Pastoral bill scrutinised in public meetings

Public meetings have already been held at Leigh Creek, Yunta, Port Augusta, Coober Pedy, Marree and Adelaide, with more webinars planned from next week, as well as meetings with special interest groups.

Pastoral Act Review manager Bianca Lewis said there had been good engagement with lease holders and much of the feedback was consistent, while new ideas had also emerged.

Ms Lewis said one of they key aspects of the draft bill was that pastoralism would remain the primary use of land, even as it widened the definition of "alternative land uses" that could economically support the core business.

She said the vague term, which could include the increasing role of tourism, carbon farming or other options, was intended to "future proof" the act against new industries emerging in the future.

Among other changes is the makeup of the Pastoral Board, which would have seven members, including four lessees, with the nomination committee comprised of Landscape SA, Livestock SA and PIRSA, and the presiding member to be drawn from the lessees.

At the meetings, concerns were also raised about whether the new bill would transfer more power away from the Pastoral Board and into the hands of the minister in charge of the pastoral unit.

Pastoralist Gillian Fennell said ministers changed frequently and each had different aims, so she would like to see power retained by the board.

While lease lengths are proposed to be extended to 100 years - up from 42 - inspections will be more frequent - every 10 years, down from 14.

Ms Lewis said the 10-year inspection would be required to "top up" the lease, with the shortest period a lease could ever reach being 90 years.

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Pastoral plan positives found

But several pastoralists have raised concerns there were already cases of lags beyond the set inspection period, with provisions needed to prevent this happening in the future.

The new leases would only begin after an initial inspection, held during the first five years after the legislation is in place.

Ms Lewis said the improved compliance measures would also equip the Pastoral Unit with more tools for cases of non-compliance, replacing the old measures of $10,000 fines or lease removal.

But she said there would also be some more freedom for those lessees who were doing their job well, such as the removal of stocking maximums, with the focus not on a number but on the ability of the habitat to recover.

While the draft of the new pastoral act gives provisions for "new species" to be farmed, goats will still not be able to be farmed in these areas, as they are declared a pest species under the Landscapes South Australia Act 2019.

Pastoralist Andrew Clarke, Allendale Station, said this meant SA had missed out on opportunities, particularly with fencing improved and good returns.

This was among the examples raised by pastoralists who were concerned the draft pastoral bill might clash with existing legislation, particularly the Native Vegetation Act 1991.

Within the draft bill is a requirement that the minister in charge of the pastoral unit be advised about any situations where action might be taken under a different act, such as Landscapes or Native Vegetation. But some pastoralists have asked if that could be extended to allow exemptions where there are clear conflicts.

The consultation period closes on October 18.

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