SA Arid Lands Landscape Board Communique

Outback Drought Resilience Plan presentation

A multiple-agency collaboration has seen the development of an Outback Drought Resilience Plan which covers the SA Arid Lands region.  It has been a collaboration between the Outback Communities Authority, the SAAL Landscape Board, Primary Industries and Regions SA, Regional Development Australia Far North and the SA Drought Adoption and Innovation Hub and was funded by the Australian Government's Future Drought Fund.  Organisation URPS is leading the plan development and attended the April board meeting to present on the outcomes of the recent engagement campaign across the region.

The values and inputs of local communities were sought so they can be reflected in the plan, alongside the scientific and evidence-based data that forms the basis of a draft plan.  The Outback Drought Resilience Plan will inform future challenges and opportunities to support Outback SA to remain resilient to drought across the region.  More information can be found at https://droughtresilientoutbacksa.com.au/

The draft plan is due for completion in mid May and will be released to the community for feedback before it is submitted to the CSIRO for final endorsement.  The final plan will be a resource that can be referenced for future investment, adaptation, management and coordination for communities, industries and partners facing climate variability and the impacts of drought.

International Rangelands Congress 2025

In June 2025, South Australia will host the International Rangelands Congress in Adelaide.  The event will draw delegates from across the globe who live, work, value, research and manage rangelands. 

Importantly, the SA Arid Lands community has an opportunity to be involved in shaping the event alongside other rangelands-based boards, government partners and communities.  As such, the Board discussed sponsoring the event, supporting attendance and exposure to our wonderful region through field tours.  This is alongside the opportunity to showcase how we work together to manage, restore, enhance and protect the values of the SA rangelands as part of a plan to support the event next year.  More information about the congress can be located here.

The Board is exploring ways to maximise regional attendance at the event and opportunities for exemplar projects and initiatives to reach an international stage, as well as promoting the opportunity to network with a global community of people, industries, cultures and ecosystems that are unique to the rangelands of the world.

Combined SAAL Board and Pastoral Board regional meeting

Final plans for the combined SAAL Landscape and Pastoral Board regional meeting to be hosted in the Flinders Ranges on 25-27 June 2024 were discussed and agreed, noting there are many areas of common interest for both boards. The now annual combined regional meeting provides an opportunity to collectively problem solve and meet with community at a community barbecue to be hosted at the Copley Hotel.  The boards will also visit sites of common interest in and around the region.  At the formal meeting they will tackle some of the challenging issues facing the region including rangeland goat management, total grazing pressure, drought resilience, compliance and monitoring, and water management.  Further promotion of the opportunity to join the boards and other partners will be shared soon.  Both boards hope to see a great turnout of community members to hear about the work of the boards and share their ideas at the community barbecue.

Independent Landscape Act review

The SA Landscape Act SA 2019 reached a critical milestone recently which required its review to determine its success and potential improvements after three years of operation.  This review was undertaken by an independent person and welcomed feedback and recommendations from across industries, government, communities and statutory boards, (including the nine Landscape Boards of SA).  The final recommendations scheduled to be submitted to parliament soon have been released. The board had an opportunity to review each recommendation and consider the impact and benefit to the SAAL region and South Australia as a whole. Board members were pleased to see some of the recommendations submitted by the board reflected in the final report.  Recommendations seem practical, appropriate and relevant for the most part and the board looks forward to seeing the process of parliamentary review and adoption of any changes take place in the coming months.

COMING EVENTS

09 May 2024 – Landscape Rehydration @ Boolcoomatta Reserve

27 May 2024 – Community Leadership Training @ Mannahill

28 May 2024 – North Flinders Landscape Group Meeting #73 @ Port Augusta

30 May 2024 – Community Leadership Training @ Leigh Creek

31 May 2024 – Marree-Innamincka Landscape Group Meeting #81, Online

07 June 2024 – Gawler Ranges and Port Augusta-Quorn Landscape Group Meeting #67 @ Port Augusta

20 June 2024 – North East Pastoral Landscape Group Meeting #51 @ Yunta

26 June 2024 – Community BBQ @ Copley Hotel

25-27 June 2024 – Combined SAAL Board and Pastoral Board Meeting @ Flinders Ranges

Please click here for details of events