For landholders in Western NSW Autumn 2017 Edition No. 151 ISSN 0314-5352

Technologies tame tough terrainBy Jamie-Lee Oldfield Livestock Editor Herald and Weekly Times, Melbourne

New technology is helping Hay Plains woolgrowers to farm smarter and safer. The 2017 biennial Peppin-Shaw Ewe Flock Forum, held on 7 and 8 March, travelled to nine properties over 2 days, covering more than 1000 kilometres. At Benilke Station, about 150 kilometres north-west of Hay, Russell and Suzanne Nield are using telemetry water monitoring and drone technology to help run their 7000 Merino ewes on 37,000 hectares. Their son Cameron demonstrated how the drone can be used to find and move sheep, especially in heavily timbered paddocks.

‘It’s not going to replace a motorbike, and it’s not going to replace a person, but it’s a tool and it’s handy: it’s up to your imagination what you want to do with it’, Cameron said.

‘If you fly it over a whole heap of trees and go up to 70 to 80 metres, you’ll go, “Wow – I can see everything from up there!” All you’ve got to do is hit a stump and break your leg, and where do you stand then in this kind of country? The drone eliminates that and brings in extra safety straight away.’

The drone came into its own when they were putting the rams out; Cameron said that they used it to work the large mobs of ewes towards the rams in the paddock.

‘You work the ewes to the rams, and push them back to the dam. It’s all done in 6 or 7 minutes, paddock after paddock. If you have 20 paddocks, there’s no riding around on a motorbike in 40 °C heat all day’, he said.

Top: Cameron Nield of Benilke Pastoral, via Balranald, demonstrates mustering of Merinos with a drone during the Peppin-Shaw Ewe Flock Forum in early March; Bottom: Cameron Nield’s drone above a mob of ewes it has successfully returned to the yards following a release to demonstrate drone mustering. Photos by Jamie-Lee Oldfield

»» Western Local Land Services»» Riverina Local Land Services»» Murray Local Land Services

»» NSW Department of Industry – Lands »» NSW Rural Assistance Authority

© State of New South Wales through the Department of Industry, Skills, and Regional Development 2017. This work is copyright. You may download, display, print and reproduce this material in an unaltered form only (retaining this notice) for your own personal use or for non-commercial use in your organisation. To copy, adapt, publish, distribute, or commercialise any of this publication you will need to to seek permission from the Editor of the Western Newsletter.

The information contained in this publication is based on knowledge and understanding at the time of writing (April 2017). However, because of advances in knowledge, users are reminded of the need to ensure that information upon which they rely is up to date and to check currency of the information with the appropriate officer of the Department of Trade and Investment, Regional Infrastructure and Services or the user’s independent adviser.

The Western Newsletter is produced by Riverina Local Land Services with funding assistance from:

p2 Western Newsletter

In this issueTechnologies tame tough terrain

page 1What’s the Voluntary Surrender Scheme at Lightning Ridge all about?

page 2Staff movements in the Far West

page 3Legal Roads Network Project Update

page 32017 Hay Peppin-Shaw Ewe Flock Forum done and dusted!

page 4Autumn lambing

page 5Larger tail end of weaners seen this season

page 6Landholders get great value out of sheep nutrition and breeding workshop

page 6Looking to buy feed? Compare prices the easy way

page 7Hands-on experience at native plant identification workshop

page 8NSW malleefowl recovery a step closer following Buronga and Hillston workshops

page 9Malleefowl in the Riverina

page 10Rangelands paddock restoration near Booligal

page 10Technology helps tackle feral animal problems

page 11Diversity of Riverina sandhills captured on film

page 12Pooncarie Field Day Group celebrates a 20-year milestone

page 16Celebrating the produce of the Western Region

page 17Western Lands Advisory Council communiqué

page 18

What’s the Voluntary Surrender Scheme at Lightning Ridge all about?

By Joshua Higgs Group Leader – Property Management Department of Industry – Lands, Dubbo Phone 02 6883 5445

The Lightning Ridge Voluntary Surrender Scheme (VSS) was set up by the NSW Government to meet the 2015–2019 election commitment of ‘working towards securing landowner interests in Lightning Ridge’. The Scheme’s aim is to reduce instances of land-use conflict between opal mining and agriculture in the Lightning Ridge area. The VSS is a joint project of the Department of Industry – Lands and the NSW Division of Resources and Energy.

The Scheme started in early March 2016, with representatives from both agencies holding stakeholder engagement sessions in Lightning Ridge. Various stakeholders were provided with individual sessions during this process, and there was also an open community session.

Western Lands leaseholders located in Opal Prospecting Areas 1, 2 and 3 were then invited to lodge non-binding expressions of interest by 30 March 2016 to participate in the scheme, and these were assessed by an independent panel. The land proposed for surrender was then valued by an independent valuer to determine the market value, and offers were made to the landholders to enter into a Deed of Agreement that would surrender their Western Lands Leases.

Seven Deeds of Agreement were entered into with landholders and all were finalised before the end of 2016. Completion of the Deeds resulted in the surrender of over 19,500 hectares of land that was previously held as Western Lands Leases. The surrendered land included over 800 mining tenures.

Surrendered land has been added to the existing Lightning Ridge and Surrounding Opal Fields Management Reserve. Agriculturally viable land will be subdivided, fenced and made available for purchase as leases through a public competitive process; the opal-bearing ‘ridge land’ will continue to be reserved.

Land within the Lightning Ridge and Surrounding Opal Fields Management Reserve is reserved for the following public purposes: Opal Mining and Exploration, Public Access, Tourist Facilities and Services, Accommodation, Heritage Purposes, Public Recreation, Future Public Requirements, Environmental Protection, Rural Services and Government Services. The reserve is currently managed by the Department of Industry – Lands, but in future the Reserve will be managed by a Community Trust and a Management Plan will be developed.

p3Western Newsletter

Staff movements in the Far WestBy Julie Richards Senior Natural Resource Management Officer NSW Department of Industry – Lands Far West Region, Dubbo

Earlier this year colleagues and friends took the opportunity to farewell Geoffry Cullenward, Rangeland Management Officer for the Wilcannia District. Geoffry retired from his position with the Department just shy of 30 years’ working out of the Broken Hill office but servicing the vast Wilcannia district, including the townships of Ivanhoe, Menindee and White Cliffs.

Geoffry started his career with the Western Lands Commission in April 1987, and since that time he has seen great changes in regard to legislation, technology and staff. But what stayed the same were the properties and landholders he regularly visited and the relationships and memories he formed, not to mention the flies, weather, floods or bogged cars!

With the retirement of Geoffry and the sea-change resignation of Tiff Brown, Rangelands Management Officer for the Broken Hill and Unincorporated Area district, comes a new era at the Broken Hill Office. Local Broken Hill resident Jody

Chinner started in December last year, taking on all Western Lands and Crown Land functions for the Broken Hill office. Jody comes with extensive experience in natural resources management and valuable local knowledge about her district.

We welcome Jody to the Far West – Lands team and hope she enjoys getting to know her district and the many landholders in her area and the challenges they face.

If you would like to contact Jody, please call (08) 8082 5202 or visit the office at NSW Government Office Block, 32 Sulphide Street, Broken Hill.

Top: Geoffry Cullenward; Bottom: Geoffry Cullenward dealt with plenty of bogged cars in his nearly 30 years with the Department. Photos supplied by Department of Industry – Lands

Legal Roads Network Project UpdateBy Maurice Cenzato Senior Property Management Officer Department of Industry – Lands (Far West) Phone (02) 6883 5400

The Legal Roads Network team has now drawn up 65 plans identifying over 14,134 kilometres of shire road and 2527 kilometres of restricted easements to landlocked properties in the Western Division.

The team has started preparing the fourth roads plan within Walgett Shire, and the second plan was recently lodged at Land and Property Information NSW for registration. The roads subject to the recent plan lodgement are Burranbaa Rd, Ridge Rd, Bonanza Rd and Angledool Rd.

The roads that the project has started working on within the fourth plan are Wilby Wilby Rd, Narran Lake Rd, Kurrajong Rd, Gingie Rd and Kia Ora Rd. Landholders whose primary access is via these roads should have received, or will soon receive, paperwork outlining the actions they need to take to ensure that they have legal access. It is essential that landholders who have not returned their paperwork do so as soon as possible to ensure that their requirements for access are addressed.

Within the Wentworth Shire, the team has prepared the second-last roads plan, representing the following roads: Anabranch Mail Rd, Milpara Rd, Tooperoopna Rd, Lagoon Rd, West Rd, Wentworth Boat Ramp Rd, Log Bridge Rd, Loop Rd and Perry Sand Hills Rd. We

expect that within the coming week this plan will be lodged at Land and Property Information for registration.

The team has also lodged at Land and Property Information the dealings to close the previously dedicated Western Division Roads in the shires of Bourke and Cobar.

In the coming months the team will start the administration process to dedicate the identified Legal Roads Network roads and close the Western Division Roads within Wentworth Shire and residual parts of Cobar.

If you have any inquiries regarding this project please contact the Department of Industry – Lands Far West office on 02 6883 5400 or via email at clwestern.region@crownland.nsw.gov.au

p4 Western Newsletter

2017 Hay Peppin-Shaw Ewe Flock Forum done and dusted!

By Annabel Lugsdin Secretary, Peppin-Shaw Riverina Ewe Flock Forum

Following on the back of an excellent spring with continuing high wool and meat prices, the 2017 biennial Peppin-Shaw Ewe Flock Forum, held early in March, was always going to go well. Nine local properties from varying backgrounds – both corporate and family – displayed well-grown young Merino ewes. A variety of discussions in the yards and on the tour bus covering breeding and pastoral management made the event not only informative but also entertaining for participants and exhibitors alike.

Over 1000 kilometres were travelled across the plains during the 2-day forum. The first stop on the Tuesday morning was the inspection of the Wyvern young ewes at the new woolshed owned by the Field family. This was followed by a drone display by experienced operator Ben Watts. Ben had on display several drone models for participants to view and operate, and he discussed the roles of different drones as tools to help large-scale farmers. The bus next moved to the Mulberrygong woolshed to inspect the Burrabogie young ewes

owned by Australian Food and Fibre, before heading down south to view the McCrabbs’ commercial ewes at the Avenel Merino Stud.

A delicious smorgasbord lunch at the Wanganella Hall included a presentation by Bayer on the new farm management app AgriWebb. The final stop for the day was the Lugsdins’ property ‘Warrendale’ near Gunbar, where the use of electronic tags and a wand was discussed during the sheep inspection. A social evening at the Waradgery Club, featuring a viewing of the drone footage collected at the property visits, concluded the day.

On the second day, Wednesday, the bus headed north-east of Booligal to the Vaggs’ family property ‘Furlong’. With Allan Vagg entertaining participants with his bush poetry skills to pass some time, the bus returned to Booligal and then headed west. The Turner family put on display their young ewes and newly renovated woolshed at Woorandara, west of Booligal. Next followed a quick stop at the Morphett family’s 103-year-old Alma woolshed before we moved on to the Dowlings’ property ‘Merritop’. The Dowlings’ young ewes were displayed in a new set of yards near a bore towards the back end of the property.

On the local back road to the next property, participants viewed a mob of goats caught in a trap yard, as well as a solar bore used for stock watering, before arriving at the Nields’ family property ‘Benilke’. There they had lunch in the woolshed and inspected the house desalination plant, and afterwards it was a short trip to the yards to inspect the Benilke ewes.

Cameron Nield also put on a very entertaining display of some skilled drone mustering to bring sheep that were out of view back to the yards. The final stop for the bus was to inspect the large mob of young ewes that Tupra had on display in the recently built yards at ‘Nandum’, owned by the McLachlan family. At each stop the assessors made comments on the sheep in the yards after the landholder presentations. The assessors were Courtney Sutherland from Wagin in Western Australia, who covered the wool, and Jarrod Slattery from Landmark in Wagga, who discussed the meat attributes.

For further information on the Forum visit the website at www.peppinshaw.com.au or contact the Secretary, Annabel Lugsdin, on 0428 539 167.

Drone footage of the Furlong woolshed and yards during the recent Peppin-Shaw Ewe Flock Forum. Photo by Richard Snashall 

p5Western Newsletter

Autumn lambingBy Liz Braddon  Team Leader Animal Biosecurity and Welfare Regional Veterinarian Riverina Local Land Services, Young eliz.braddon@lls.nsw.gov.au

As autumn approaches, producers need to think about their management of autumn-lambing ewes.

Animal husbandry jobs such as shearing, crutching, vaccinating and drenching need to be done at least 4 weeks before lambing to minimise the stress on heavily pregnant ewes. Doing a worm test before drenching will help determine whether a drench is required.

Feed is currently scarce in the paddocks, so some thought needs to go into the nutritional requirements of the ewe. A heavily pregnant ewe requires an increasing supply of energy as her lamb or lambs continue to grow. If not enough energy is supplied the ewe will develop pregnancy toxaemia. Treatment of this condition is generally unsuccessful: prevention is the only option.

If paddock feed doesn’t contain enough energy, supplementary feeding with grain is the best option. Ewes need to be introduced to grain slowly to prevent grain poisoning. If the ewe’s main diet is grain or grass based (as opposed to legume based) she will need extra calcium in the last 4 to 6 weeks of pregnancy. A loose lick of lime and salt is an easy way to supply calcium.

Alternatively, this can be mixed with the grain at 1.5%. Protein and magnesium become important as the ewes start to lactate. Adding Causmag to the lime will take care of the magnesium.

Supplying protein is not as simple. Dry feed will be lacking in protein. High levels of protein can be found in seeds such as lupins and cotton seed, as well as in protein meals. Cereal grains will have varying levels of protein.

Basically, a ewe getting full hand-feeding would require 50% more than her normal requirements in late pregnancy and up to 100% more once the lambs are on the ground (in lactation). For example, a fully hand-fed ewe requires 3.5 kilograms of grain a week if no feed is available in the paddock. This means that in late pregnancy she would need about 5 kilograms of grain a week, increasing to 7 kilograms a week in early lactation.

Obviously, that’s a lot of grain, and luckily this year there’s available feed in the paddock. So the trick is to estimate how much feed value is in the paddock and then supplement the ewe with the rest. If you estimate that your paddock (or supplemented hay) is providing 50%, then you would need to supplement only half the grain (e.g. 2.5 kilograms a week in late pregnancy, rising to 3.5 kilograms a week when in lactation).

A FEW WORDS OF CAUTIONStarting sheep on grain requires an introductory phase to avoid grain poisoning or other gut upsets. Usually, we

recommend starting at 100 grams per head per day and increasing this every third day by another 100 grams, provided there are no problems in the mob (e.g. scouring, lameness or ill thrift). Keep going until you reach your required feeding level.

Lupins are the safest to feed out, followed by oats. Grains such as barley, wheat and triticale require a slower introduction to avoid any issues.

Heavily pregnant, fat or multiple-bearing ewes won’t have a lot of room in their rumens for bulky feeds, so in some cases, even if hay or pasture is available, you have to increase the amount of grain to provide a compact, energy-packed feed source.

A FEW OTHER THINGS»■ There appear to be plenty of foxes

around, so start baiting at least 2 weeks before lambing.

»■ Don’t forget to give your pre-lambing vaccinations 4 to 6 weeks out to get good colostrum for your lambs.

»■ Check the ewes 4 to 6 weeks out for internal parasites (worms) by doing a worm test so that you can drench if you need to.

»■ Give ewes a sheltered paddock if possible so they can get some protection if the weather turns cold.

For more specific advice, call your local district vet at Riverina Local Land Services at Hay (6990 1300), Wagga Wagga (6923 6300), Gundagai (6940 6900) or Young (6381 4799).

p6 Western Newsletter

Larger tail end of weaners seen this season

By Courtney Simkin District Veterinarian Riverina Local Land Services Hay Phone 0427 418 006 courtney.simkin@lls.nsw.gov.au

The beautiful green and wet start to the season has brought with it a larger tail end and an increase in weaner losses across the Hay Plains. There have been multiple reports of ‘woody looking’ weaners and increased mortality. With the unseasonal conditions of floods and high rainfall there was a great-looking flush of grass, which, with pasture, grew at an astounding rate. Unfortunately, this meant that the grass grew too fast

to have enough nutrients built into it. Some properties sent their pastures or grasses off for feed assessment. The results were disappointing, with very low metabolisable energy levels: the grasses were described as ‘green cardboard’. All of this ‘green cardboard’ has now dried out and is offering even less energy.

The wet season has also seen an increase in worm burdens. There have been two confirmed diagnoses of Haemonchus contortus (barber’s pole worm) infestation near Hay this summer (an event previously unheard of ), and several suspect cases have also been treated. The floodwaters brought with them more than just wet feet and lameness. Barber’s pole worms drink blood, and in severe cases there can be

up to 10,000 live worms in the stomach (abomasum) of the sheep. Each worm drinks 0.1 millilitres of blood a day, giving a potential total daily blood loss per animal of 1 litre! Sheep can thus die from anaemia. The presence of barber’s pole worm can be confirmed by a simple worm test; test boxes can be collected from your Local Land Services office.

If you ever have any concerns about your stock, your Local Land Services District Vets are just a phone call away. We offer free advice and can come out onto your property to help review any concerns. Remember, if something is concerning you, it’s usually for good reason and it may be something that can be simply rectified.

Landholders get great value out of sheep nutrition and breeding workshopA strong turnout of 14 landholders gained a greater understanding of the importance of sheep nutrition and breeding following a workshop held in Milparinka recently.

The 1-day workshop, which was held at the Albert Hotel on Thursday 9 March and was organised in conjunction with Meat and Livestock Australia, covered a number of important topics, such as how best to meet your production goals within a rangeland environment.

This included discussion around the influence of nutrition, the importance of a healthy native pasture system, and the role of genetic selection in creating a productive and efficient enterprise.

A key theme from the day was that rather than trying to manipulate the environment to better suit your livestock, it’s often easier and more economical to breed and select animals that are best suited to the environment you’re working in.

The workshop focused on giving landholders insights into how to get the best returns from their livestock, and Senior Land Services Officer Mitch Plumbe said that those who attended were highly engaged and found the day very helpful.

‘Workshops that focus on topics like the role genetics play in animal production and identifying the traits most important to your enterprise are highly valuable for all landholders’, said Mitch. ‘We had strong interest in the workshop from the time it was announced, and this continued right up to the day itself.

‘Landholders had great interaction with the presenter – Productive Nutrition’s San Jolly – and among themselves. Everyone found this highly valuable, as they were getting first-hand feedback from other producers within the region, along with insights from a renowned private consultant.’

Further information on getting livestock advice can be found at www.western.lls.nsw.gov.au/livestock.

Productive Nutrition’s San Jolly speaking at the sheep nutrition and breeding workshop at Milparinka. Photo by Mitch Plumbe

p7Western Newsletter

Looking to buy feed? Compare prices the easy way

By Genevieve GuestSenior Land Services Officer – Livestock Murray Local Land Services, AlburyPhone 0409 077 254

With autumn feeding under way, knowing which feed represents the best value (and is not just the cheapest per tonne) can be easier than you might think. To work it out, you’ll need to know four things about the feed:»■ cost per tonne landed on the farm»■ dry matter (DM)»■ energy (ME)»■ crude protein (CP) (the importance of

this depends heavily on the class of animal you are feeding).

(Skip this next bit if you know what DM, ME and CP are.)

Dry matter (DM) will be presented as a percentage and is normally the easiest to determine, as the ball-park figures are normally predictable.

The only way to know the megajoules of energy per kilogram of DM (ME) is to get the feed tested. Some feeds are similar across the range, whereas others vary widely. But beware: even the normally predictable feeds can still vary significantly. Barley is usually fairly predictable, but this year I’ve already heard of one crop coming back at a staggeringly low 4 ME (you may as well feed cardboard) and only 6% protein (not as bad, but still not enough for most classes of livestock). If someone buys this for

their stock, they’ll soon be wondering why the stock are still going backwards.

Crude protein (CP) is a whole other topic, but it, too, can vary a huge amount. Unless the ‘normal range’ is above what you need, a test would be good.

How do we compare feeds?

The NSW DPI Drought Feed Calculator app (https://itunes.apple.com/au/app/drought-feed-calculator/id921986324?mt=8) is the easiest method I’ve come across so far for comparing feeds and is available for both Apple and Android users. The NSW DPI Feed Cost Calculator is also very easy to use and is available on the NSW DPI website at http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/animals-and-livestock/nutrition/costs-and-nutritive-value/feed-cost-calculator.

The Drought Feed Calculator app uses five ‘tabs’: three for up to three different feed types, one for mixing the feeds, and one for livestock. Note that the livestock tab is just a rough guide and looks only at drought feeding (feeding for maintenance, not production), but you don’t need this tab to compare feeds anyway.

To compare two feeds using the app:

1. Select ‘Feed 1’ on the taskbar and then select the feed type (barley, lucerne hay, faba beans, etc).

2. If you don’t have feed test results, use the app’s autofilled results. If you have test results, just select the boxes and replace the figures with your own. It’s that simple (see Sample screen 1).

3. The results will automatically calculate.

For example, from Sample screen 1, you have:»■ Oats: ME 11.5 and CP 10.5 at $250/tonne»■ Wheat: ME 13.0 and CP 12.0 at $350/tonne

To work out which is the cheapest feed to buy, compare ‘Cost cents per MJ’ and ‘Cost $/kg protein’ (see Sample screen 2):In this case it would cost (per megajoule of energy supplied):»■ Oats = 2.42 cents/MJ ($250/tonne with

an ME of 11.5)»■ Wheat = 2.99 cents/MJ ($350/tonne with

an ME of 13.0)

For protein, it would cost (per kg):»■ Oats = $2.65/kilogram protein ($250/

tonne with a CP of 10.5%)»■ Wheat = $3.24/kilogram protein ($350/

tonne with a CP of 12%)

What if I’m mixing feeds?

The app will also allow you to mix up to three feeds. In the example in Sample screen 3, I have mixed oats and lucerne hay. You can play around with the percentages and it will warn you if the total is not 100%.

It will then tell you the total ME and CP, as well as the cost of both as made up in whatever percentages you choose.

Then ask yourself: Is this feed enough for whatever I’m feeding? That’s a topic for another day.

Sample screen 1, Drought Feed Calculator Sample screen 2, Drought Feed Calculator Sample screen 3, Drought Feed Calculator

p8 Western Newsletter

Hands-on experience at native plant identification workshopThe final event in the Western Walkabout native plant identification and management workshops series has been declared a great success, with landholders gaining valuable knowledge about balancing production and sustainability on their farms. 

Around 20 landholders and interested community members converged on Naree Station, via Fords Bridge, where Australian Network for Plant Conservation Project Manager Martin Driver presented the workshop. 

Martin, who has spent the past 30 years professionally in private enterprise and in community projects gaining hands-on experience in vegetation management, enhancement and restoration, used the workshop to focus on a number of key topics. 

These included how to identify native plants, the benefits of retaining native plants on your property, and how to manage these plants to benefit productivity. 

During the day, Martin took attendees on a paddock walk, which gave them valuable hands-on experience identifying plants in the field.

Senior Land Services Officer Kyra Roach believes that attendees learned some valuable things that they will be able to implement on their own properties. 

‘All the participants took particular interest in identifying the vegetation that was present, and then using their knowledge to implement management strategies around increasing desirable species on their own properties’, said Kyra. 

‘Landholders discussed the varieties of native annual and perennial species, their palatability and nutritional value, and different methods of establishing their seeds. 

‘It was a fabulous networking opportunity for local landholders to engage with each other about the management principles and practices they implement and exchange ideas.’ 

The workshops were organised by Local Land Services Western Region with support from Western Landcare and the NSW Environmental Trust. 

For more information regarding plant identification, contact your Local Land Services Western Region office.

Landholders and community members gained valuable hands-on experience through the paddock walk with Martin Driver. Photo by Jennifer Azevedo

Welcome to all new readers of the Western Newsletter. The Newsletter has been produced over many years by various state agricultural agencies and distributed to landholders in western NSW. With an increased readership distribution, the Newsletter is now also being mailed to landholders in areas other than the far west.If you do not wish to receive the Newsletter or you need to update your details, please complete the following and return it to:

Sally Ware, Editor, Western Newsletter, PO Box 21, Hay, NSW 2711 or fax to (02) 6993 3497 or email sally.ware@lls.nsw.gov.au

o Please change my details o Please remove me from the mailing list

Name:

Original address: Postcode:

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p9Western Newsletter

Milton Lewis has volunteered to head the formation of the NSW malleefowl recovery group and hopes to build on the positive steps that were taken at the end of last year. Photo by Ronni O’Donnell

NSW malleefowl recovery a step closer following Buronga and Hillston workshopsAn engaged group of landholders and community members have shown they’re prepared to fight for the long-term sustainability of malleefowl after declaring their interest in being involved in a recovery group.  The huge shift forward has come following two workshops that were organised by Local Land Services Western Region. 

The free workshops, which were held at Buronga on Monday 12 December and Hillston on Wednesday 14 December last year, were both strongly attended, with over 40 landholders and community members present over the two events. 

From the workshops, a community member has volunteered to project-manage the establishment of the NSW malleefowl recovery group, with Local Land Services Western Region offering support where needed. 

Senior Land Services Officer Ronni O’Donnell hopes that these information sessions will generate interest, first in malleefowl and second in the formation of the recovery group. She couldn’t be happier with the response so far.

‘It was definitely a big step in the right direction, and we’re confident there will

be positive movements in 2017’, said Ms O’Donnell.

‘This is the best possible outcome from these sessions, with great interest shown from landowners, the community and government agencies.

‘It was pleasing that everyone put the conservation and preservation of malleefowl and their habitat first.’

At the workshops a number of expert speakers gave important background information about malleefowl and delivered several key messages. These messages included what is, and is not,

known about malleefowl ecology and conservation, what monitoring is being done, what happens to the data and why the malleefowl is special and worth protecting. 

The community member who has volunteered to project-manage the NSW malleefowl recovery group is Milton Lewis, who is employed by Local Land Services but will be involved in this project in a volunteer capacity only. 

For further information on malleefowl contact your Local Land Services Western Region office.

p10 Western Newsletter

Malleefowl in the RiverinaBy David Kellett Senior Land Services Officer Riverina Local Land Services West Wyalong Phone 0428 693 990

The malleefowl breeding season may be winding up, but we have some great projects about to kick off in the coming months. Riverina Local Land Services have been working on several small projects in the Bland Shire to help promote awareness of malleefowl in the region. We have been working with several landholders and with remote camera experts RMTech, the Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH), NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI), the Lake Cowal Foundation (LCF),

Donato Environmental Services and the Bland Shire Council.

David Kellett (Riverina Local Land Services), Marc Irvin (OEH) and Brendan Doyle (RMTech) have recently set up a live camera at an active mound in the Bland Shire. This project will help community members to better understand how much work these amazing birds put in to maintain their mounds. There will be a link available on our website in the near future: this is a great way to see what the malleefowl are up to from the comfort of your home!

Guy Ballard and Paul Meek (DPI) will be running a trial using about 50 monitoring cameras to determine how many foxes are at one of our malleefowl sites. They will then trap 15 to 20 foxes and fit them with GPS

tracking collars so we can monitor their movements. Part two of this project will be to run another trial using the various baits available from our Biosecurity team to work out the best baits for maximising fox control at the sites in our area.

Mal Carnegie (LCF) has been taking some amazing photos and video these past few weeks and has managed to film several chicks emerging from the mound. You can see these at http://www.lakecowalfoundation.org.au/ and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ty8rLMherx4.

If you have malleefowl on your property or know someone who does and you are interested in finding out more about the malleefowl project, call David Kellett on 02 6970 1201 or 0428 693 990.

Rangelands paddock restoration near BooligalBy Sally WareSenior Land Services Officer Riverina Local Land Services, Hay Phone 0429 307 627 sally.ware@lls.nsw.gov.au

One of the projects on offer in the 2016–2017 Riverina Local Land Services Funding Program was the rangelands paddock restoration project, supported by the National Landcare Programme and Catchment Action NSW. A number of landholders, including Matt Headrick from ‘Round Box’ near Booligal, successfully applied for the funding.

Matt had two small paddocks near the woolshed that he was keen to see restored to perennial native vegetation.

‘Last year we planted old man saltbush in widely spaced rows and with wide spacings between each plant with the idea of creating a microenvironment out here on the open plains that will encourage other smaller saltbushes and perennial grasses to grow in the sheltered area’, he said.

Although many of the seedlings planted died as a result of excess rain in the spring, Matt is confident that with some extra plantings this year in the same location, and at other locations, the desired result will eventually be achieved.

‘Over the 10-year period of the contract and with managed grazing, I’m hoping to have significantly restored a number of small holding paddocks around my woolshed, with the end result being increased plant biodiversity and increased ground cover in a previously heavily grazed area.’

This project was one of the first specific rangeland targeted projects to have been run in the area. It’s been encouraging that many landholders have used it for the long-term benefit of their properties’, said Project Manager Sally Ware.

Landholders interested in applying for any rangeland projects on offer should email Sally at sally.ware@lls.nsw.gov.au or call her mobile on 0429 307 627.

Matt Headrick from ‘Round Box’ near Booligal in one of his small paddocks near the woolshed that has been recently planted to old man saltbush as part of the Riverina Local Land Services rangelands paddock restoration project. Photo by Sally Ware

p11Western Newsletter

Technology helps tackle feral animal problems

By Suzie Holbery Biosecurity Officer Riverina Local Land Services, Hay Phone 0427 592 322 suzie.holbery@lls.nsw.gov.au

An aerial survey of 180,000 hectares of south-west NSW has used thermal imaging technology for the first time to monitor feral pig numbers.

The Western Riverina Pig Program provided such strong data that the results were used as part of an aerial shooting program that culled nearly 4500 feral pigs late last year.

The program covers 1.3 million hectares of the Western, Riverina and Murray Local Land Services regions and is funded by the Federal Government’s 2015–16 three-million-dollar Pest and Weed Drought Funding program.

It’s a joint initiative that also involves the National Parks and Wildlife

Service and the NSW Department of Primary Industries – Water, as part of the Nimmie-Caira project in the Murrumbidgee region.

We filmed 900 kilometres of flight path over 180,000 hectares within the project area, and the imagery collected enabled accurate identification of feral pigs in this landscape. By using the helicopter and thermal imaging, we also gained access to areas that we simply couldn’t reach from the ground, We now have baseline data to track the progress of our feral animal control programs over the next 2 years.

Last November, the results were used to guide a 2-week aerial shooting program that saw 4416 feral pigs destroyed by a highly trained Feral Animal Aerial Shooting Team using two helicopters.

The program involved the National Parks and Wildlife Service and the NSW Department of Primary Industries – Water, as well as private landholders who volunteered to take part.

Tupra Pastoral Company in the Riverina was one of the private holdings involved in the program. David Rankin, manager of Tupra station, provided accommodation for the team at the shearers’ quarters on the property, near Oxley.

‘Our company likes to be involved in the aerial shooting program as it’s the most efficient way to control large numbers of feral pigs’, David said.

‘Hundreds of pigs can be culled in a matter of hours. We then use a variety of ways – including hunting, trapping, and baiting – to control the balance and achieve the best result.

‘It will be great to see more landholders taking up the incentives offered through the project over the next 2 years.’

For more information contact Project Coordinator Suzie Holbery on 0427 592 322.

Ron Kocaj from Riverina Local Land Services, who is a member of the highly trained Feral Animal Aerial Shooting Team, resting during a refuelling stop.  Photo by Suzie Holbery

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Diversity of Riverina sandhills captured on filmLandholders and community groups gained valuable information about plant identification at a recent paddock walk hosted by Riverina Local Land Services.

The paddock walk was filmed and is available to share via Riverina Local Land Services’ YouTube page.

Participants experienced hands-on plant identification and presentations by Australian Network for Plant Conservation Project Manager Martin Driver.

Martin has extensive experience in rangelands vegetation management, enhancement and restoration.

The day began at the Booroorban Royal Mail Hotel for refreshments and a discussion on plant identification, the benefits of retaining native plants on your property, and management of native plants to benefit productivity.

‘Zara’, near Wanganella, was the destination for the paddock walk. The renowned Riverina property has a fenced reserve containing a sandhill community that has been preserved for a long time.

The morning was spent viewing a wide variety of remnant vegetation. The abundance of the species in the reserve in response to the previous spring rainfall was breathtaking.

Local Land Services Senior Land Services Officer Sally Ware says that because the Western Region of the Riverina has such a low and variable rainfall the native vegetation on properties needs to be identified. Once it has been identified, steps need to be taken to maintain it.

‘The informal atmosphere of the day enabled plenty of discussion, with lots of information being exchanged’, Sally said.

‘With Martin leading and providing input, we were able to showcase the diversity of the species on the sandhills at ‘Zara’, as this reserve hosts a full range of plants that are specific to the sandhills of the Riverina.’

This project is supported by Riverina Local Land Services through funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Programme.

The next paddock walk will be held in the Booligal wetlands region on Wednesday 10 May.

If you would like to come along, contact Sally Ware at the Hay office on 0429 307 627 or at sally.ware@lls.nsw.gov.au.

See flyer on opposite page for further details.

Martin Driver speaking to landholders during a paddock walk in the Zara reserve. Photo by Annabel Lugsdin

An invitation

Rangelands paddock walkand drone demonstration

Wednesday 10 Maywith

Martin DriverOwner of Conargo property ‘Barrabool’, Ecologist and

Project Manager with the Australian Network for Plant Conservation

Ben WattsMolong landholder, stud Merino breeder and

TAFE drone demonstration teacher9.00am – meet at Booligal HotelStop 1 – wetlands near BooligalStop 2 – lunch at Booligal Hotel

Stop 3 – drone demonstration at Tom’s Lake

Landholders are encouraged to bring plants to be identifiedMorning tea, lunch and drinks supplied

RSVP Thursday 4 May to Sally Ware 0429 307 627 or sally.ware@lls.nsw.gov.au

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Help secure your future with the Farm Innovation FundThe Rural Assistance Authority’s Farm Innovation Fund is an incentive-based initiative to help NSW farmers improve their permanent farm infrastructure, identify and address risks to their farming enterprises, and ensure long-term productivity and sustainable land use.

Help is in the form of concessional interest rate loans of up to $250,000 to meet the cost of carrying out permanent capital works that will have a significant beneficial impact on the land and the long-term profitability of the enterprise and will address adverse seasonal conditions. Such works fall into four main categories: Farm Infrastructure, Drought Preparedness, Environment and Natural Resources.

For further details about the Farm Innovation Fund contact the NSW Rural Assistance Authority on Freecall 1800 678 593 or visit http://www.raa.nsw.gov.au/assistance/farm-innovation-fund

NSW Farm Business Skills Professional Development ProgramThe Farm Business Skills Professional Development Program is an initiative of the NSW Government that is helping primary producers to better manage their businesses. The program provides access to professional development opportunities, particularly in the areas of financial management and managing on-farm risk.

Individual primary producers can access up to $5,000 to help them build their skills, and enterprises can receive up to $9,000. A large range of preapproved courses are now listed on the Rural Assistance Authority’s website. The scheme also allows applicants to seek preapproval to undertake professional development tailored specifically to their enterprises.

As an example of how the program can be used, a group of farmers recently met in Bathurst to better understand the relationship between grass, livestock and making money. The farmers were excited to be exposed to new ideas and to be given tools they could immediately use in their businesses.

For more information about this fantastic opportunity, visit https://www.raa.nsw.gov.au/assistance/professional-development-program or Freecall 1800 678 593.

Praise for the Professional Development Program‘It was a great step for government – invaluable to have a little support.’ Course participant

‘If we can get a 10% improvement in our business then the course will pay dividends very quickly.’ Course participant

‘You know, back in the old days it was easy to get away with talking to the bank manager and having our finances managed easily, but now we need to understand the financial side of our business. We need to understand the physical side of our business; it’s constantly changing’. Course facilitator

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The Farm Innovation Fund in Action

New pipeline offers security to Hay sheep producersHay district sheep producers Mark and Mischelle Schiller are using the Farm Innovation Fund to invest in a pipeline and stock-watering system to give their wool-growing enterprise greater water security and minimise wastage through evaporation.

The Schillers run Merinos and Dorpers on ‘Woolamie’, their 12,000-hectare property 50 kilometres west of Hay.

They’re on river floodplain with a bit of saltbush country and have traditionally filled their dams once a year from a channel scheme off the Murrumbidgee River. To give themselves greater flexibility and confidence in their water supply, the Schillers are putting in a 25-kilometre pipeline from the creek to eight farm dams.

‘After 10 years of drought followed by two floods, we’re now back in drought after missing out on an early break to the season’, said Mark.

‘It looked good here in April, but there has been no follow-up rain.

‘We’ve culled 3000 sheep and all our cattle to get through. We’d normally run about 2500 Merinos and 5000 Dorpers, but we’ve reduced our carrying capacity to 2500 Dorpers and 500 Merinos.

‘At least this time we don’t have to panic as much. With the pipeline, stock and domestic water is always available.’

Mark said the $150,000 Farm Innovation Fund loan used to purchase the pipeline and watering system would more than pay for itself through improved farm efficiency.

‘If there are no stock in the paddock we don’t need water; if there are stock in there, then water is available’, Mark said.

‘It’s a very reassuring feeling and means we don’t have to move or sell stock because of a lack of stock water in a paddock any more.

‘We can manage our grazing system the way it should be managed, without being disrupted by any stock water shortages.’

Mark said they’re probably halfway towards setting up their entire stock watering system.

‘We thought we’d chip away at it and do more with tanks and troughs when the season is a bit better’, he said.

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Pooncarie Field Day Group celebrates a 20-year milestoneThe tiny township of Pooncarie, north-east of Wentworth in NSW, will come alive on the first Saturday in May for its biennial field day. But this year it’s no ordinary field day for the Pooncarie Field Day Group: it’s the vicennial of service to the agricultural community and a cause for celebration, according to the group’s chairman Angus (Gus) Whyte.

‘Twenty years of dedication, hard work and foresight by many individuals and organisations has given us much to celebrate’, said Gus.

The event is a friendly family-orientated day out and will host a swag of exhibits showcasing the agricultural community, with displays and of course competitions relevant to the region.

There’ll be many drawcards this year, including climate forecast updates hosted by popular weather reporter Jane Bunn (supported by Wentworth and District Community Bank – Bendigo Bank). In addition, we’ve teamed up with Western Local Land Services to bring along rural author Fleur McDonald, who is a strong voice for Australian agriculture and one of the country’s favourite storytellers.

Food and drinks will be available, as well as opportunities to buy crafts and handiworks from local producers and many local businesses, and of course the fun and frivolity of the many competitions for young and old. Get your entries and nominations in now for activities like bush

photography, whipcrackin’, dog jumping, shearing and more!

With the Darling River being a hot topic in the district, this year our photography competition theme is ‘Water – the essence of life’. So for all those budding photographers, be sure to submit your entry on what water in agriculture means to you, be it the river, summer rain, or children and animals playing in the water: the choices are endless.

A new feature that will be full of surprises is the ‘Young Farmers’ Challenge’: there’ll be exciting competition opportunities throughout the day, with cash up for grabs!

There’s plenty to amuse the kids, including the Bunnings Activity Tent, jumping castles and the Rural Fire Service Smoke Tent.

Along with the fun comes a serious contribution to the event, the popular Community Health Auction. Our event supporter, exhibitors and sponsors will donate products and services that will go under the hammer.

‘It’s a really fun auction, and everyone gets involved because we know that all the money raised helps support the wonderful health services provided to our township’, said Publicity Officer Nicole Byrnes.

The Pooncarie Field Days committee wants to engage and connect with the whole community.

‘We may be small, but we know how to have a great time out, and the day

doesn’t end at 5 o’clock. We’ll be entertained by Golden Guitar Nominee Paul Costa throughout the night’, said Gus Whyte.

Paul will be playing a mix of old and new songs from his soon to be released album “Whisper in the Crowd”.

‘This celebration is for the community – the farmers and organisations that help us farm and succeed’, said Gus. ‘Together, over the past 20 years, we’ve made a significant contribution to the way we farm, and this event is about enjoying a day off our properties and showcasing the features that make Pooncarie a great place to live and work’, he said.

We’re thrilled to promote major sponsors the Wentworth and District Community Bank Branch – Bendigo Bank, as well as our Gold sponsors Elders, Markwell Toyota and Western Local Land Services. We’re very lucky to have numerous sponsors this year. We also invite businesses who would like to be involved to support the event. A sponsorship prospectus and exhibitor and livestock information forms are now available online.

Publicity officer Nicole Byrnes said, ‘The organisers are thrilled to promote the event, which has something for every family wanting a great day out, from novice- to champion-level competitions or just a community catch-up. Bookmark the date in your calendars and head to the tiny township of Pooncarie on Saturday 6 May.’

For more information about the event, visit the group’s website at http://www.pooncariefd.com.au or follow us on social media at https://www.facebook.com/PooncarieFieldDayGroupInc

The Pooncarie Field Day Group is a non-profit and independent group formed in 1999 to promote the alternative industries and opportunities and wonderful characters of the Western Division. The group aims to be the leading advocate for the region by putting together the event, which is hosted biennially. In improving both the profitability and sustainability of agricultural production systems and community resilience, the Pooncarie Field Day has become a family favourite day out.

Field Day site at Pooncarie race course. Photo by Maureen Duncan

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Celebrating the produce of the Western Region

By Fiona GarlandRegional Landcare Facilitator Local Land Services Western Region Phone (02) 6872 2144 fiona.garland@lls.nsw.gov.au

These days food provenance is a major concern for many consumers, and it goes well beyond the old classifications around ‘organic’, ‘healthy’ and even ‘clean and green’. The power of conscious consumers to drive markets is now well and truly recognised.

In Australia and overseas, people are interested in knowing that their food is healthy and doesn’t contain contaminants. When it comes to meat, people also want to know that it has been ethically produced and that the animal has been treated well and led a reasonably happy life. In addition, people are interested in whether the environment has been harmed in the production of their food. International campaigns around palm oil production and its impact on rainforest habitats are an excellent example of this.

From a marketing point of view, this increased awareness means that we now must go further than explaining the social, environmental and health credentials of a product. It means telling the ‘origin story’, which traces where products have come from, who produced them, and their impact on the Earth.

These days food is fashion, food is connection and food is political. Food producers need to become better salespeople and storytellers if they want to access a wider range of markets, both here and overseas.

Western Local Land Services and Western Landcare believe that producers from Western NSW have an opportunity to capitalise on the narrative of healthy, sustainable

production in our unique rangelands environment. Animals grazed on native pastures represent responsible, sustainable production in a number of ways.

First, if grazing is managed well, allowing pastures to rest, it can be used as a tool to help landscapes recover, retaining biodiversity in the native grasses of our rangelands environments. Second, rangeland animals benefit from being raised in a very low-input grazing environment, feeding on naturally occurring pastures and requiring little to no chemical treatments owing to the extensive nature of the system.

Third, grazing in rangelands environments offers a relatively stress- and cruelty-free existence for both livestock and non-domestic animals such as kangaroos and rangeland goats. The icing on the cake of this story involves the land managers themselves, who often represent hard-working farmers and graziers, intent on leaving the landscape in better condition than when they started.

The Western Landcare Forum in Broken Hill on 4 and 5 August this year will provide a platform for celebrating the produce and exploring the origin stories of Western NSW. Individual landholders should leave the forum with a better understanding of how to market their own businesses and produce, but in addition we are hoping that there will be a broader vision for developing the profile of the whole region in terms of those connections between healthy landscapes and healthy food.

The forum program includes a range of interesting speakers, such as Major General the Honourable Michael Jeffery, AC, AO(Mil), CVO, MC (Retd), who is the National Soil Ambassador, and Sophie Hansen, the 2016 Australian Rural Woman of the Year. The forum will also feature celebrity chef

Matt Golinski, who will be speaking at the forum dinner, which will showcase regional produce.

Matt is a highly regarded professional chef with a passion for creating cuisine using fresh, seasonal and local ingredients. Well known as one of the original team members of the popular Ready Steady Cook television series, Matt is now based on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast. In his role as Food and Culinary Tourism Ambassador, since 2015 Matt has been helping the Gympie Region to promote itself as a world-class food destination.

Matt was also involved in Beef Australia 2015, an event that promoted not only the benefits of eating different cuts of beef but also the concept that Australian Beef is a clean, green, sustainable industry and is unique in the world marketplace. We believe that Matt will bring a wealth of experience and expertise to the development of ideas for promoting the produce of our unique Western Region.

For more details see the ad on the back page.

Celebrity Chef Matt Golinski will be speaking at the Western Landcare Forum dinner in Broken Hill on Friday 4 August 2017. Photo supplied by Matt Golinski

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Western Lands Advisory Council communiqué

By Geoff Wise Chair Western Lands Advisory Council

This communiqué focuses on three significant long-term strategic issues that the Western Lands Advisory Council (WLAC) has addressed during the last 12 months, namely sustainability of kangaroos, NSW water policy for the Barwon–Darling River system, and the Murray–Darling Basin Plan.

Kangaroo forumOn the initiative of the WLAC, and with enthusiastic support from Western Local Land Services, a kangaroo management workshop was held in Cobar on 5 and 6 September 2016. The results of the workshop are summarised below. A number of activities have flowed on from the workshop, and their details will be publicised progressively.

Rationale for the forum. Currently, unsustainably high kangaroo populations in areas of the Western Division are increasing the pressure on rangeland ecosystems and pastoral enterprises, with subsequent negative impacts on rural communities. These high population numbers also create a serious animal welfare issue of mass deaths during dry times from starvation, thirst, disease and road-kill.

The WLAC recognises the need to consider a different approach to current practices. With this goal in mind, the WLAC approached Local Land Services with the concept of inviting key stakeholders to a discussion forum to investigate what the current situation was, what could be done, and how the various stakeholders could work better together to achieve positive outcomes.

Forty-two selected representatives of pastoralists, support agencies, commercial industry representatives, policy-makers, regulatory bodies and animal welfare organisations came together with the goal of developing a more collaborative and effective way of addressing the issues.

It was recognised from the beginning that this workshop would be the start of a longer-term collaborative process, involving a wider cross-section of the Western Division community. The WLAC and Local Land Services intend to continue this process of working together and involving an even wider range of stakeholders in the future to contribute to the discussions.

Practical and acceptable kangaroo management is a long-standing and ongoing issue, and it’s clear that change won’t happen overnight. The WLAC and Local Land Services are committed to an ongoing process that will cover all perspectives and will foster effective short- and long-term solutions.

Points of agreement from the forum. The forum made the following points:

1. Kangaroos of all species are currently in unsustainably high numbers across the Western Division.

2. Decisions, policies and strategies must be based on evidence and experience (not on philosophy).

3. We need, and must support, a strong and expanding commercial harvest industry.

4. We must aspire to increased value for kangaroo meat.

5. We acknowledge that neither commercial harvest nor non-commercial take will have any effective impact on population control, at least in the foreseeable future.

6. Maintaining animal welfare and ensuring it is practiced are paramount.

7. We anticipate that a huge kangaroo welfare issue is looming with the next long dry (drought) period across the Western Division, as kangaroos will be left unmanaged to suffer natural deaths from starvation and/or thirst.  The numbers we expect to die will far exceed any currently shot through harvesting and damage mitigation strategies.

8. We are not proud of this anticipated outcome; we take no responsibility for it, and we would prefer policies and government and community support to allow for managed preventive intervention strategies.

9. We acknowledge the welfare concerns regarding immature kangaroos or any strategies or actions that result in the death of breeding-age females, whether naturally or through human intervention.

10. In the pastoral zone there is a unique situation regarding the grazing pressure impacts of kangaroos on two other natural resources, namely native vegetation and water. Overgrazing can result in significant environmental harm to these biodiversity assets.

11. Management intervention strategies that use kangaroo-proof fencing of watering points, partial- or whole-property boundaries, or clustering of properties may have beneficial outcomes in specific circumstances and locations, but these options are not universally applicable.

Impacts of the Barwon–Darling water sharing plan downstream of BourkeThe WLAC resolved for a delegation to meet with NSW Minister for Regional Water Niall Blair to discuss the non-irrigation implications of the Barwon–Darling Water Sharing Plan (WSP) 2012, particularly for water use downstream of Bourke.

Key issues discussed were:»■ the apparent contradictions between

the Objectives of the WSP and the newly introduced operating rules within the WSP for irrigation extractions. For example, the Objectives of the WSP include:

» to protect, preserve, maintain and enhance the important river-flow-dependent … ecosystems

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» to protect basic landholder rights

» to contribute to the maintenance of water quality

» to contribute to the ‘environmental and other public benefit outcomes’ identified under the ‘Water Access Entitlements and Planning Framework’ in the Intergovernmental Agreement on a National Water Initiative (2004).

»■ the changes made between the end of the public consultation period and the implementation of the WSP that have potentially significant impacts on Basic Rights water users (Town Water Supplies and Stock and Domestic access). Examples include:

» removal of pump size limits for different classes of water access, despite their being no discussion on this throughout the public consultation process

» introduction of a ‘300% per annum’ extraction availability, despite the fact that the discussions covered only the relevance of allowing a 450% take over three consecutive years

» expectations as stated in the Background Document to the WSP, section 8.4, that ‘Amendments to access rules:

• must not substantially alter long-term diversions under A, B and C Class access licences,

• must undergo consultation, and

• must take into account any socio-economic impacts,

despite the fact that none of this has involved engagement with Basic Rights users.

»■ the apparent failure of Clause 46 (16) of the WSP in being able to ‘protect flows needed to meet basic landholder rights requirements along the Barwon–Darling River’. An example is:

» the anticipated timing of the introduction of Individual Daily Extraction Limits, as specified in Clause 52 of the WSP, knowing that the Background Document to the WSP states that ‘… it is expected that they [Individual Daily Extraction Limits] will be in place within the first few years of this plan’s (WSP) term’.

Our Advisory Council recommended that, in accordance with Clause 52 of the WSP, the Minister immediately introduce Individual Daily Extraction Limits for all A Class licences to reflect the volumes of water that were being extracted under A Class licence conditions before the commencement of the 2012 WSP.

The Minister advised that the most appropriate time for these issues to be brought forward would be during the public consultation period for the introduction of the Barwon–Darling Water Resource Plan. The initial consultation period was set to begin in early 2017 and is scheduled to close on 31 March 2017.

Murray–Darling Basin Plan amendments submissionFollowing a presentation to the WLAC by staff from the Murray–Darling Basin Authority (MDBA), the WLAC resolved to write to the MDBA advising that the WLAC:»■ supports the MDBA in protection

of environmental water: i.e. environmental water from tributaries must be managed as environmental water throughout the rest of the Murray–Darling Basin

»■ objects to the protection of irrigation water rights above other water-use rights (including stock and domestic rights and town water supply rights), which is contradictory to the NSW Water Management Act 2000 and Water Sharing Plans.

This position taken by the WLAC is simply to request that the relevant laws and policies be applied as specified.

An Objective of the Murray–Darling Basin Plan is that environmental water must be used effectively for its defined purpose, which is defined in the Water Act 2007 as ‘environmental watering means the delivery or use of environmental water to achieve environmental outcomes’. Hence, environmental water must be protected within tributaries and as it flows from tributaries into the Barwon–Darling River system.

The MDBA Basin Plan amendments, Northern Basin Review document, which was released in late 2016, correctly states that ‘The Water Act 2007 and the Basin

Plan require the basin’s water resources to be managed in a way that considers outcomes for all water users’.

Additionally, relevant legislation and plans clearly specify the priority of access rights to surface water.

For example, Clause 58 of the NSW Water Management Act 2000 states that:

(1) For the purposes of this Act, the following priorities are to be observed in relation to access licences:

(a) Local water utility access licences, major utility access licences and domestic and stock access licences have priority over all other access licences.

The full transcript of the submission from the WLAC is published on the web at https://getinvolved.mdba.gov.au/bp-amendments-submissions/documents.

Calling all ExhibitorsSite bookings now openGuest Presenters: Meteorologist Jane Bunn &

Rural Author Fleur McDonaldEvening Entertainment by Paul CostaBus available from Mildura/Wentworth: see website for details

www.pooncariefd.com.auenquiries@pooncariefd.com.auContact Nerida Healy on 03 5029 5397

SATURDAY 6 MAY 2017

POONCARIE RACECOURSE