DRYLAND SALINITY MANAGEMENT

The Hon. J.M. GAZZOLA (15:36): Mr President, being a man from the land you would understand the plight of many farmers as they battle with the problem of soil salinity brought about by a range of factors including past and present agricultural practices. The extent of the problem in Australia is alarming. In South Australia there are affected areas on both peninsulas, as well as on Kangaroo Island and in the Mid North, the Upper South-East and the Mount Lofty Ranges. Dryland salinity, according to publications by Land and Water Australia, is one of the major risks to agriculture and the natural environment, with 41 per cent of the nation's woolgrowers indicating that they have land affected by dryland salinity. Needless to say, considerable effort, research and money has been and is being invested by state and federal research groups, departments, regional farming groups and individual farmers to address this problem.

In South Australia, under the auspices and funding of the Department of Water, Land and Biodiversity Conservation, the SA Producer Network Committee was chosen to head the Sustainable Grazing on Saline Lands Producer Network (known in short as the SGSL), the committee having both regional representation and experience in saline farming. In total, in 2003-04, 14 research sites were approved for South Australia with a trial period of two years. The host farmers were, in the main, enthusiastic about their involvement, with positive results to be included in their future farm practices. The report concluded that the SGSL program was most successful and needed to be continued.

It is to the individual efforts of one member of the SAPN Committee and his partner that I wish to draw the council's attention in regard to natural resource management. Committee member Wolford Parsons and his partner Marie (Port Vincent locals, I might add) were recently awarded the prestigious national McKell Medal for excellence in natural resource management for their work in combating dryland salinity on their property, The Springs, just outside Port Vincent. Before I comment on their wonderful efforts, I wish to say a few words on the origins and importance of the McKell Medal.

Sir William McKell was the Labor Premier of New South Wales from 1941 to 1947, Governor-General of Australia from 1947 to 1953 and founder of the Kosciusko National Park and the name, obviously, behind the medal, as a permanent reminder of his commitment to soil and water conservation. His passion for and achievements in soil and water conservation set the practical, ethical and political benchmarks for action.

To return to a sketch of the current McKell Medal winners' efforts, their story begins in 1967 with the building of their house in a 120-acre treeless paddock; a property so badly degraded at the time that they considered leaving. Increasing salinity saw them undertake the planting of trees and shrubs and the better management of stock through extensive fencing. A rapid increase in salinity in the early 1970s saw a total whole of farm dedication to landcare and sustainable farming practice, eventually resulting in the establishment of 300,000 trees and shrubs in coordination with stock control through 45 kilometres of fencing.

What started in 1967 is now a model for other farmers and of continuing research and trials, as well as being of high importance and interest to agronomy students from the University of Adelaide. The award recognises the efforts by the Parsons to turn the tide against salinity, their creation of biodiversity and sustainable farming practices, their enthusiasm and willingness to be involved in a six-year research program with the university and, finally and most importantly, their willingness to work with schoolchildren in providing a learning package and opportunities to acquire practical knowledge in combating dryland salinity.

Their medal is a fitting reward for their efforts, as recognised in the presentation by the federal Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (Hon. Tony Burke), together with the then state minister for environment and conservation (Hon. Gail Gago) and the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries (Hon. Rory McEwen). Once again, I congratulate the Parsons, who are worthy winners of the McKell Medal.

Time expired.