Welcome to this update from the Eyre Peninsula Landscape Board. July sees us with two major plans now being implemented – the Eyre Peninsula Regional Landscape Plan 2026-31 and the Water Allocation Plan for the Southern Basins and Musgrave Prescribed Wells Areas 2026.

If you’re a regular reader of this newsletter, you would’ve read about the review and consultation work that we’ve done for both these plans during the past two years. We again thank everyone who was involved in this process.

The regional landscape plan outlines our priorities for sustainable management of Eyre Peninsula’s natural resource for the next five years while the water allocation plan guides groundwater resource management for up to the next decade. If you’d like to know more about either of these plans, please see our news items about them. We've also been involved with a wider strategic plan for Eyre Peninsula, working with Regional Development Australia Eyre Peninsula and the Eyre Peninsula Local Government Association. More about that plan in a story below.

I'm pleased to report that we recently awarded 19 community projects with funding under our Grassroots Grants program. We had a high number of strong applications and we look forward to seeing the successful projects progress during the next year. More details about the grants in a story below.

On a different note, it’s certainly pleasing to see some steady rain across our region since autumn – a nice change from the past few dry years. We hope all the farmers out there are looking to have a good season. A new component to our Sustainable Agriculture project has been providing regular climate updates for our region through a series of Friday webinars. There’s plenty of other work happening with our ag project – see our story below for more details.

I’d also like to highlight that applications are now open to join us as a Board member. Applications are open until August 16.

Experienced and emerging community leaders with knowledge of land management and established networks are encouraged to apply. We also feel it is important that landscape boards reflect the diversity of the communities they serve.

Successful nominees are appointed for up to 4 years, starting from 31 January 2027. If being a member of our Board interests you, I encourage you to take a look at the application form.

All the best,
Seb Drewer

Acting General Manager,
Eyre Peninsula Landscape Board

Sheringa Lake restoration project funded, a partnership with the landowners and rangers.

Nineteen community-led projects across the Eyre Peninsula will share in close to $200,000 through our 2026–27 Grassroots Grants program.

Projects range from pest plant control and habitat restoration to workshops and community education initiatives, helping build local skills and improve environmental outcomes.

In Kimba, the Show Society will deliver workshops focused on sustainable food production and land stewardship, while another project will restore Sheringa Lake campground through revegetation and weed control.

Landscape Board Chair Peter Treloar said the strong number of applications highlighted the community’s commitment to caring for local landscapes.

Projects will take place during the next 12 to 18 months. Read our full story.

We’re looking for Eastern Eyre Peninsula landholders who are keen to be part of upcoming aerial goat control program 10-18 August, especially around the Minbrie Range area.

Feral goats are on the rise across EP and are a major cause of land degradation through overgrazing - so we’re providing free aerial control to assist landholders to get on top of the problem.

To find out more or get involved:
Email us on EPLBadmin@sa.gov.au or get in touch with Whyalla Landscape Officer Barbara on 0427 188 546, Cleve Landscape Officer Claudia on 0448 889 098 or Cleve Team Leader Liam on 0428 282 077.

Pasture management was the focus of a recent livestock event on lower EP.

Our Sustainable Agriculture Program sees us collaborate with AIR EP, researchers, industry specialists and local organisations to support more resilient, productive and sustainable farming systems across the region.

Through a coordinated program of workshops, trials, soil testing, monitoring, field demonstrations and climate insights, the program is helping EP growers respond to key soil and climate challenges and make informed decisions for the future.

One of the key focus areas of the project is helping the agriculture sector adopt practices to reduce emissions and build resilience to climate change, by helping farmers to be better equipped to respond to forecast changes and increased variability of the climate through improved decision making and implementing new practices.

Recent activities, updates and resources include:

• Seasonal Risk Agronomist Dale Grey from the Victorian Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action, is producing The Very Fast Break videos for Eyre Peninsula which include rainfall, temperature and soil water updates, along with climate indicators and modelled forecasts. Catch up on the late June video update.
• A new case study focuses on managing sandy soils thanks to the Polkinghorne family near Lock.
• A new report focuses on learnings from eight landholders who established crops after the late seasonal breaks in 2024 and 2025. The report highlights that success in dry starts is not just about whether to dry sow, but whether paddocks are set up to manage the risk.
• An online clay calculator is now available to help growers take some of the guesswork out of managing water repellent sandy soils. Find out more.
• Two potassium-focused resources are now available, sharing local insights from trials in wheat at Ungarra in 2025. These resources are a useful addition for Eyre Peninsula growers and advisers looking to better understand nutrient decisions, soil constraints and crop performance in local farming systems.
• A recent Pastures Walk n Talk at White Flat saw local livestock producers hear about pasture management for good sheep health as part of the climate-ready livestock project.

Explore more resources or find out more about the Sustainable Agriculture project on AIR EP’s project page.

We’ve treated thousands of summer grass and silverleaf nightshade weeds in the first half of the year from Whyalla, down to Port Neill and across to Penong.

Under our annual roadside program with the Department for Infrastructure and Transport and a partnership with SA Arid Lands Landscape Board, we had a contractor work with us to focus on knocking down these pest plants along critical highway corridors, high-risk rail boundaries and industrial zones.

While carrying out this work, we found that summer grasses - including buffel grass (Cenchrus ciliaris), African lovegrass (Eragrostis curvula), Eragrostis trichophora, fountain grass (Cenchrus setaceus) and rhodes grass (Chloris gayana) - had surged in growth after high rainfall.

Our focus is now on weeds that flourish in wet winter conditions including bridal veil, African boxthorn and gazania. See our pest plant page for more information about priority Eyre Peninsula weeds.

This map shows the top 10 weed species treated in the first half of this year.

Streaky Bay gazania swap – 27 July and 3 August

Cleve Field Days
August 11-13: Catch up with us at the Cleve Field Days, located in the PIRSA marquee.

Board meetings
Our Board meets five times a year. Members of the community are welcome to attend as observers. If you would like to attend or make a presentation at any of the upcoming meetings, please contact ep.landscapeboard@sa.gov.au.

Our next meeting will be held on August 25 in Coffin Bay. See our Board page for all of this year’s meeting dates and locations. 

Save the date: Regenerative Ag forum – 29 September
Keep an eye on the AIR EP events page and e-newsletter for more details as they are released. Contact Rebekah Peters projectofficer@airep.com.au for more information.

• The Eyre Peninsula Landscape Board region extends from Whyalla in the east, along the Gawler Ranges in the north, to the edge of the Nullarbor Plain in the west. There are eight offices within the region. Want to get in touch with us? See our contact page for your nearest office.
   
• Need to check your stock water? We offer free salinity & pH testing for landholders.
   
• Landholders have responsibility for controlling declared pest plants across the EP. See our pest plant page to find out more about the priority pest plants in our region and control options.
   
• Spot a feral deer, fox, rabbit, cat, goat or wild dog? Report your sighting on FeralScan. See our pest animal page for more details including management plans.
   
• Undertaking works on an existing or new water source? Our Water Affecting Activities page has permit information including application forms and factsheets. We also have a guide for siting, design, construction and management of EP dams and other resources for managing on-farm water.
   
• Find out what is happening across statewide landscape management on the Landscapes SA website or subscribe to the statewide newsletter to hear news from across the state.