Introducing the New Chairman of the Pastoral Lands BoardProfessor Graeme Robertson BSc (Agric) Hons, D Phil (Oxon), FTSE, FAIAST, FAIM.

On July 23 2004, Planning and Infrastructure Minister Alannah MacTiernan announced the appointment of Professor Graeme Robertson as the new Chairman of the Pastoral Lands Board.

“He is currently Director and Professor of the Muresk Institute, Curtin University of Technology. Prior to this appointment, he was the Director-General of the Department of Agriculture,” Ms MacTiernan said.

“Professor Robertson has been involved in a wide range of research, development and management activities in many aspects of primary industry in Western Australia. During a long career with the Department of Agriculture he has been Officer in Charge of the Kimberley region, Director of Resource Management and Commissioner for Soil Conservation, before becoming Deputy Director-General and then Director-General of the Department in 1995.

“In 1995 Professor Robertson was awarded the McKell Medal for outstanding service to soil and land conservation and in 2001 received the Australian Medal for Agricultural Science. He is a fellow of the Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering, the Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology and the Australian Institute of Management.

“Graeme Robertson has also held key roles on many boards and committees in relation to agriculture, the pastoral industry and natural resource management. Amongst many such roles, he was appointed the Foundation Chair of the Land and Water Resources Research and Development Corporation in 1996, has been a member of the Federal Soil Conservation Advisory Committee and has also chaired Pastoral Industry Liaison Committees for the Kimberley and the Eastern Goldfields. He is also a former member of the Pastoral Lands Board.

Professor Robertson has an Honours degree in Agricultural Science from the University of Western Australia. He was also a Rhodes Scholar for Western Australia and holds a D Phil from Oxford University.”

Ms MacTiernan said the members’ great depth of experience would ensure the Pastoral Lands Board functions to the best of its ability.

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PastoralLines

FEATURESAgriculture Traineeships Taking Off in the Pastoral Industry 3

Western Australian Sandalwood 4

EMU: Developing Land Literacy in the Rangelands 5

Alternative Sheep Breeds 7

Pest Animals in the Rangelands 9

Police Stock Investigation Unit 10

Environmental Management of Minesites on Pastoral Leases 11

UPDATESNew Laws to Protect Native Vegetation 12

Do You Want to Sell Your Station? 14

New Animal Welfare Act 16

The Mining Industry and Pastoral Leases 16

New Website for Pastoralists 18

Pastoral Lease Inspections 19

Pastoral Exclusions Negotiations Update 21

The Natural Resource Management Council of Western Australia 22

Unauthorised Structures Removed 23

The Australian Rangeland Society 24

Apiary Sites on Pastoral Leases 24

ANNUAL RETURN OF LIVESTOCK AND IMPROVEMENTSExotic Sheep Comments from the 2003 Annual Returns 25

Information Received Vital for Pastoral Land Management 26

Wild Dog Questions in the 2004 Annual Return 28

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Agriculture Traineeships Taking Off in the Pastoral IndustryFred Chambers, Rural Skills Australia

Training for agricultural industries has increased with the acceptance of new apprenticeships by industry. In part, this increase is in response to the Department of Education and Training’s temporary relaxation of the criteria, allowing existing employees to be registered.

Pastoral apprentices complete their certificates in agriculture as they develop their skills under the supervision of their employer on the station. The on station training is supplemented by a registered training organisation (such as TAFE or private trainers). The training provider assesses the trainee and awards certificates accordingly. Eligible employers receive an Australian Government subsidy and some young people may be eligible for a living away from home allowance.

When Clayton Boladeras returned to Wonganoo Station after several years travelling, working and studying, he had the idea for a father/son traineeship1 . The opportunity for a Government subsidy2 and a structured training program to re-acquaint Clayton with the industry appeared to be a very good arrangement.

Certificate III in Agriculture is usually appropriate for an experienced trainee or an agricultural college graduate. As Clayton was an experienced trainee, he was able to complete the Certificate III in Agriculture. The program helped him to identify and emphasise the skills and knowledge he already possessed and armed him with new skills and knowledge. The practical training was provided by Malcolm Boladeras and supplemented by Central West College of TAFE3 lecturer Bernie Egerton-Green, along with written subject learning guides. Both Malcolm and Clayton found the learning guide highly informative and provided Clayton with the fundamental skills in beef, sheep and pastoral operations. The guides were self-explanatory and there was no need to leave the property for training. Clayton worked on the guides in the evenings whilst bumping along station windmill tracts in the utility. He has kept the guides as reference books for the future.

Certificates in agriculture can be tailored to almost any pastoral or farming operation. At Wonganoo Station, the subjects were specifically tailored for the property; this was a big incentive for Clayton to take up the traineeship. Both Clayton and Malcolm were very impressed with the course, commenting that a lot of thought had gone into the course structure and that it had particularly good information in regards to WorkSafe practices. Central West College of TAFE lecturer, Bernie Egerton Green, visited Clayton regularly in order to carry out the assessments. Bernie, an ex-shearing contractor who is very passionate about the agricultural industry and training, found Clayton a model student.

Malcolm and Clayton found the whole traineeship very rewarding and recommend it to any young people interested in obtaining further skills and knowledge in the agricultural industry. Clayton claimed he would have done it years ago if he had known how beneficial a traineeship could be. Malcolm summed it up by saying employees can cost a lot of money if they get things wrong and that this is a good program with not too much bulldust.

For further information on pastoral traineeships contact Fred Chambers, Rural Skills Australia (WA) on 1800 118 000 or 9359 4003.

1 Almost anyone can be a trainee.

2 Government subsidies are from $1375 to $5500 (more for females and declared drought areas).

3 There are many private and public training providers delivering traineeships.

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Western Australian SandalwoodIvan Zirngast, Forest Products Commission, Harvey

Most pastoralists are aware of the occurrence of sandalwood on their pastoral lease, but generally are unaware of the process of awarding sandalwood harvesting contracts and the current operational practices regarding sandalwood harvesting and regeneration.The July 2003 edition of PastoralLines featured an article titled ‘Sandalwood Harvesting’ that provided a brief overview of Western Australian sandalwood. This edition seeks to provide a little more insight into the harvesting and regeneration of sandalwood on pastoral leases.Western Australian sandalwood (Santalum spicatum) is naturally distributed throughout most of the southern half of Western Australia, excluding the more heavily forested areas of the south west where the regular occurrence of fire prohibits its growth and regeneration. Native sandalwood has been harvested and exported for more than 150 years and currently provides revenue to Western Australia of around $10 million per year.Recent changes to the Forest Products harvesting contracts ensure maximum utilisation of the harvested trees, minimal disturbance to surrounding areas through the use of mechanical harvesters and improved regeneration of sandalwood.The Commission promotes establishment of tree plantations, including sandalwood, on freehold land and is responsible for the sustainable harvesting of sandalwood from Crown land, which includes pastoral leases. Harvesting contracts are awarded following a fair and competitive public tender process that represents the best value for money to the people of Western Australia. Some pastoralists have followed this process and have been awarded contracts to harvest sandalwood from their pastoral lease.Contractors must comply with relevant legislation and guidelines. The most recent contracts awarded require that sandalwood be mechanically lifted from the ground allowing greater recovery of root and butt material, and reduce the disturbance to areas where sandalwood is harvested.Contractors are also required to carry out sandalwood regeneration work as part of the Commission’s ongoing ‘WA Sandalwood Enrichment’ program. For each live sandalwood tree harvested, twelve sandalwood seeds are planted by the contractor under nearby host plants. The Commission monitors the regeneration from each harvesting operation using Global Positioning System equipment to revisit sites where sandalwood seeds have been planted.In areas where the Commission doesn’t anticipate adequate sandalwood regeneration would be achieved, such as on over grazed areas with feral goat populations, contracts might be restricted to harvesting dead sandalwood . This is also a valuable resource as the sandalwood oil is present until the wood disintegrates.The Commission maintains an environmental management system for its sandalwood operations and is certified as ISO 14001 compliant. The system ensures potential impacts to the environment are considered, monitored and documented. Any environmental incidents are dealt with through corrective action. Preventative action is taken to minimise the risk of similar incidents in the future. Further information can be obtained through the Forest Products Commission, Harvey office on (08) 9729 2888.For further informationSandy Gater Senior Projects Officer Telephone: (08) 9475 8807orIvan Zirngast A/Senior Forester – Planning Forest Products Commission Harvey.

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EMU: Developing Land Literacy in the RangelandsAnnabelle Bushell, EMU Project Office – Curtin University of Technology, Kalgoorlie

The Ecosystem Management Understanding (EMU) process aims to develop a positive attitude to ongoing landscape change on stations and motivate pastoralists to take responsibility for managing this change. It is a voluntary, non regulatory process. It introduces pastoralists and other managers of land to the ecological management of landscapes and habitats in the rangelands.

This management perspective is signifi cantly different to systems of the past. It aims to encourage pastoralists to base their management decisions not only on stock condition, but on what the land is telling them in relation to the sustainability of their enterprise and ultimately that lifestyle.

Emphasis is placed on the knowledge retained by pastoralists and their families. This vast local knowledge, often inter-generational, is extremely valuable and provides the backbone for developing a whole-of-station story.

Starting to develop an understanding of a station as a whole system begins during the initial mapping workshop. The workshop, which runs over two days, engages up to eight pastoralists and preferably includes all family members. Knowledge sharing between the participants and the EMU team constructs a picture, using overlay maps. This demonstrates how landscape patterns and processes function in relation to historic and current management practices while on ground examples provide excellent demonstrative tools. Of most importance during this initial stage are the relationships and trust that begin to form between the EMU Team and workshop participants. This is essential for the successful development of capacity that drives change. It relies on complete trust and honesty throughout the process. The confi dentiality of information shared between participants and the EMU Team is imperative.

The aim of the workshop is to develop the participants’ knowledge into an understanding of ecology and landscape function. This seed (we call “EMU Eyes”) is the foundation to reading, recognising and managing critical landscape patterns and processes as well as landscape condition and trend.

Following the workshop is a visit to each participating property. This is the follow up visit and we only return to properties when invited. Mostly, some time has lapsed between this and the workshop during which time pastoralists, by observing how their own systems are operating, have ‘digested’ and begun the interpretation of what is occurring on their own properties. Follow up visits to each property usually involve air and ground traverses to the key areas identifi ed from the mapping exercise. During this time we focus on the most important issues, often based around the most important country for pastoralism, subsequently resulting in the development of a simple prioritised management strategy.

The knowledge and capacity developed during this process empowers managers with the confi dence to make change and test their own ideas to see whether their management ‘fi ts’ or ‘fi ghts’ the landscape. With this capacity to change their management practices, and observe the landscape response, they can fi nd a practice that ‘fi ts’. Hence, it is a management cycle of improved performance rolling towards the ultimate goal of sustainable pastoralism based on sound ecological principles. Since the project commenced in mid-2000, more than 70 stations throughout the southern rangelands of Western Australia have taken part in the EMU process.

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The majority of these leases are private enterprises, but also include land recently acquired by Department of Conservation and Land Management, indigenous properties, mining companies and private conservation reserves. This has led to active on ground restoration works, international accreditation for environmental management systems as well as catchment scale restoration projects involving multiple land managers. Most stations that have participated in the EMU process have made some significant change to the way they manage their landscapes and habitats. Hence, it is progressive towards creative biodiversity conservation, particularly in protection and recovery of the indispensable arid zone habitats of wetlands and floodplains.

Steps 1 to 6 (Figure 1) show the development from building awareness towards a preliminary understanding of stations as a whole system and finally a land literacy based on a life-long learning capacity that becomes a goal of continual improvement.

Once the capacity is developed, most management situations can effectively be handled from Steps 1 to 4 through to Step 6 then back to Step 1 again. This sets in motion a synergy of capability for successful self reliance and mutual help management approaches towards a viable Triple Bottom Line that includes biodiversity conservation. Formalising management into an Environmental Management System (EMS) provides pastoralists a proactive opportunity to demonstrate to regulators their management credentials and perhaps secure market access and price premiums. EMU is also currently seeking to work with pastoralists to make the EMS more user friendly with an increased end value for effort.

The latest travels for the EMU team have been throughout the Goldfields Nullarbor region, spending time with pastoralists on stations in the Kalgoorlie, North Eastern Goldfields and Nullarbor Eyre Highway land conservation districts.

For more information see our website (www.emuproject.org) or you can call us on the following numbers: Hugh Pringle (08) 9088 6049, Ken Tinley (08) 9405 5182, Sally Black (08) 9405 5121, PJ Waddell (08) 9088 6027 and Annabelle Bushell (08) 9088 6048.

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Alternative Sheep BreedsMatt Young, Group Manager - Department of Agriculture, Geraldton

New sheep breeds are providing Western Australia with an opportunity to meet changing demand in overseas markets and to target new export opportunities. Western Australian sheep producers are embracing the prospect of diversifying their current operations with new breeds. These include highly valued fat tail breeds and prime lamb breeds that offer the potential to improve lamb carcass weight and lambing percentages.The Fat Tail Sheep IndustryThe fat tail sheep industry is not new to Western Australia, with the Awassi and Karakul sheep breeds having been in the State since the mid-1980s. These breeds have been produced primarily for live export, skin, wool and dairy products, and have been owned by Middle Eastern interests, with all breeding programs controlled by these interests.It is the fat tail breeds more recently introduced to Western Australia that are providing an opportunity for sheep producers to expand into this market. The new breeds are the first fat tail breeds to be purchased by Western Australian producers for their own programs, which will allow for more control over ram quality and market opportunities.DamaraThe Damara originated from the Hamites of Eastern Asia and Egypt, and over centuries moved down to Namibia and Angola. For many years, the sheep were in an isolated region of Namibia and remained free of influence from other breeds. The sheep were smuggled into South Africa by two farmers and confiscated by the Government in 1954.The Damara was introduced into Western Australia in 1996. It is characteristic of the desert breeds with long legs, a fat tail and short hair. The Damara can survive and breed under poor nutritional conditions, where water is scarce and shelter is restricted, and has a high reproduction and weight gain rate. Damara also has a herding ability and is able to breed all year. The breed has a long wavy coat in the winter, which is shed to leave a short hair coat in the summer.AfrikanerThe Afrikaner is an indigenous sheep breed of South Africa. It has only been in Western Australia since early 1999. It is estimated there are only a few hundred pure bred animals in the State at this time.The Afrikaner is a white fat tail sheep. It is a hardy breed that does not require shearing and is not susceptible to fly strike. Like the Namaqua, it is well adapted to desert conditions and can survive for long periods without water. The breed also has many characteristics of the Damara, although it is different in that it grows wool-type fibre as opposed to hair. The breed also has a larger and different shaped tail.NamaquaThe Namaqua is an indigenous sheep breed of South Africa and is believed to be descended from the fat tail sheep kept by the Hottentots. It is one of the two oldest breeds of South African sheep. There are currently only a few Namaquas in Western Australia -the first shipment of embryos from South Africa arrived late in 2000.The Namaqua is a hardy sheep with excellent fertility and mothering abilities and has a coat of coarse hair rather than wool. It is a lanky, high-standing sheep with a relatively narrow body and long lean legs. As with other South African breeds, the Namaqua performs well in harsh conditions and has a high reproductive capacity. 18 month body weight has been recorded at 58.7 kg.Fibre Transfer (Wool Contamination)Producers need to be aware that some of the new breeds are hair sheep, and produce coloured or medullated fibres. Therefore, when mating with Merino sheep, appropriate management is required to avoid wool contamination.

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Prime Lamb and Dual Purpose BreedsDorper/White DorperThe Dorper was developed in the 1930s from the Dorset Horn and Blackheaded Persian. The breed has the characteristic black head (Dorper) as well as white heads (White Dorper). The Dorper arrived in Western Australia in 1996 and is beginning to have some influence on the State’s sheep flock.

The Dorper was bred in South Africa to produce prime lambs in the arid and lower rainfall areas. It appears suitable for prime lamb production in Western Australia’s non traditional growing areas such as the wheatbelt and rangelands areas. Dorper is one of the most fertile of sheep breeds, has a good body length and a short light covering of hair and wool. It shows exceptional adaptability, hardiness, can lamb any time of the year, has good mothering abilities and excellent growth (reaching 36 kg at 3.5 - 4 months old).

The New MerinosSouth African Meat Merinos (SAMM)Originally known as the German Mutton Merino, the first ten ewes and a ram were imported into South Africa from Germany in 1932 for inclusion in a breeding program. It was subsequently developed as a dual purpose wool-meat breed, with particular attention to high fertility and carcass conformation. The SAMM has been in Western Australia since 1996.

SAMM was bred to produce prime lambs at an early age and to produce good quality wool. The breed was initially noted for its ability to adapt to all farming regions in South Africa.

Dohne MerinoThe Dohne Merino was developed as a dual purpose animal (wool and meat) in South Africa using Peppin-style Merino ewes and German Mutton Merino sires. The Dohne Merino has been in Western Australia since 1998.

The Dohne has all the same attributes as the SAMM, including good fertility and carcass confirmation. The Dohne appears to produce finer wool than the SAMM. In addition to prime lamb production, Dohne Merino are bred and grown as prime lamb mothers. As wool producing animals, they do not pose a fibre transfer risk (wool contamination), and produce high-quality fine wool between 19 and 22 microns.

SummaryNew sheep breeds in Western Australia have the potential to play a major role in the State’s sheep industry over the next ten years, with some changes already evident.

In the Southern Rangelands, the alternative sheep breeds first arrived in 1997/98 in very small numbers. Since then they have been adopted by over 30 stations, from the Nullabor to Onslow. The Damara has the most numbers followed by the Dorper with some interest in the dual purpose Merinos.

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Pest Animals in the RangelandsDr Andrew Woolnough, Vertebrate Pest Research Section, Department of Agriculture, Forrestfield

The main pest animals of the rangelands include wild dogs, feral goats, kangaroos, feral donkeys, feral camels, feral pigs and feral livestock (horses and cattle).

Wild dogs and feral goats are the main pest animal issues for the Southern Rangelands. In the Northern Rangelands, wild dogs, feral donkeys and feral pigs are the biggest problems. Although the impact of these pests varies, all can cause economic losses to the livestock grazing industry and/or impact significantly on rangeland condition and biodiversity.

The Department of Agriculture Western Australia provides support to private and public land managers and the community to address the challenges presented by pest animals. This support involves providing advice on best practice management, training land managers in safe use of poisons, providing a bait injection service, undertaking aerial shooting of feral donkeys, as well as ensuring that regulatory requirements are implemented.

The Department of Agriculture also develops effective, humane, safe, innovative and affordable management options for pest animals. This includes ongoing research and policy development. The Vertebrate Pest Research Section conducts research and assists with policy development. While VPRS research is undertaken throughout the State, there are a number of current projects being conducted in the rangelands.

A new salami-style bait for the control of wild dogs is being tested. This research is being currently undertaken in the Pilbara, and its results could have major positive implications for future management strategies for wild dogs.

The Department of Agriculture is also developing more efficient and environmental control strategies for feral pigs. Part of this approach is the development of baits which are more suitable for use in routine control programs and exotic disease emergencies involving feral pigs. This is a State-wide project, with field testing occurring in the Kimberley and the agricultural region.

A State-wide survey on the distribution and abundance of pest animals is also being undertaken. In the rangelands, information has been collected for feral goats, wild dogs, feral pigs, feral donkeys, feral horses and feral cattle.

Already, this information has been used in a number of ways, from improving our exotic disease preparedness, to assessing the impact of pest herbivores on the biodiversity in the rangelands. Other initiatives include projects on starlings, 1080 (tissue residues, sensitivity, and non target risk assessment), Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease (RHD), and the potential of fertility control of animal pests. The latter is through the Department of Agriculture’s involvement in the Pest Animal Control Cooperative Research Centre, which is a Commonwealth Government funded research organisation.

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Police Stock Investigation Unit James Dabelstein, Detective Sergeant - Police Stock Investigation Unit, Midland

It has long been considered that stock theft is one of the hardest offences to solve. This is due to the tyranny of distance, lack of property auditing procedures, lateness in receival of complaints and harsh weather conditions, which cause the loss of stock and forensic evidence.

The Sheep Stealing Detection Branch was established in 1964 with patrols in southern Western Australia. It is currently known as the Stock Investigation Unit, under the umbrella of the Major Fraud Squad. To the agricultural community we are known as the “Stock Squad”.

Under the Stock (Identification and Movement) Act 1970, police can search properties to locate and seize stock, branding equipment and waybills related to identification offences.

In the 1970’s through to the 1990’s the Stock Squad undertook prosecutions on behalf of the Department for Agriculture Western Australia. During this period, a large proportion of Stock Investigation’s time was used to assist in the regulation of this Act. The level of regulation has now been downgraded but it is still an important tool in crime prevention, locating stolen stock and enforcing the identification of stock.

With the introduction of the Investigative Practices Review (IPR), Country Police districts are responsible for stock ownership and investigation. The Stock Investigation Unit now acts as a coordinator and trainer to these country officers and visits country centres to train the local Police. A program has been introduced to all police stations outlining the correct procedures for conducting a stock investigation. Stock Investigation Officers have also conducted meetings with local landowners in various areas of the state to inform them of the process. The Stock Investigation Unit will, however, become involved in an investigation at various levels depending on the circumstances.

This year the Stock Investigation Unit has been to most areas of the State from Wyndham, to Esperance and Carnegie (300km east of Wiluna). These trips involved investigations, training courses and covert operations.

Stock Squad officers are also gazetted meat inspectors and carry out various duties for the Meat Industry Authority, such as the inspection of abattoirs and saleyards.

Importantly, the reported theft of stock for the past twelve months is significantly down on last year’s figures. Whether this is as a result of local conditions or the increased proactive policing by this unit and the country police, remains to be seen.

Changes to Contact Details for PastoralistsIf there are any changes to your contact details, please advise the Pastoral Lands Board (Pastoral Land Management) as soon as possible, to help minimise delays in correspondence. A change of details form is available on our website: www.dpi.wa.gov.au/pastoral.

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Environmental Management of Minesites on Pastoral Leases

Minesites, along with other types of extractive resource industries, tend to have limited timeframes of operation. The ongoing impact of some mine infrastructure is sometimes of concern to both the Pastoral Lands Board and pastoralists.

A group comprising local native title claimants, government officers and local pastoralists met recently with Newmont Australia staff at the company’s minesite at Jundee Station, about 50km north east of Wiluna to look at environmental management. A particular focus of the day was to discuss closure plans for the Jundee minesite, currently scheduled for around 2010.

The Jundee site has been operating since 1995 using both open-cut and underground mining methods. It has infrastructure typical of a large modern minesite such as pits, haul roads, pipelines, administration site, airstrip and a camp that caters for 385 staff and contractors.

The operations, including haul roads from satellite pits and an ongoing exploration program, affect parts of other surrounding stations including Millbillillie, Lake Way, Lake Violet, Millrose, Barwidgee and Yandal. The station lessees and managers have developed and maintain good working relationship with the mining company. A pastoral management company manages Newmont’s pastoral leases, which are subleased out and operate as working stations.

The group looked at the activities near the main processing plant and at satellite pits. Rehabilitation practices were discussed along with proposals for future rehabilitation. Various opinions were presented on the stability and future use of the waste rock dumps and the tailings storage facilities, particularly in relation to types of vegetation to be established, topsoiling of the dumps, potential grazing, fencing and liability issues. Research and evaluation has been done on site using lower-sloped batters for such dumps, which, whilst increasing the ‘footprint’ of the dump, tends to increase the long-term stability of the slopes. Impacts of tailings on groundwater were also discussed.

The day resulted in the stakeholders having a greater appreciation of each other’s positions and concerns. As the company progresses the mine closure, consultation will continue, with a view to achieving the needs of the future users of the affected land, both from a pastoral and a community perspective. Input into the development of a formal mine closure plan will help to ensure that pastoral interests are incorporated into the works.

For further information please contact Brian Lloyd at Pastoral Land Management on (08) 9347 5121.

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New Laws to Protect Native Vegetation

Western Australia’s native vegetation will soon be better protected under new laws that came into effect from July 8 this year.

The changes, that will regulate clearing of native vegetation throughout Western Australia, are part of amendments to the Environmental Protection Act 1986.

The new system replaces the previous Notice of Intent to Clear process administered under the Soil and Land Conservation Act 1945 and the Department of Environment (DoE) will be responsible for its management.

It is recognised that the loss of native vegetation has led to a dramatic rise in land and water salinity, and a decline in our natural heritage of plants and animals. Although, both the community and the government have been working hard to reverse this situation, there is still a lot more that needs to be done. The protection of native vegetation is an essential step towards the sustainable use of our land. The Department of Environment is committed to sustainable management of our natural resources and the new laws will ensure that native vegetation is managed for the benefit of the community.

Clearing will now require a permit except for a range of day-to-day land management activities and some clearing approved or required under another written law. There are some limits and conditions on these exemptions.

In the case of pastoral leases, there is an exemption to allow grazing stock on a pastoral lease in accordance with the Land Administration Act 1997; the terms and conditions of the pastoral lease; and any relevant condition or determination by the Pastoral Lands Board. Grazing that does not comply with these requirements is not exempt and would require a clearing permit.

Other exemptions in accordance with the Land Administration Act 1997 include clearing to manage and work the land under the lease to its best advantage as a pastoral property. The Pastoral Lands Board is the judge of satisfactory compliance with the section. This is subject to a requirement to adopt best pastoral and environmental management practices and to the maintenance of indigenous pasture and vegetation. Contact the Pastoral Lands Board for further details.

Clearing to maintain or reconstruct existing fences (and other pastoral improvements) is similarly exempt. Where the Pastoral Lands Board believes that an improvement is necessary, it may require a pastoral lessee to prepare a development plan detailing the achievement of the improvement to a specified timetable. Compliance with the development plan is a requirement and is therefore also exempt.

There are some other exemptions for the following:

• Clearing for fire suppression and prevention as required under the Bushfires Act. This includes clearing for firebreaks and around buildings where required under Section 33 of the Bushfires Act.

• Clearing resulting from accidents or to prevent imminent danger to human life.

• Clearing for fire hazard reduction outside of the prohibited or restricted burning times for one year until a Code of Practice is developed and implemented. Subsequently, clearing for fire hazard reduction will not require a permit if it is carried out according to the Code of Practice.

It is important that the valuable work pastoralists do in managing and protecting native vegetation and improving environmental sustainability of their lands is acknowledged. The new legislation will support the revegetation and other work undertaken by the pastoral community through programs such as Landcare. Vegetation that has been planted for land or biodiversity conservation purposes will be protected under the new legislation. Harvesting of plantations for commercial purposes and non-native species will not require a permit.

The Government wants to work in partnership with land managers in carrying out this vital task and has already released an incentives and assistance package to support the transition to the

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new legislation. Environment Minister, Dr Judy Edwards, recently launched a publication “Biodiversity Incentive Programs in Western Australia”, which outlines information on a number of incentive programs that are currently operating in Western Australia and which are accessible by landholders. This publication is available on the Department of Conservation and Land Management’s website at www.calm.wa.gov.au

Application forms and guidelines on how to apply, as well as a range of information explaining the new regulations and exemptions, are available through all DoE offices, or the Native Vegetation Protection Section on Freecall 1800 061 025 and at the website www.environment.wa.gov.au

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Do You Want to Sell Your Station?

One of the responsibilities of Pastoral Lands Board is to make recommendations to the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure in respect to the sale and transfer of pastoral leases. Under sections 18 and 134 of the Land Administration Act 1997 (LAA), a pastoral lease cannot be transferred without prior Ministerial consent.

If you want to offer your station for sale you must first apply in writing to the Board When considering the request the Board reviews a Rangeland Condition Assessment for the station. In the past, a new Rangeland Condition Assessment was prepared each time a lessee requested permission to sell. This process has been streamlined and if a lease has been inspected within the previous three years and there are no new land management issues, a new inspection may not be undertaken.

Once the Board has considered the request and approval is granted, the lessee will be advised of the conditions of sale. Permission to sell will be valid for 12 months. Should a sale not eventuate and the property is to remain on the market, a new application should be made.

Pastoralists selling stations occasionally run into problems when they advertise the station for sale prior to obtaining permission. In such cases, a prospective purchaser may make a written offer and have it accepted before permission is granted. Issues may then arise if the purchaser is subsequently informed of particular requirements set down by the Board. For example, requirements might relate, to infrastructure repair, destocking an area or closure of waters.

The prospective purchaser might not have had prior knowledge of these specific requirements, resulting in disagreements with the selling pastoralist.

To avoid such situations, pastoralists are strongly advised to gain permission to sell the station prior to advertising it for sale.

It should be noted that the Board will recommend that permission to transfer not be granted if there are any outstanding obligations or requirements. These include such things as management plans, tsock and improvements declarations and rent.

Once a purchaser has been found, the purchaser will need to comply with the conditions of transfer and be considered for eligibility in terms of:

• the State Government Foreign Ownership of Pastoral Lease Policy (currently 50% Australian equity); and

• maximum area limitation (currently 500,000 hectares but with Ministerial discretion to exceed the limit in certain circumstances).

Other standard conditions will require the purchaser to acknowledge:

• awareness of the requirements of Parts 7, 9 and 10 of the LAA and provisions of the Soil and Land Conservation Act 1945; and

• a management plan including evidence of financial capacity to manage the lease.

Upon Ministerial approval of a transfer, settlement can occur. An executed and stamped (stamp duty paid) Transfer of Land document will need to be submitted to the Department for Planning and Infrastructure to arrange endorsement of Ministerial consent thereon and it can then be lodged at the Department of Land Information for registration.

In summary the process comprises four stages:

1. lessee requests permission to sell;

2. proposed purchaser is assessed;

3. Ministerial approval is endorsed on executed and stamped Transfer; and

4. transfer lodged at the Department of Land Information for registration.

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In circumstances where a partner in a pastoral lease wishes to sell his/her share to the other partner(s), prior Ministerial consent is also required. In this instance, an inspection will not be necessary nor will compliance with the standard conditions of transfer of a pastoral lease by the existing partner(s). Eligibility will still need to be assessed in terms of the Foreign Ownership Policy and the 500,000 hectare limitation.

Initial requests for permission to sell should be addressed to:Executive AssistantPastoral Land ManagementDepartment for Planning and InfrastructurePO Box 1575MIDLAND WA 6936

or via facsimile: (08) 9347 5009.

For further assistance please call the Executive Assistant, Pastoral Land Management, on (08) 9347 5126.

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New Animal Welfare ActThe new Animal Welfare Act 2002 was introduced in March 2003. Since then, there have been some successful prosecutions, demonstrating the new Act’s wider scope to encompass all animals and introducing harsher penalties. New penalties also include jail terms and these have been applied to some individuals recently convicted..The Act and the supporting regulations, govern the treatment and welfare of animals in Western Australia and some of the major reforms include: -• ensuring that the Act applies to all animals in Western Australia (excluding fish);• higher penalties, from $2000 up to $50,000 and up to 5 years imprisonment;• the appointment of general inspectors with increased powers to protect animals and deal

efficiently with those being cruel to animals;• substantial penalties for offenders caught in possession of devices such as spurs that have

been sharpened or have fully fixed rowels;• restrictions on the use of electrical devices and jawed traps; and• penalties for organising or spectating at events which involve fighting animals.In addition to fines and imprisonment, there is a provision in the legislation for courts to impose orders to protect animals either by seizing an animal or preventing a person from owning a particular animal, or any animal in the future.The RSPCA also strongly advises that animals considered unfit for transport should be treated on site or slaughtered on the property of origin. Pastoralists, farmers, truck drivers, and stock agents who transport stock with conditions that cause animals unnecessary suffering could also face a minimum fine of $2000 and a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to five years in prison.Conditions that deem animals unfit for travel include lameness, swelling, protrusions, swollen udders and testicles, cancer (of the eye or nose, for example) and animals in late stages of pregnancy.The RSPCA is currently working with the PGA, WAFF, stock agents and vets to establish a dashboard guide for pastoralists and farmers for quick and easy reference to determine whether stock are fit for travel or not.For further information, visit the RSPCA website on:www.rspca.asn.au or contact them on 9209 9300.

The Mining Industry and Pastoral Leases

Being largely an extractive industry, mining has an impact on the landscape and consequently on some pastoral leases. The mining sector generates significant benefits and it is a reality that such operations will continue to occur on and around pastoral land.How mining companies interact with the pastoral industry varies. In some cases, mining companies own and run pastoral leases, sometimes (with permission) they sublease the station. In other cases they develop their mining tenement operations alongside an independent pastoral operation. Different mining companies may take different approaches in dealing with pastoral issues. Having a consistent and ‘best practice’ approach would be of benefit to all parties.By running very different operations, both the miner and the pastoralist may not know a great deal about the other’s needs. Neither party wants to be distracted from their core operations by problems, so having an appreciation of the other’s issues leads to good neighbourly relations.After some discussions with both pastoralists and representatives from mining companies, it has been proposed to form a small reference group to look at mining on pastoral leases.It is

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envisaged that the group would look at exploration (for which a Code of Conduct was developed in 1999) and the development, operation, rehabilitation and closure of minesites.

Guidelines would help to prevent problems on leases, and could also be used as a basis to effectively deal with problems should any arise. They could not only be used as a reference to help get a consistent approach to pastoral issues from existing companies, and would be valuable as a guide for new companies.If you have had any specific issues you have experienced on your lease in relation to the mining or resource industry, please call Brian Lloyd at Pastoral Land Management on (08) 9347 5121.

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New Website for Pastoralists

Pastoralists now have access to a wealth of free and useful information on the new Department for Planning and Infrastructure’s website at:

www.dpi.wa.gov.au/pastoral

Visit the website and you will discover a vast array of up-to-date information to help you manage your station sustainably and successfully, both on a day-to-day basis and for the long term. Just go to the homepage and use the navigation bar on the left-hand side of the page to find the information you want.

Take a few minutes to browse the site and see what a huge amount of information is available at your fingertips. For example, have a look at two of the most popular sections: ‘Information and Publications’ and ‘Useful Links’.

On the ‘Information and Publications’ pages you can get detailed information on stock management and animal health issues, weed and pest information, environmental issues and diversification, as well as management of your pastoral business. You can also access any Acts relevant to you such as the Land Administration Act 1997 or the Dividing Fences Act 1961.

The ‘Useful Links’ section leads you to a substantial number of sites relevant to the pastoral industry.

You can:

• get the latest weather warnings;

• find out if it rained on your station ten minutes ago;

• catch up on local news;

• access the latest rangelands research;

• get the latest livestock industry information;

• find out about any grants for which you may be eligible;

• calculate your homestead water use; and

• even find information on recruiting staff for your station.

The website also has sections dedicated to the 2015 Exclusions and the Pastoral Industry Working Groups and of course a section on the Pastoral Lands Board and Department for Planning and Infrastructure’s Pastoral Land Management staff.

Please feel free to contact Brian Lloyd at Pastoral Land Management on (08) 9347 5121 with any comments about our website or to offer suggestions. Also remember that the site is frequently updated, so be sure to bookmark it and visit it regularly.

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Pastoral Lease Inspections

The Pastoral Lands Board’s role is to ensure pastoral leases are managed on an ecologically sustainable basis. The Department of Agriculture Western Australia (DAWA) provides advice and technical support to the Board, primarily through its pastoral lease inspection reporting program.

DAWA has categorised 470 pastoral stations based on land management and/or infrastructure issues on the lease. These categories determine the inspection cycles undertaken by DAWA, with about 78 stations scheduled for a Rangeland Condition Assessment annually. In addition follow-up inspections are conducted for the Board. The categories are:

• Category 1 – Low concern (47 per cent of stations); inspected every six years;

• Category 2 – Minor concern (34 per cent of stations); inspected every three years;

• Category 3 – Moderate concern (16 per cent of stations); inspected every two years; and

• Category 4 – High concern (3 per cent of stations); inspected annually.

The following table shows the number of stations with land management and/or infrastructure issues identified in Rangeland Condition Assessments in 2002/2003:

The following table shows the number and types of land management and/or infrastructure issues identified in the Rangeland Condition Assessments for 2002/03:

Issue Southern Northern

Rangeland degradation 28 3

Areas of severe degradation and erosion 17 1

Vegetation decline near water point 8 1

Inadequate infrastructure 7 -

Unmanaged goats 6 -

High numbers of kangaroos 6 -

Vegetation decline due to overstocking 5 -

Soil erosion 4 1

Excessive stocking rate 4 -

Historical rangeland degradation 2 3

Poor management practices 2 -

Feral donkeys 1 -

Soil erosion 1 -

It can be seen that there is a higher distribution of issues in the southern rangelands than in the northern rangelands. This situation is not static. In the early 1970’s there was a plethora of land management issues in the northern rangelands. Since that time live export opportunities; massive reduction in feral donkey numbers; reductions in kangaroo grazing pressure; increased stock control, development of watering points allowing enhanced stock distribution; and a run of above average seasons have all contributed to significant gains in range condition and infrastructure trends.

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During the same period, the southern rangelands experienced decreased commodity prices, adverse seasonal extremes, high total grazing pressure due to non-domestic grazers and a comparatively low level of investment in infrastructure.

For more information please contact Pastoral Land Management on (08) 9347 5126.

Region Number of stations inspected

Number of stations with issues identified

Number of stations with no issues

Southern rangelands

52 48 (92%) 4 (8%)

Northern rangelands

22 7 (32%) 15 (68%)

State total 74 55 (74%) 19 (26%)

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Pastoral Exclusions Negotiations Update

The 2015 pastoral exclusion negotiation process is now well under way and the legislative target of 7 December 2004 is looming.

The Exclusion Negotiations Steering Committee including:

• Chairman - Director General, Department for Planning and Infrastructure (DPI)

• Chairman, Pastoral Lands Board

• Executive Director, Department of Conservation and Land Management (CALM),

has now met on several occasions.

The Committee’s two primary functions are to:

1. ensure that appropriate and equitable outcomes to exclusion negotiations are achieved.

2. provide suitable recommendations to the Hon Alannah MacTiernan MLA, in her capacity as Minister for Lands.

Twelve exclusions were accepted by the lessees, and a further twenty-three exclusion agreements have been recommended to the Minister for consideration.

The exclusion proposal for Kadji Kadji pastoral lease was finalised with the acquisition and surrender of the entire lease to the State on 4 September 2003. The acquiring agency was CALM, acting on behalf of the State.

Pastoralists who have elected to negotiate on either the extent of the exclusion or rental adjustment have been contacted and negotiations with either CALM or Department for Planning and Infrastructure staff are progressing in line with the Ministerial approved guidelines. Negotiators are confident that the remaining exclusion proposals can be reported to the Committee in a timely manner. A September/October 2004 target date has been adopted. This should ensure the 7 December 2004 legislative deadline is achieved.

Further information can be obtained by contacting Jeff Murray at Pastoral Land Management on (08) 9347 5126.

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The Natural Resource Management Council of Western AustraliaDon Crawford, Manager, Natural Resource Management Office, Department of Agriculture, South Perth

The Natural Resource Management (NRM) Council was established 8 July 2002. It was created by the Western Australian Government to address natural resource issues such salinity and other land, water and biodiversity issues..

“Under its Terms of Reference the NRM Council is obliged to:

1. Adopt a community leadership role for natural resource management in Western Australia.

2. Provide high level policy and strategic advice on natural resource management to the Chair of the Cabinet Standing Committee on Environmental Policy on:

• Implementation of the State Salinity Strategy and Government’s response to the Salinity Taskforce;

• How legislation can best be used to support NRM;

• Development of NRM policy and strategy;

• Coordination and delivery of national NRM programs, in particular, the National Action Plan on Salinity and Water Quality (NAP) and the Natural Heritage Trust II (NHT II), including accreditation of regional strategies; and

• Implementation of the Salinity Investment Framework and other decision support tools for investment in NRM.

3. Foster a consultative approach that ensures broad community involvement in NRM policy development.”

The Council reports to the Minister for the Environment, the Chair of the Cabinet Standing Committee on Environmental Policy, and the Cabinet Standing Committee on NRM and Salinity. It is supported by the State NRM Office based at Department of Agriculture Western Australia’s office in South Perth.

The Council has 13 members. It comprises people with skills, knowledge and expertise in the many facets of sustainable NRM. It has eight community members and five Director Generals of NRM agencies. The Chair is a community member.

Sustainable natural resource management is defined as using, conserving and enhancing natural resources so that ecological processes on which life depends are maintained and the total quality of life, now and in the future, can be increased.

Projects and achievements of the Council under its three terms of reference include:

• Leadership – developing a Memorandum of Understanding between Government and the regional NRM groups, developing a rangelands vision and supporting the Rangelands Working Group, coordinating a monitoring and evaluation initiative and initiating a structure for capacity building

• Policy advice – developing a framework for vegetation conservation with incentives, initiating the Salinity Investment Framework, advising on legislation, advising on salinity coordination; and

• Community Involvement – liaising with groups, producing a newsletter, website (www.nrm.org.au)

For more information, contact the Council on (08) 9368 3164 or dleech@agric.wa.gov.au

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Unauthorised Structures RemovedUnauthorised squatters’ camps or fishing shacks can cause problems for people and the environment. What’s more, if one appears it can lead to a proliferation of similar structures in the same area, compounding the problems.

In July 2004, the Department for Planning and Infrastructure’s regional and Pastoral Land Management staff worked together to remove such a camp from a coastal pastoral lease. The site has now been rehabilitated.

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The Australian Rangeland Society

The Australian Rangeland Society is an independent and non aligned association. Members are interested in the sustainable use and management of Australia’s rangelands. The Society sees its role as providing a forum for the free exchange of ideas and information about the rangelands.

The Society welcomes members who are involved with the use of rangelands and particularly those who are involved in the day-to-day management of the land for production, conservation, mining, living or recreation.

Membership rates are $80 for full membership, which includes the journal and newsletter, and $45 for part membership, which includes the newsletter only. Discounted rates for students are available.

The Rangeland Journal is published twice per year. It includes papers on any aspect of the ecology, use, management or conservation of rangelands, either within Australia or internationally.

The Range Management Newsletter, with three issues per year, is the prime means of communication between members of the Society. It includes articles or views on any matter connected with the use of rangelands.

The Society holds a biennial conference. The 2004 conference was held in July in Alice Springs with the theme ‘Living in the Outback’.

For more information see the website at www.austrangesoc.com.au, or contact the Secretary, Sandra Van Vreeswyk by e-mail on svanvreeswyk@dpi.wa.gov.au or by telephone on (08) 9347 5120.

Apiary Sites On Pastoral LeasesSean Bryce, Apiary Site Officer, Dept of Conservation and Land Management

To assist pastoralists in assessing any apiary site permit applications on their station, the Department of Conservation and Land Management is in the process of designing a new webpage called “Apiary Sites on Pastoral Leases”.

The webpage will provide information on the role of the Beekeeping Consultative Committee and the new process for issuing permits on pastoral leases.

The form, which needs to be signed by both the beekeeper and the pastoralist, has been re designed and will be made available from this website.

The webpage will also provide some information relating to when and how frequently beekeepers use sites on pastoral leases.

To view this new webpage please visit: http://www.naturebase.net/forest_facts/apiary/index.html

For further enquires please contact Sean Bryce, Apiary Site Officer on (08) 9334 0529 or by e-mail apiary@calm.wa.gov.au.

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Exotic Sheep Comments from the 2003 Annual ReturnsSection 5.5 of the 2003 Annual Return of Livestock and Improvements asked the following question:

Do you have any problems with exotic sheep on your lease? Please give brief details.

466 pastoral lessees submitted Annual Returns in 2003. Of these 90 per cent indicated they had no problems with exotic sheep on their lease with 240 answering ‘no’ and 178 leaving this question blank (which was considered to be a ‘no’ answer).

Two lessees commented that exotic sheep breeds will ensure the viability of the pastoral industry. Three commented on the positive characteristics of exotic sheep, such as being well suited to the conditions and climate, no mulesing required and good lambing percentages. Three lessees reported they were considering changing from Merinos into these breeds.

One lessee indicated that, like Merinos, exotic sheep only cause problems when they are not properly managed. One noted that adequate fencing helps all parties and four reported that their fencing was adequate to prevent any problems. Three lessees reported that they ran Damara and pure Merino flocks separately without problems.

Six lessees stated that they were having problems with straying Merino sheep with one reporting that he had returned more than 200 Merinos to his neighbours that year.

Two lessees queried why this question was being asked, with one stating that the Act does not specify that only Merinos can be run. One lessee commented that the question was mischievous.

48 lessees (10 per cent) indicated they had problems with exotic sheep on their lease. Of these, 26 were in the Murchison region, 17 in the Carnarvon region and 5 in the Goldfields/Nullarbor region. From their comments, 24 were assessed as having major concerns and 19 as having minor concerns. Five answered ‘yes’ but gave no indication of the level of concern.

Lessees who indicated they had major concerns commented that exotic sheep were a major threat to the pastoral wool industry. Eleven lessees indicated they were vigilant in removing straying exotic sheep and their progeny, reporting numbers removed of up to 200. Incursions by Damara rams as well as resultant Damara cross lambs were reported.

Eight lessees commented that exotic sheep breeds wander, with some reporting they were coming from up to 150 km away.

Five lessees commented that pastoral fencing is inadequate to contain exotic sheep. One lessee reported that these sheep keep appearing, despite his best efforts in trying to keep them out through fence repairs. One lessee questioned if any fence other than electric fencing could stop them. One lessee suggested that containment fencing for lessees who run exotic sheep should be strictly enforced.

Two lessees compared Damaras to goats and one to cane toads and warned they would be the next feral explosion in the rangelands.

The question has been retained in the 2004 Annual Return to allow further information on this contentious issue to be collected.

For further information please contact Pastoral Land Management on (08) 9347 5126.

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Information Received Vital for Pastoral Land Management

The information extracted from the “Annual Return of Livestock and Improvement Form” (Return) is essential to the Pastoral Lands Board (PLB) in successfully implementing two out of three of its primary functions. These functions are:

• to administer pastoral leases in accordance with Part 7 of the Land Administration Act 1997;

• to ensure that pastoral leases are managed on an ecological sustainable basis; and

• to provide advice on pastoral matters to the Hon Alannah MacTiernan MLA, Minister for Planning and Infrastructure in her capacity as Minister of Lands.

All pastoral leaseholders in Western Australia are required, under section 113 of the Land Administration Act 1997 (LAA), to submit to the PLB any information relating to the land under the lease or the activities on the land, on an annual basis.

The Return must include:

• information as to stock numbers on the Return date;

• full particulars, including costs, of all improvements effected on land under the lease in the period of 12 months before the return date, or, if the lease was granted during that period, between the commencement of the lease and the return date; and

• full particulars of the use of each area of land affected by a permit issued under Division 5 of the LAA.

The form has been developed and approved to assist pastoralists with their Return. It is based on the financial year and must be received by PLB no later than 31 December of that year. The data provided is entered into the Pastoral Land Information System (PLIS), a shared computer system where data can be entered and extracted by Pastoral Land Management (PLM) and Department of Agriculture Western Australia (DAWA) staff only. It is treated confidentially and can not be accessed or used by other agencies unless PLB has given prior approval.

Information stored in PLIS is used on a daily basis for pastoral lease and general administration duties. The up to date pastoral lessee contact details provided in section one of the return enables effective and efficient communication/correspondence between PLM and DAWA staff and pastoralists about all matters concerning pastoral leased lands. DAWA also utilises the contact details to arrange pastoral lease inspections and in the preparation of Range Condition Assessment (RCA) reports.

Stock details provided in section two of the Return are used to calculate the stock equivalents run on the station. When compared with the potential carrying capacity this figure is used as a guide by PLM staff to investigate whether a lessee may be running too many stock, thereby ensuring the continued sustainable management of pastoral lands. DAWA uses the information provided in section two of the Report routinely for lease inspections, preparation of Rangeland Condition Assessment reports, carrying capacities assessment and against management plan undertakings. They also use the information provided in the return as source information for research and trend indicators for the pastoral industry and in aggregated form in various publications, papers and annual reports.

The data collected on station improvements in section three of the Return is used by DAWA as an indication as to whether lessees are improving or maintaining the infrastructure on their

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station. This will affect the future value of the property and is important in the long term management of the pastoral land.

Additional information in section five of the Report provides DAWA with information on weather, climatic events, native and feral animal numbers, exotic sheep numbers, pest species and weeds. This information is essential in the future development and management of the rangelands. It is used to highlight the current issues confronting pastoralists, and enables DAWA to establish management plans and strategies to combat these major issues to ensure the continued sustainability of the pastoral land. This information is also important in preparation for pastoral lease inspections and provides a good indication of the over all health of the rangelands.

From time to time, the Police Stock Investigation Unit may issue a warrant to obtain Returns, as part of is investigation and/or prosecution in relation to stock theft.

PLIS provides access to up to date livestock numbers and trends at the station scale allowing DAWA to aggregate the data into a large number of different spatial cut outs, which is useful to interpret changes in the state of the rangelands. Information collected in the Return provides information about current and future trends in the pastoral industry; for example, it has been used to assess to what extent pastoralists in Western Australia are adapting their stocking rates to deal with drought. This is highly valuable in regards to the management of pastoral land and the changes in pastoral practices that may need to occur in the future to ensure long term sustainability.

The information available to the Valuer General’s Office (VGO) via the annual returns is necessary for the purposes of rating, calculating rents and market evaluations. Most market evaluations are now conducted with inspections, however it is not always possible for VGO officers to physically inspect every property and the sale evidence to establish a station value. VGO therefore relies upon records of livestock, fencing and water and building improvements information derived from the Returns to determine the total unimproved value on the individual lease. Once allowances are made to this unimproved value a rental value is determined.

The 2004 rental increases were calculated as a function of these unimproved lease values. Land rates are also determined using this unimproved lease value. The information provided is therefore extremely important for desk top evaluations to establish both the unimproved pastoral lease value and ground rents. This information will increase in importance as 2015 nears; both in regard to leases affected by exclusions and those leases not to be renewed.

The information collected from the return enables Western Australia to accurately generate comparable information at property and larger scales that are fundamental from a number of viewpoints including National Rangeland Management, animal production and economic development. This aids in the development of management plans focussing on the sustainable future of our pastoral lands.

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Wild Dog Questions in the 2004 Annual Return

Lessees will notice that the Annual Return of Livestock and Improvements for 2004 includes additional questions seeking to establish details of any wild dog impacts on production over the last 12 months.

These questions were specifically recommended via the industry evaluation of the effectiveness and efficiency of the current Wild Dog Control Program undertaken in 2003. This evaluation was carried out by a panel of producer representatives and under the chairmanship of Mrs Michelle Allen, a member of the Agriculture Protection Board.

The report contained 25 recommendations for consideration by the APB. Most have since been implemented, however some are still being investigated.

The need for better information on trends in wild dog numbers, movements and impacts was one of five key findings.. Panel members acknowledged the lack of good information in this area made the effectiveness of current control efforts very difficult to assess. It also limits the control program’s ability to respond quickly to changes.

The assistance of lessees in completing these questions will help to provide better information to the Board regarding the impacts of wild dogs on pastoral businesses, and earlier warning of increasing dog numbers (e.g. desert animals moving closer to pastoral/farming areas), so that control efforts can be better targeted to minimise associated damage.

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Pastoral Lands Board Members

Professor Graeme Robertson has been appointed as the new Chairman of Western Australia’s Pastoral Lands Board, replacing Professor Alan Robson who resigned from the position to take up the position of Vice Chancellor at the University of Western Australia.Graeme Robertson is the current Director and Professor of the Muresk Institute, Curtin University of Technology. He was previously the Director General of the Department of Agriculture and the Chairperson of the Federal Land and Water Resources Research and Development Corporation.Other appointments announced by the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure are:• Robert Watson from Mt Anderson Station south of Derby who is Deputy Chair of the Kimberley

Aboriginal Pastoralists Association and• Ann Coppin, who has been the station/business manager of Yarrie Station near Marble Bar

since 1976.Three appointees continue as members on the current Board. They are:• Adrian Morrissey from Meeline Station near Mt Magnet• Susan Bradley of Doongan Station in the North Kimberley and• David Wilcox as the conservation memberDepartmental member representatives also continue. They are• Sandra Eckert, representing the Director General of the Department for Planning and

Infrastructure

• Charlie Thorn, representing the Director General of the Department of Agriculture

Continuing as deputy members are:• Jack Burton of Yeeda Station in the Kimberley, as deputy to Susan Bradley and• Denise True, as deputy to David Wilcox.Three new deputy members have been appointed:• Patricia Maslen from Cooralya Station near Carnarvon as deputy to Ann Coppin• Marion Dolby from Mt Pierre Station near Fitzroy Crossing as deputy to Robert Watson and• Rod Campbell from Kybo Station on the Nullarbor as deputy to Adrian MorrisseyThe new members were appointed for a period of between 1-2 years, which extends the terms long enough to ensure consistency and continuation of policy work, which was a commitment arising from the Gascoyne Muster Pastoral Industry Forums.

Pastoral Lands Board

Telephone: (08) 9347 5126Facsimile: (08) 9347 5009E-mail: plb@dpi.wa.gov.auWebsite: www.dpi.wa.gov.au/pastoralAddress: Pastoral Land Management Department for Planning and Infrastructure PO Box 1575 MIDLAND WA 6936

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