SA Arid Lands Landscape Board Communique

Introducing two new board members

The Board is pleased to welcome two new members in Chevahn Hoad and Mark Mayfield.

Chevahn works with the District Council of Coober Pedy and has served most of her career in the outback and at the local community level.  Chevahn is the Manager for the Co-Management program for Kanku-Breakaways Conservation Park, when she isn’t acting CEO or involved in multiple community committees and volunteer groups.  Kanku-Breakaways is co-managed with the Antakir­in­ja Matun­t­jara Yankun­yt­jat­jara peo­ple whose traditional lands it includes. Chevahn’s experience in governance, local government, community development and First Nations partnership and engagement provide a breadth of skills to enhance the function of the board.

Mark works for Santos and has served as a member of the Marree-Innamincka Landscape Group for more than six years.  Many of our board members have found their way to board membership via a landscape group and we are proud to develop our own leadership from within the region.  Mark works in the community engagement and stakeholder liaison part of Santos’ business so is very familiar with the landscapes and the partnerships between industry and community.  He has a solid understanding of the issues the board faces and looks forward to broadening his knowledge and exposure beyond the Marree-Innamincka district.  His experience in the resources and construction industries provides him with the skills and knowledge to enhance the relationships and shared endeavour with the extractive industry and our board.

Endorsing the 2025 Grassroot Grant program

The board endorsed the release of this year’s Grassroots Grants Round which closed in May with announcements due in July. The current round offered $150k in funding for projects across the region to enhance and deliver the objectives as outlined in the board’s five-year Strategic Landscape Plan.

International Rangelands Congress

The SAAL Landscape Board has partnered with the Pastoral Board and the SA Drought Hub to sponsor 20 attendees from the region to attend the International Rangelands Congress being hosted in Adelaide in the first week of June. 

A range of initiatives, projects and a presence throughout the congress will be on show by SAAL Board members and staff.  The opportunity for board members to attend and engage with international policy and projects and global partners will be a rich exposure to other parts of the globe navigating rangelands management and protection.  Board members and staff are also involved in field tours that international delegates have accessed on their way to the Adelaide event.

Regional meeting - Roxby Downs 24-26 June

The annual regional SAAL Board meeting will be held in the Kingoonya District in June, based out of Roxby Downs.  These events provide a valuable opportunity for board members to engage with community, local partners and board-supported projects at the local level. The itinerary involves visits to Kokatha Pastoral Properties, a community barbecue, a tour of Olympic Dam and networking with other key partners in the region. 

More information promoting how people can engage with the board while they are in town will be shared very soon.

Aboriginal Engagement Network Terms of Reference

The board places prominence on its commitment to First Nations relationships and the Aboriginal Engagement Network (AEN) is the conduit between the board and the 18 First Nations groups across the SAAL region.

The review of the Terms of Reference of the AEN, after review by the network members, was presented to the board and endorsed as the mechanism supported by both community and the board for continuing mutually beneficial partnerships. 

There are many wonderful initiatives the board is working on with and for First Nations Groups.  This includes the 2025 Indigenous Ranger Gathering in partnership with Arabana Aboriginal Corporation, Indigenous Desert Alliance and BHP, and is an initiative that was conceived through the AEN and supported by all groups, sponsors, partners and the board.

Building Pastoral Sustainability (BPS) Project

This flagship project led by the SAAL Board launches from strength to strength.  It culminated in the Pastoral Field Day hosted in March 2025.  Its suite of projects was in the spot light for the board at its most recent meeting.  All projects that support sustainable and climate smart production outcomes are nested within the BPS project.  It involves partnerships with the Natural Heritage Trust – Climate Smart Agriculture Program, the SA Drought Hub, industry, Landscape Boards and First Nations.  The board valued the opportunity to see how the funding is being applied to support the best outcomes for the Pastoral industry.

Flood update - what does it mean for SAAL

The board acknowledged the challenges for many land managers in the Marree-Innamincka district who have faced unprecedented flood conditions. With the Cooper and Diamantina systems inundated and the broader flooding impacts, the board recognises that a long recovery for community, industry and the environment is likely. 

Multiple projects are impacted, including the Wetland Wonders (based in the Coongie Ramsar site) and the Plains Wanderer Projects where song meters and cameras are likely to have been washed away and data lost.  Timelines for surveys, monitoring, engagement and trapping events, as well as pest plant and animal control are being rescheduled.  Forward planning on the recovery at the earliest possible opportunity is occurring to tackle weeds and feral animals, especially feral pigs.  Collaboration with community, industry and all levels of government is underway to support some of the NRM priorities that will need early attention once the realities and impacts of the flood become better known.

COMING EVENTS

3 June 2025 – Nature Play workshops in Port Augusta

4 June 2025 – Outdoor Learning Professional Development for educators

12 June 2025 – Online Field Day

14 June 2025 – Iron Knob Family Fun Day at Errappa

16 June 2025 – North Flinders Landscape Group Meeting 76 

Please click here for details of events