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‘Car campers who ransack the Outback’ is the headline of a recent article in the South Australian Advertiser. The story highlights the destructive habits of some four-wheel-drive visitors to the state’s Outback. The picture presented is one of stripping hundred-year-old trees of firewood, plundering historic sites, criss-crossing untouched landscapes off existing tracks, strewing the environment with rubbish, and the unsightly evidence of poor toileting practices.
Far from being a wild frontier to be conquered, the ‘Outback’ is seen as a fragile environment where the ever-increasing flow of visitors in four-wheel-drives are destroying the resource they have come to experience.
The same concerns are reflected by the anecdotal stories from locals living along the tracks about bad visitor experiences. Gates left open, stock disturbed, privacy ignored, environmental degradation at popular sites, and a general disregard for common sense behaviour. Seen in this light, tourism as an appropriate and desirable activity throughout the Basin gets a poor scorecard.
This view represents the attitudes and actions of only a small percentage of the large numbers who now travel through many parts of the Basin. The vast majority of travellers do behave responsibly. If they do transgress, it is more often out of ignorance than intent. Most of those seeking the aura of the Outback have little knowledge and understanding of old-fashioned bush skills and manners.
To many it is a new experience. Their actions and attitudes are often misled by the presentation of the Outback as a vast empty space were there are no rules and little realization it is someone else’s backyard. Equally damaging is the stereotyped image, held by some Outback locals, of the tourists as troublesome pests. There is a strong need for better information and education on both sides.
The picture is not as bad as it seems though. In key sectors such as along the Matilda Highway corridor in mid-west Queensland, Alice Springs and Central Australia, and the Flinders Ranges in South Australia, tourism is well established. It is integral to the economic well-being of those regions and ranks as one of the most important industries. For the most, it has been embraced by the local communities and there is a general striving to increase visitor numbers. For these regions the challenge is how to promote their destinations, improve the range and quality of services offered, upgrade the infrastructure to meet the demands and pressures of increasing visitation, and to maximise the benefits.
There has been a growing interest and commitment by a range of agencies, local government, industry organizations, and individual stakeholders to meet these challenges and develop and implement appropriate strategies.
A good example is a recent initiative by the Northern Region Development Board in South Australia that has brought together a diverse group of tourism interests in the Flinders Ranges to establish a tourism cluster approach towards furthering this industry in the region. Many of those involved have been actively engaged in pastoralism and are now diversifying into tourist activities. The opportunity to share experiences, gain new insights and form collaborative approaches to resolving common problems has been enthusiastically embraced.
The biggest issues with tourism in the Basin remain in the heartland. The Oodnadatta, Birdsville and Strzelecki tracks, Lake Eyre, Plenty Highway, Simpson Desert, Innamincka Regional Reserve, Diamantina Lakes, and the Channel Country are just a few of the focal points. They encompass fragile and important areas and managing the increasing tourism flows in a sustainable way is a major aspect of the Lake Eyre Basin Heritage Tourism Strategy. It will present a strategic framework that if embraced by the key stakeholders should go a long way to minimising the concerns expressed in articles such as the Advertiser.
This is my last newsletter report as my term concludes at the end of 2002. Since my appointment on August 1st 1998 I have greatly enjoyed working with the people of the Lake Eyre Basin community – those who live in, work in, or care for the Basin.
We have achieved much in those four years. People who live in the Basin have been empowered; people outside the Basin have gained new understanding. We have all gained new knowledge as we worked on joint research projects. Principles of sustainability and environmentally sustainable development have become accepted. Practical ways of implementing sustainability have been explored and adopted by industry and governments. We have worked in teams to build plans to identify threats and offer practical solutions. Eventually these will be supported by time-bound and quantified action plans for much of the Basin, to provide priorities for action.
The Lake Eyre Basin Agreement and associated Ministerial Forum is now a reality, and provide legal assurance of sustainability in key parts of the Basin, and a research program that will combine scientific understanding with local and traditional knowledge. This will provide practical knowledge to deal with current and difficult issues such as controlling the damming of overland water flows and controlling the clearing of native vegetation.
In Queensland, the community-based Regional Natural Resource Management Group structure gives a firm base for a community role in determining natural resource management priorities and flows of government investment funds, through the interim Desert Channels Group. In South Australia, the government has introduced a rangeland-wide statutory structure for determining integrated natural resource management priorities and investment flows.
The Coordinating Group continues as a smaller body to manage the current whole-of-Basin projects, seek partners for new cross-border investments, and support industry in the control of weeds and pest animals on a basin-wide basis.
Each of the above structures is good; each will tackle high priority issues. But none will bring about significant change on the ground, until the Australian community is led into new ways of understanding natural resource management. These will include:
1. Community groups doing what they do best – working across sectors to set priorities for action and then being leaders for change
2. Individuals and teams taking public leadership roles on behalf of sustainable industry and the environment (for example Peter Cullen’s Wentworth Group at; www.wwf.org.au/content/release_02_wentworth_blueprint0311.htm.)
3. Land owners and resource managers implementing those priorities, partly as a duty of care as a land manager, and partly to meet community goals for the way we graze, farm, mine, run parks, build roads, and guide tourists
4. Governments supporting community-based planning, using legislation fearlessly to support community goals for natural resource management, and continuing to co-invest to support plans with shared responsibilities
5. Governments exercising leadership and taking charge on issues where there are clear public benefits, failure of existing markets or power-sharing structures, or degradation caused by historical actions or legislation. Issues include maintaining environmental river flows, controlling rabbits, feral pigs and weeds, stopping land clearing, and protecting biodiversity. Actions will include paying farmers and graziers to manage to achieve sustainable landscapes, clean water and healthy food.
I wish you and all the people of the Basin well in 2003 and onward.
Don Blesing
The Green Lizard Bar at the Birdsville Hotel was the venue on 25th October for the second meeting of the Lake Eyre Basin Ministerial Forum.
Backed by photos of fast-finishing racehorses and with tables decorated with coolibah leaves from the nearby Diamantina River, the Ministers approved policies and budgets, appointed new members to their Scientific Advisory Panel, and invited New South Wales and the Northern Territory to become signatories to the Lake Eyre Basin Inter-governmental Agreement.
The Agreement, which was signed by the Commonwealth, Queensland and South Australian Governments in 2000, provides for the sustainable management of water and related natural resources in the Queensland and South Australian sections of the Cooper’s Creek and Georgina Diamantina catchments.
The Ministerial Forum established under this Agreement is chaired by Federal Environment Minister, David Kemp noted the significance of the Lake Eyre Basin and recognised the important contribution being made by members of the Basin community in support of the Agreement. “The ongoing support and involvement of the Basin community in implementation of the Agreement is vital,” he said.
“The Agreement is about ensuring the nationally important environmental values associated with the major cross-border river systems of the Basin are protected, while also supporting the Basin’s other economic and social values.”
Other members of the Forum are Queensland Minister for Natural Resources and Mines, Stephen Robertson, and South Australian Minister for Environment and Conservation, John Hill. Minister Robertson was unable to attend because his aircraft was called away on an organ donation flight but participated by telephone. The Northern Territory Minister for Central Australia, Peter Toyne attended the meeting as an observer.
Professors Tom McMahon (catchment hydrology) and Professor Geoffrey Lawrence (rural sociology) were appointed to join Professors Peter Cullen (freshwater ecology), Stuart Bunn (aquatic ecology), and Doctors Steve Morton (rangeland ecosystems) and Mark Stafford-Smith (rangeland ecosystems) on the Scientific Advisory Panel
The Ministers requested the Scientific Advisory Panel to examine the implications of current land and vegetation management practices in the upper catchment area for the health of in-stream and floodplain ecosystems in the Basin. They also agreed to develop an Indigenous Reconciliation Action Plan consistent with the framework agreed by the Council of Australian Governments.
The next few months will see the bedding down of our new structure that has dominated many of our discussions this year. The Annual General Meeting held in Birdsville on the 24th October agreed that the existing Coordinating Group would remain in place until 31st December 2002. Following this, a new six-member group comprising only Basin residents will take over the reins. The election of these new members will take place by Special General Meeting on 4th December.
As a result of this change we say farewell to the following members and who have made significant contributions in time, energy and knowledge to the Lake Eyre Basin process over the last few years.
Don Blesing, our Independent Chair of four years, has worked tirelessly and with great dedication at leading the Lake Eyre Basin process, promoting and seeking partnerships, communicating our priorities, interacting with governments and providing guidance and support to our projects. Don is very well known and respected by all stakeholders of the Basin and I’m sure will continue to have relationships with many of them.
Rose Turner, our Indigenous Advisor for 3 years has shown great passion and dedication to the LEB process and has been instrumental in assisting the organisation understand and be considerate of Indigenous culture and natural resource management needs. Rose is also very well networked in many State and national organisations and has been able to provide significant knowledge and insight into a range of Indigenous and natural resource management programs.
Observers, Jeff Smith – Qld Govt, Bernice Cohen – SA Govt, Lindsay Nothrop and Scott Parker – Commonwealth Govt, Peter McDonald – NT Government, and Lynn Brake from the Arid Areas Catchment Water Management Board in SA will be replaced by observers from each of the new Regional Bodies in Qld, SA, NT and NSW. These Observers have supported our process through the provision of advice from Govt and clarification of Govt programs. We expect to maintain a connection with each of these people through their role with the Lake Eyre Basin Intergovernmental Agreement.
Community Members, Philip Gee, Colin Greenfield, David Lord, Maree Morton, Angus Emmott, and Trevor Whitelaw – will continue to be involved in the Lake Eyre Basin process through membership of catchment committees, soil boards, and community groups.
Along with the changes to the Group, a number of staff will also be leaving the organisation.
Bill Haddrill our Georgina Diamantina Coordinator left us in early November for the cooler climes of Kangaroo Island in SA. Bill was highly effective at establishing a number of project activities, providing information and getting on-ground results. Bill is an excellent communicator and established strong relationships with the community during his two-year stay.
Alison Bell our office and finance manager leaves us in early December. Alison’s jovial personality and ‘get-on-with-it’ approach has been a great asset to the office and will be missed. Alison has been the mainstay of all our administration processes and has kept our finances on track. She also handled the arrangements and logistics for many of our meetings, often held in the distant reaches of the Basin, with ease and flair.
My Term as Chief Executive comes to an end in late December. Working for the Basin community has been rewarding and I have met many terrific and interesting people. I really believe that the Lake Eyre Basin is the only area in Australia where the people have identified such a clear and strong mandate for the preservation and protection of our land and water resources; elsewhere it is a disappointing story of degradation, repair, and rehabilitation. Much has been achieved by our small and dedicated organisation and I feel privileged to have been part of it.
It is sad and disappointing to see the loss of such a number of talented people to this cause and this will undoubtedly slow our progress. The challenge for the new structure will be to ensure that the organisation continues to mature and develop and achieve positive change with regards to the management of our natural resources.
Minister for Central Australia, Peter Toyne has flagged close links to the community designed, owned and driven Lake Eyre Basin sustainable natural resource management process.
Addressing an 80 strong community conference in Birdsville on 25th October, Minister Toyne said he was very keen to work on linking the Desert Knowledge projects being developed through Central Australia with the Lake Eyre Basin community process.
“We’d like to explore that rather actively regardless of any issue of the Agreement itself,” he said. “So, we’ll definitely be working with you on that.”
The Lake Eyre Basin process is all sectors of the community coming together to work in partnership with governments for an economic, social and ecologically sustainable future.
The Minister was in Birdsville to observe a meeting of the Lake Eyre Basin Ministerial Forum where he was extended an invitation for the Northern Territory Government to be party to the Lake Eyre Basin Agreement.
“We’re here to have a look,” he told the following community conference. "We want to see how best to align our interests to the Lake Eyre Basin (process).
“Whatever formal decisions are made by our Government about entering into the Agreement, we’ll certainly continue to make available all the assistance we can and I guarantee the concerns about working on a whole-of-basin basis will be met. People from our departments will continue to come along and be available to provide input.
“I’ve been very impressed with the energy and the focus to date and I’ll certainly take that back to Cabinet.”
“It’s been a very enlightening and inspiring experience to see people coming in from throughout this area and we’d love to be in there with you.”
The Lake Eyre Basin Agreement is currently between South Australia, Queensland and the Commonwealth and covers the management of water and related natural resources in the catchments of the Cooper and the Georgina Diamantina within the two states.
A considerable section of the Georgina catchment lies within the Territory and, arguably, includes the Sandover River. There is strong evidence that the Sandover discharges water into tributaries of the Georgina in large flood events.
“We are so close to getting them beaten,” he says. ‟rom the numbers we had and the environmental damage they caused over a very long period of time – we rarely see a rabbit now.”
David runs a few Shorthorn cows and a self-replacing merino flock at about one sheep to 6 hectares on his Broken Hill property, Thackaringa Station. He has seen at first hand the devastation rabbits can wreak; he also knows the huge benefits to productivity and the environment that an unrelenting control campaign can bring. The threatened species, Purple Wood Wattle (Acacia Carnei) is making a come-back and paddocks that were ripped 14 years ago are consistently more productive than elsewhere.
“You only need one or two rabbits per square kilometre to cause very significant environmental damage and completely suppress regeneration of perennial species.”
In the 1940s David’s father, John caught 20,000 pairs of rabbits in three nights on one watering point. The introduction of myxomatosis in 1950 put a dent in the rabbits and began a revegetation that the Thackaringa landscape hadn’t seen since rabbits arrived in the mid 1880s. Rabbit Calicivirus Disease (RCD) further decimated the pest but David Lord contends that it is only in conjunction with a concerted warren ripping campaign that you can hope to finally beat them.
Whether mustering during the day, checking waters at night or simply going for a drive, a hand-held Global Positioning System (GPS) is never out of David Lord’s reach.
“The brilliant thing about the GPS is you can stick them in your pocket and when you’re mustering and you see a warren you’ve missed or perhaps it might have reopened, which is a very rare occurrence, you just press mark and enter, and keep riding. It’s so very efficient.”
Since 1992 he has been logging rabbit warrens, downloading the way-points into his computer, then retrieving them latter to accurately guide the dozer during the ripping campaign.
In the latest round of ripping 17,000 out 26,000 known warrens on Thackaringa have been destroyed and David Lord estimates that to be within 5% of the actual figure. "While we’re mustering after ripping, we keep entering the way-points of warrens we’ve missed to build up a maintenance file for future action.”
Thackaringa experience has shown a 250 horsepower bulldozer to have a 60% wider ripping path than the more commonly used 140 horsepower machine. This has increased the work-rate from a maximum of 18 warrens per hour to 32, with an average of 26, and has pulled the cost per warren back to 1990 prices.
According to David Lord, they are so close to having the rabbit beaten.
“We need a big push to continued research into enhancing RCD and seeking out another biological agent,” he says. "There’s just not enough money being spent, particularly when we are so close. I don’t think there’s any other invasive species in Australia that we could say we’re anywhere near close to having control over.
“We’re so close.”
Up to 1000 large fish have died in a major fish-kill in the Thomson River at Longreach.
The kill, a combination of factors including drought and high temperatures, occurred when an artificial impoundment was rapidly drained into the primary Longreach town storage.
Such are large kill of breeding-age fish will have a major impact on the local population but it is an event that will be replicated catchment-wide if the drought continues its strangle-hold on the country.
On a positive note, University of Adelaide PhD student, Janet Pritchard has been able to collect hundreds of otoliths or ear-bones that she calls ‘fish diaries’. By studying the way calcium carbonate has been laid down (similar to tree rings) on these bones, Janet can read their life story - age, health, drought and flood.
Phil and Ifeta Gee of William Creek, South Australia have built an international reputation for their ‘Explore the Outback’ camel safaris operation. People from around the world enjoy this unique Australian experience – riding across the desert on camels and getting a cultural and natural history interpretation along the way.
Ranked last year by Time Magazine as one of the world’s top 10 safaris, the Gee’s enterprise recently achieved a Nature and Ecotourism Accreditation Program ‘Advanced Accreditation’.
The Nature and Ecotourism Accreditation Program, developed by industry for industry, rose out of the need to be able to provide land managers and consumers with an assurance that an accredited enterprise is committed to best practice environmental management and provides quality experiences. It defines ecotourism as ‘Ecologically sustainable tourism with a primary focus on experiencing natural areas that fosters environmental and cultural understanding, appreciation, and conservation’.
Phil Gee says the accreditation especially gives credibility to the ecological interpretation component of the tour
“We’ve had to demonstrate ongoing interest in land management and conservation,” says Phil who is a member of the Marla Oodnadatta Soil Conservation Board and the Lake Eyre Basin Coordinating Group.
“We also needed to have skilled staff, involve the Indigenous community, and employ best-practice procedures for camping and crossing country.”
The Gee’s are one of only four Advanced Accredited Ecotourism operators in South Australia and the first and only NEAP accredited camel-trek operator in the whole of Australia.
George Gorringe has the Cooper in his blood! He entered the world at Innamincka and has spent most of his life in the Channel Country.
During that time he has worked on the Dingo Barrier Fence, as a truck driver in the fuel industry, and as a stockman.
George’s attachment to the Cooper is obvious. “It’s a unique system,” he says, “we’re very lucky to have it.”
And George has put a lot of time and effort into ensuring we continue to ‘have it’. He spent 2 years on the Cooper’s Creek Advisory Group and is approaching his 5th year on the Cooper’s Creek Catchment Committee.
His philosophy is that we are only custodians of the land; we don’t own it.
“If you look after it, it’ll look after you – if you don’t, you’re buggered,” he says matter-of-factly.
George is married with 3 children and lives in the Channel Country town of Windorah.
Denis Katzer is not your average soldier, neither is Tanya Hofmann your average model. Since 1991, these two intrepid adventurers, originally from Nuremburg, Germany, have been trekking across some of the wildest and loneliest country on the planet.
Their desire to be free and see the world has seen them cover tens of thousands of kilometres on horse, on bike, on camel, on elephant and on foot. They have crossed Europe, the Middle East and Asia, and are now in the final stage of a 7,000 kilometre trek across Australia with 6 camels and a dog. (for more information on their travels visit www.denis-katzer.com)
Denis, an athletic, ex-SAS sergeant, says he was born to live, not to work. Perhaps he has a peculiarly Germanic interpretation of ‘work’. They rise at 3.30am, load their 1,200 kilograms of supplies and equipment and depart at daybreak. After walking until lunch-time (or a suitable shade-tree), usually about 25 kilometres, they unload and set up camp which takes an hour.
Tanya, whose flowing black hair and model’s complexion is protected from the harsh Australian sun by swathes of cloth and a broad-brimmed hat, then feeds the camels out for the afternoon while Denis writes away at his laptop, updating the website via the satellite phone and fulfilling sponsorship obligations. They go to bed with the sun and recharge their batteries for the next day. Not work!
In between legs of their journey the pair return to Germany to fulfil yet more sponsorship obligations (25 companies are sponsoring the trek across Australia to the tune of around $1 million), write books, do interviews, make films and model.
They say their trekking brings them close to the land and enables them to raise awareness and build bridges with urban communities who have lost touch with the earth. It has also given them an insight into the feats of the early Australian Explorers. As Denis said, “After 150 years, walking is still walking.”