SA Arid Lands Landscape Board Communique

The board’s final meeting for the year, on Friday 12 December was a fitting end to busy year.

The SA Arid Lands Landscape Board members would like to extend their warmest wishes to the community, with gratitude for the stewardship, support and collaboration, that despite some challenging conditions of drought and floods, has led to many successes. Without the partners and the enduring relationship with the wider community, managing, restoring and protecting such a complex and vast region would simply not be possible.

Friends of Mound Springs presentation

Long term partners, Friends of Mound Springs (FOMS) have led the science and monitoring, protection and delivery of projects for many critical and threatened mound springs in the SAAL region.  The longer standing members bring scientific knowledge, historical context and long held relationships with land holders and Traditional Owners and the inaugural members, themselves now retired, are looking to hand the reins over for on-ground activity. It currently has a membership of 40.

The board has worked with FOMS for decades, providing support and resourcing, while collaborating in local delivery, predominantly led by FOMS. The creation of Cultural Ranger programs and where critical springs occur on Arabana and Dieri Country, and mostly on pastoral properties, this work and shared learning experiences have resulted in joint ventures.

The board will now support and oversee these, reducing the dependence on the goodwill and voluntary direction of FOMS, through a dedicated program facilitated by SAAL with ranger programs and FOMS with land managers and community. 

This is a great outcome that will be resourced through many of the investments dedicated toward protecting threatened species and places, monitoring and management of other GAB water take to improve the pressure and persistence of springs, ground and water dependent ecosystems, and supporting the community which manages and protects these iconic natural cultural assets.  The board members valued the opportunity to hear from Simon Lewis and Colin Harris who have been pioneers in FOMS and across our great region.  A shared lunch and a few anecdotes cemented a commitment to long term collaboration, alongside the heartfelt recognition of many years of dedicated service by FOMS across tenures and cultural lands on a very limited budget. Long may their expertise and support continue as we work together, to protect and manage critical mound springs in the SAAL region. Thank you, Friends of Mound Springs, for your enduring commitment to these rare and special values of the outback.

ElectraNet and the Northern Transmission Project

A visit from the engagement team delivering the ElectraNet project to South Australia provided a glimpse of the infrastructure requirements and pathway through the region to support the power distribution for the Far North renewables expansion.  The board was given a comprehensive briefing on the energy needs, the existing capacity and how the expansion will sustain growing populations, building and infrastructure projects in SA and beyond. The board’s ecology, planning and water teams will provide ongoing input on the specific areas as the identified pathway is closer to finalisation, to ensure threatened and endangered species and habitat are not adversely impacted. 

The discussion provided a deeper level of exposure to the rapidly growing economies supported by renewable energy projects in the outback. These will require a balanced approach to managing the natural values, cultural sensitivities and productive lands that already sustain a region of importance, in addition to the many assets that resource the wider economy and SA population.  

2026 Regional Board Meeting

The board holds one of its meetings in the region annually, to provide a deeper engagement opportunity with the community, stakeholders and partners, and showcase some of the impacts and outcomes supported through board projects. In 2026, the regional meeting will be in the Port Augusta-Quorn district, the newest area to join the SAAL region with the commencement of the Landscape Boards in SA. 

This meeting often includes joint discussions with the Pastoral Board of SA, where common business and issues can be addressed by both boards. Livestock SA is also engaged as a part of the community event and stakeholder meetings.  Options are being explored to showcase outcomes and best practice in the district, and connect with local government, coastcare, renewable energy partners and emerging green industries that support the livelihood and sustainability of the most densely populated area of the SAAL region.  More information on how to become involved will be shared in the new year.

Consultation continues – draft Regional Landscape Plan 2026-2031

The board reminds communities and levy payers of the opportunity to provide input or review the draft of the Regional Landscape Plan that is open for consultation until the end of January 2026.  Workshops and meetings with key stakeholders have occurred since the consultation period opened in mid November. 

The opportunity to engage in this process, for those who have not already, is located here