Parliamentary Committees

Natural Resources Committee: Alinytjara Wilurara Natural Resources Management Region

Adjourned debate on motion of Hon. N.J. Centofanti:

That the sixth report of the committee, fact-finding visit, Alinytjara Wilurara Natural Resources Management Region, be noted.

(Continued from 22 July 2020.)

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY (16:50): One of the Natural Resources Committee's important roles is undertaking fact-finding visits to South Australia's natural resource management regions. The committee aims to visit at least two NRM regions each year. The Natural Resources Committee visited the AW region, which is short for Alinytjara Wilurara region, on 20 to 22 November 2019. At around 250 square kilometres in size, the region is vast. It covers the north-west quarter of South Australia and represents approximately 28 per cent of South Australia's total land area. The population of the region is around 3,000 people.

The committee previously visited the region in 2014. The first day included a visit to Nilpena Station to view the Ediacaran fossil beds. Around two-thirds of Nilpena will become a part of the Ediacara Conservation Park in late 2020. Purchasing this section of Nilpena Station was funded by the South Australian government and through funds raised through by the Flinders Ranges Ediacara Foundation, the Wyss Foundation and the Foundation for National Parks and Wildlife.

On day two, the NRM flew to Umuwa on the APY lands and was met by the general manager, Richard King, who welcomed the committee to the lands. The committee was privileged to participate in a tour of Indigenous protected areas and receive information from the APY land management team about its current and proposed projects.

The committee visited Mabel Creek Station on day three, hosted with great thanks by elder Mr Ian Crombie. The site was acquired by the AMYAC for its use as a training and cultural facility and has achieved much success with the management of buffel grass as a buffer zone for the Great Victoria Desert. During its visit, the committee received information about:

the development of world heritage site for Nilpena Station;

national parks and protected areas framework in the area;

multiple governance frameworks for natural resource management in the region;

eco and cultural heritage-based tourism activities and the management of visitors in significant protected areas;

innovations and pilot trials in natural resource management issues;

cooperation between bodies; and

state and federal government support and involvement in the APY lands.

The committee applauds the AW NRM region for a multitude of achievements in one of the state's most remote regions. The committee also noted that:

42 Indigenous people are employed in NRM-related roles as at 2019 in the region;

73 Indigenous people have been trained in NRM-related issues as at 2019 in the region;

seven events were held in the 2018-19 year to build community capacity in adopting sustainable pastoral practices;

753 feral horses were removed in the region in 2018-19; and

5,162 feral camels were removed from the region in 2018-19.

The committee heard that invasive species are a continuing challenge in the region. Strategic planning is in place for buffel grass management.

The committee acknowledges that funding of NRM programs continues to heavily influence outcomes. The Australian government is the major funding partner for the AW NRM region, mainly through the National Landcare Program. All projects funded through the NLP include community capacity-building elements.

The committee further acknowledges that there are some cultural challenges in achieving NRM outcomes that will help the APY lands adapt to a changing climate. From its visit to Nilpena Station, the committee heard that a World Heritage listing process is being sought for the Flinders Ranges, which would recognise its fossils and geological features as a unique and outstanding example of major stages of the Earth's history.

The Natural Resources Committee recommends that the South Australian government:

1. Explore innovative and digital elements of proposed upgrades to parks and protected areas;

2. Explore further funding sources for asset upgrades through platforms such as philanthropic organisations and corporate sponsorships;

3. Continue to foster and promote relationships between the previous NRM structures and the departmental structures;

4. Continue to support evidence-based approaches being applied to NRM practices within the AW NRM region;

5. Continue to maintain productive and active relationships with the Australian government's First Nations, education and skills, and environment programs;

6. Provide support to programs where multiple benefits are being achieved across cultural, environmental and economic outcomes; and

7. Facilitate legislative amendments and other dispute resolution support mechanisms that would enable resolution of ongoing pastoral management issues.

I would like to also acknowledge the contribution of the committee membership, in particular, Mr Josh Teague MP, the Presiding Member; Mr David Basham MP; Dr Susan Close MP; the Hon. John Darley MLC; Mr Nick McBride MP; and the Hon. Terry Stephens MLC, who was replaced by the Hon. Dennis Hood MLC, who was eventually replaced by the Hon. Nicola Centofanti MLC. I would also like to acknowledge the work of Mr Phil Frensham and Mr Shannon Riggs and, in particular, the work of Dr Monika Stasiak, who actually put the report together. With that, I commend the report.

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI (16:56): I would like to thank the Hon. Mr Wortley for his contributions and I would also like to note the excellent work of the Natural Resources Committee.

Motion carried.