North East Pastoral District Plan Contents SUMMARY ................................................................................................................... 4 INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................... 5 THE NORTH EAST PASTORAL SOIL CONSERVATION BOARD ................... 5 DUTY OF CARE ....................................................................................................... 5 THE ROLE OF THE BOARD .................................................................................. 6 AIMS OF THE BOARD ............................................................................................ 6 AIMS OF THE DISTRICT PLAN ............................................................................ 6 COMMUNITY CONSULTATION........................................................................... 6 REVIEW .................................................................................................................... 7 DESCRIPTION OF THE DISTRICT ............................................................................ 8 INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................... 8 CLIMATE .................................................................................................................. 9 WINDS .................................................................................................................. 9 RAINFALL .......................................................................................................... 10 METEOROLOGICAL DROUGHT YEARS ...................................................... 12 POTENTIAL EVAPORATION .......................................................................... 12 TEMPERATURE ................................................................................................ 13 FROST ................................................................................................................. 13 SUNSHINE HOURS ........................................................................................... 14 DATA AVAILABILITY ..................................................................................... 14 GEOLOGY .......................................................................................................... 15 WATER RESOURCES ....................................................................................... 16 HYDROGEOLOGY ................................................................................................ 16 SURFACE WATER ............................................................................................ 16 VEGETATION ASSOCIATIONS .......................................................................... 17 WOODLAND ...................................................................................................... 17 MALLEE ............................................................................................................. 18 SHRUBLAND ..................................................................................................... 19 LOW SHRUBLAND ........................................................................................... 20 GRASSLAND...................................................................................................... 22 BARREN LAND ................................................................................................. 23 LAND USE .............................................................................................................. 23 ABORIGINAL ..................................................................................................... 23 PASTORAL ......................................................................................................... 23 Leases ................................................................................................................... 23 Legislation Affecting Pastoral Tenure and Land Management ............................... 24 Development of the Pastoral Industry.................................................................. 25 Present Situation ...................................................................................................... 27 MINING ................................................................................................................... 28 TOURISM................................................................................................................ 28 LAND USE OPPORTUNITIES .............................................................................. 28 INFRASTRUCTURE AND SERVICES ................................................................. 29 TRANSPORT ...................................................................................................... 29 COMMUNICATIONS ........................................................................................ 29 EDUCATION ...................................................................................................... 30 OTHER SERVICES ................................................................................................ 30 Water .................................................................................................................... 30 Electricity ............................................................................................................. 30 Community Services ............................................................................................ 30 LAND TENURE ...................................................................................................... 31 PASTORAL LEASE ........................................................................................... 31 PERPETUAL LEASE ......................................................................................... 31 FREEHOLD LAND............................................................................................. 32 MISCELLANEOUS LEASES ............................................................................ 32 RESERVES.......................................................................................................... 32 UNALLOTTED CROWN LAND ....................................................................... 32 MINING AND MINERAL EXTRACTION LEASES........................................ 33 THE DOG FENCE .................................................................................................. 33 LAND MANAGEMENT......................................................................................... 35 RANGELAND CONDITION ............................................................................. 35 MANAGEMENT OF RANGELAND CONDITION ............................................. 35 Stock management ............................................................................................... 36 PASTURE TYPES - PRODUCTION INDICATORS AND REHABILITATION 41 CHENOPOD SHRUBLANDS ............................................................................ 41 LOW WOODLANDS .......................................................................................... 41 Low bluebush and Bladder saltbush (Maireana astrotricha and Atriplex vesicaria ) plains .................................................................................................. 42 Bladder saltbush (Atriplex vesicaria) plains, low hills and salty country ............ 44 Pearl bluebush and bladder saltbush (Maireana sedifolia and Atriplex vesicaria) on calcareous plains and hills .............................................................................. 46 Blackbush (Maireana pyramidata) plains and watercourses............................... 48 Mulga (Acacia aneura) woodlands on sands and dunes. ..................................... 49 Mallee (Eucalyptus spp.) on calcareous soils, deep sands and dunes. ................. 51 Mulga (Acacia aneura), black oak (Casuarina pauper), false sandalwood (Myoporum platycarpum) low open woodlands on hills. .................................... 52 RABBITS ................................................................................................................. 53 GOATS .................................................................................................................... 56 KANGAROOS ........................................................................................................ 58 OTHER PEST ANIMALS ....................................................................................... 60 SCALDING ............................................................................................................. 61 LAND MANAGEMENT AND REHABILITATION ................................................ 61 WIND EROSION .................................................................................................... 62 WATER EROSION ................................................................................................. 63 FIRE ......................................................................................................................... 64 CONTROL AND MANAGEMENT ....................................................................... 64 INTRODUCED WEEDS ..................................................................................... 65 WEED CONTROL STRATEGIES ..................................................................... 65 WOODY SHRUB INCREASE ........................................................................... 66 CONSERVATION AND BIODIVERSITY .......................................................