-6845 Rural Land in Australia: A framework for the measurement and analysis of nationwide patterns of ownership change, aggregation and fragmentation Publication No. 12/038 Project No. PRJ-000171 The information contained in this publication is intended for general use to assist public knowledge and discussion and to help improve the development of sustainable regions. You must not rely on any information contained in this publication without taking specialist advice relevant to your particular circumstances. While reasonable care has been taken in preparing this publication to ensure that information is true and correct, the Commonwealth of Australia gives no assurance as to the accuracy of any information in this publication. The Commonwealth of Australia, the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC), the authors or contributors expressly disclaim, to the maximum extent permitted by law, all responsibility and liability to any person, arising directly or indirectly from any act or omission, or for any consequences of any such act or omission, made in reliance on the contents of this publication, whether or not caused by any negligence on the part of the Commonwealth of Australia, RIRDC, the authors or contributors. The Commonwealth of Australia does not necessarily endorse the views in this publication. This publication is copyright. Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, all other rights are reserved. However, wide dissemination is encouraged. Requests and inquiries concerning reproduction and rights should be addressed to the RIRDC Publications Manager on phone 02 6271 4165. Researcher Contact Details Name: Associate Professor Bill Pritchard Dr Melissa Neave Address: School of Geosciences, School of Global Studies, Social Science and Planning, University of Sydney RMIT University SYDNEY NSW 2006 GPO Box 2476 Australia Melbourne, Victoria 3001 Australia Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] In submitting this report, the researcher has agreed to RIRDC publishing this material in its edited form. RIRDC Contact Details Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation Alan Davey, Senior Research Manager New Plant Industries and Dynamic Rural Communities Level 2, 15 National Circuit BARTON ACT 2600 PO Box 4776 KINGSTON ACT 2604 Phone: 02 6271 4100 Fax: 02 6271 4199 Email: [email protected]. Web: http://www.rirdc.gov.au Electronically published by RIRDC in November 2012 Print-on-demand by Union Offset Printing, Canberra at www.rirdc.gov.au or phone 1300 634 313 ii Foreword Land is the foundational asset for rural industries. However, a definitive assessment of land ownership patterns across rural Australia has never taken place. In one sense, this is not surprising. Detailed information on land ownership is held by State Government repositories, and only with the advent of digitisation and emergent Geographic Information Systems (GIS) has it been practically possible to examine and interpret these large and complex datasets. Through access to State-based land titles datasets and the use of GIS methodologies, this report provides the first comprehensive national assessment of rural landholding patterns. It argues that these previously under-researched databases shed critical new light on contemporary transformations occurring in rural Australia. The benchmark data and methodological techniques provided by this research project establish a vital starting point for future research. Via this project we now have, for the first time, authoritative estimates of the annual rates of rural land ownership turnover in rural Australia. The report covers the period 2004-08. This was a crucial period in the recent history of rural Australia, as it coincides with the severe drought in the eastern states. It should be noted that this period pre-dates concerns about foreign ownership and food security issues, and an update of the data, should it be possible, would likely give a changed, and more useful picture. The results of this research are presented in a series of reports. This current volume provides background context and a national perspective on these issues. It is complemented by a series of state- based reports that provide detailed pictures of the spatial patterning of rural land ownership change. Information presented in this report represents the outcomes from an original methodology using never-before analysed land titles data sourced from State Government custodian agencies for land titles data. Through this data, new insights into socio-economic and land use change are generated and this has opened up an entirely new field and framework for understanding the dimensions of change currently occurring in rural Australia. This project was funded from RIRDC Core Funds which are provided by the Australian Government. This report is an addition to RIRDC’s diverse range of over 2000 research publications and it forms part of our National Rural Issues R&D program which aims to identify and undertake research to inform national policy development and debate on issues important to rural industries. Most of RIRDC’s publications are available for viewing, free downloading or purchasing online at www.rirdc.gov.au. Purchases can also be made by phoning 1300 634 313. Craig Burns Managing Director Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation iii About the Authors Associate Professor Bill Pritchard is an economic geographer whose work focuses on global change in agriculture, food and rural places. A/Prof Pritchard has undertaken research for a number of leading national and international organisations, and his work is cited widely within professional circles. He is an author of two books, an editor of a further four, and has published almost 50 refereed articles and chapters. He has been engaged in several major consulting research projects, and given over 50 conference presentations. Dr Melissa Neave is an environmental geographer whose research sits at the nexus between the social and the physical sciences. Dr Neave has worked on land management issues in rural environments around the world, including Australia, the United States and Cambodia. She is an author of more than 20 peer-reviewed publications and is the associate editor of the Australian Geographer. Dr Neave has conducted research for several national and international organisations and has presented her work at nearly 30 national and international conferences. Ms Deanne Hickey is a geographer with expertise in GIS and the management of bio-geographical resources. She has an Honours degree from the University of Sydney, has worked in Environmental Impact Assessment projects in the private sector, and is currently completing her PhD in the School of Geosciences, University of Sydney. Mr Laurence Troy is a geographer with expertise in GIS, urban planning and sustainability. He is a graduate of the University of Western Australia and is currently completing his PhD in the School of Geosciences, University of Sydney. iv About this Report This Report has a national focus. For more detailed information about trends in individual regions and Local Government Areas, it should be read in conjunction with the series of State Reports that have been published also as part of this research project. These reports include: Pritchard, B., Neave, M., Hickey, D. & Troy, L. (2012) Rural Land in New South Wales: Spatial Patterns of Ownership Change, Aggregation and Fragmentation, RIRDC Pub. No. 12/128 Neave, M., Pritchard, B., Hickey, D. & Troy, L. (2012) Rural Land in Victoria: Spatial Patterns of Ownership Change, Aggregation and Fragmentation, RIRDC Pub. No. 12/123 Neave, M., Pritchard, B., Hickey, D. & Troy, L. (2012) Rural Land in Queensland: Spatial Patterns of Ownership Change, RIRDC Pub. No. 12/125 Neave, M., Pritchard, B., Hickey, D. & Troy, L. (2012) Rural Land in South Australia: Spatial Patterns of Ownership Change, Aggregation and Fragmentation, RIRDC Pub. No. 12/127 Neave, M., Pritchard, B., Hickey, D. & Troy, L. (2012) Rural Land in Tasmania: Spatial Patterns of Ownership Change, Aggregation and Fragmentation, RIRDC Pub. No. 12/124 Pritchard, B., Neave, M., Hickey, D. & Troy, L. (2012) Rural Land in Western Australia: Spatial Patterns of Ownership Change, RIRDC Pub. No. 12/126 v Acknowledgments All maps generated by this project have depended on cadastral and land titles information provided by relevant agencies in each state. Raster and vector data are reproduced in these maps with due acknowledgement and agreement from the following agencies: • NSW: Land & Property Management Authority • Victoria: Department of Sustainability and Environment–Spatial Information Infrastructure • Queensland: Department of Environment and Resource Management • Western Australia: Landgate, via Western Australia Agriculture Authority • South Australia: Department of Transport, Energy and Infrastructure–Land Services Group, via Primary Industries