Southern Rangelands Revitalisation Program

The initial 12-month pilot, funded by the WA Government, focused on investigating solutions and planning including:

• funding attendance of pastoralists for up to 7 relevant training courses
• supporting access to relevant professional expertise and coaching
• facilitating pastoralist group to fine-tune solutions for each station.

Sixteen stations were supported by the department to attend training and access professional expertise. They were also supported to engage regularly as a group to draw on the experience and knowledge of other participants, work together on common issues, assess and provide feedback on solutions – equipping them with the knowledge and skills to piece things together. The group held 9 meetings in 2022 and were supported to access 5 specialist training courses and on-station expert site visits.

Grant recipients (announced on 23 February 2022)

The second phase, funded by the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund – Resilient Soils and Landscape program and the WA State Government’s Climate Resilience Fund supported a selection of pastoralists from Phase One to implement their on-ground station priorities.

Grants were awarded for pastoralists to undertake projects to demonstrate how drought resilience in the southern rangelands of WA can be improved through the restoration of the natural capital and implementation of practices aimed to protect the resource base and increase livestock profitability. This was supported by further training opportunities during project implementation and organised meetings of the pastoralist support group.

Seven projects were successful at a total value of $692,472. The successful applicants clearly explained how their project activities would result in regeneration of the rangelands.

Grant recipients (announced 23 March 2023)  

Each station has multiple project sites and demonstration activities. Six general types of revitalisation solutions are being tested by the phase 2 participants:

• Rest based rotational grazing to control grazing pressure
• Native seed nurseries and exclosure cells to assist revegetation and natural spread
• Landscape rehydration (mechanical and minimal soil disturbance) to slow rainfall runoff, trap soil and seed and improve rainfall infiltration
• Technology to assess natural capital e.g. portable biodiversity monitor
• Self-mustering yards and watering point projects to improve the management of livestock and other grazers
• Fenced paddocks to control total grazing pressure and implement rest based rotational grazing.

These solutions are being applied in different ways by the pastoralists to suit their landscapes, challenges and management priorities.

Applications closed - Phase 3, Stage 1 grants

The third phase of the program, funded by the WA Government’s Climate Adaptation Strategy, is for new pastoral stations joining the program. The program continues to focus on the objective to improve rangeland condition and land productivity, which overtime, will lead to improved livestock profitability.

Up to $105,00 funding is available to pastoral lease holders, delivered in 2 stages, to maximise the development of effective and achievable on-station revitalisation projects. Note. cash and in-kind co-contributions are required.

1. Development and management decisions - $25,000 for training and professional development
2. On-property project - $75,000 and $5000 for Agtech measuring and monitoring.

Phase 3 will widen its focus to be more inclusive to pastoral leases held or managed by traditional owners, and to biosecurity pressures managed through total grazing pressure control.

An AgTech grant package of $5000 is another new program feature available for project measurement and monitoring.

The program will have 3 grant rounds opening for new participants at 6-monthly intervals. Each round will have 3 streams of funding available:

1. Open - all Southern Rangelands pastoral leaseholders. 
2. Aboriginal held or operated pastoral leases.
3. Biosecurity - total grazing pressure control.

Regular meetings with the other participants continue as an important feature of the program. The meetings provide the opportunity to draw on the experience and knowledge of other pastoralists in addition to the training courses, specialist speakers, and support in developing revitalisation projects.

Phase 3, stage 1 recipients

Regional research demonstration sites

Phase 3 will also feature the establishment of regional research demonstration sites to explore constraints to the adoption of technologies and practices for revitalisation and will be driven by pastoralists and supported by deeper science and inquiry. Site hosts will be an important part and will be the first to benefit from trials. Contact us to find out more about being a site host.