Rangelands Reform
By addressing both the short and long term challenges currently being faced by pastoral industries in the regions, the Rangeland Reform Program aims to grow sustainable, economically diverse rangelands communities.
About the rangelands
The rangelands occupy 87% of the state’s landmass and include all but the South West Land Division. This land comprises:
38% Pastoral leases - used for grazing of livestock on native vegetation.
62% Unallocated Crown Lands (UCL) and lands vested for conservation and Indigenous purposes.
Pastoral leases in rangelands
- There are 460 pastoral stations consisting of 518 leases (some stations contain more than one lease)
- The average size of a pastoral station is 185 000 hectares
- The largest pastoral station is over 500 000 hectares
- In 2008-09, the value of pastoral production was estimated at around $240 million, comprising:
• $180 million in cattle sales
• $34 million in wool production
• $14 million in sheep sales
• $12 million in goat sales.
About the rangelands reform program
Recent reviews have revealed the challenges and opportunities for the Western Australia’s pastoral industry as well as an historic lack of a government vision for the economic and social future of the rangelands.
The Rangelands Reform Program is a program of specific action developed to address these issues and to tackle ongoing challenges faced by the pastoral industries in the rangelands.
As the lead agency, we bring together agencies with a significant ‘footprint’ in the rangelands to create a shared commitment and an integrated approach to rangelands reform.
Rangelands Reform is a 3 year program that commenced in December 2010. The aim is to achieve substantial reform outcomes during this term of government.
Reform goals, key focus areas and anticipated outcomes
Goals of the reform
By addressing both the short and long term challenges currently being faced in the regions, the Rangelands Reform Program aims to grow sustainable, economically diverse rangelands communities, including:
- A contemporary vision for the rangelands
- Economic opportunities
- Institutional arrangements that reflect contemporary business conditions
- Market opportunities
- A greatly improved understanding of sustainable land use requirements
- Options for restorative management and regeneration.
It is intended that substantial reform outcomes are achieved during this term of government.
Key focus areas
Throughout the three year time frame, the program will work to:
- Develop a contemporary vision for the rangelands which promotes multiple land uses, economically diverse communities and a responsive, future-oriented business environment.
- Develop proposals for new forms of land tenure, including options of perpetual leasehold and ‘rangelands leases’, to replace or supplement existing pastoral tenure and provide current and future landholders with greater flexibility, security and incentive to invest.
- Facilitate use of the rangelands for conservation purposes, including enabling management of parts or whole of leases for conservation, consistent with conservation outcomes.
- Streamline government processes and procedures that affect new business development in the rangelands, including the development of a ‘one stop shop’ facility for pastoral lease diversification applications and approvals.
- Remove unintended planning and regulatory obstacles to the creation of development precincts in the rangelands; encourage private sector investment in such precincts through links to economic development initiatives such as the department of agriculture and food’s “growing the north”.
- Identify region-specific economic development opportunities or adjustment responses to arrest the losses associated with the ongoing degradation of formerly productive land and water assets and/or the failure of businesses.
- Take account of the unique status and circumstances of native title holders and claimants and the indigenous community generally in tenure reform and where appropriate identify economic development opportunities for indigenous communities arising in the rangelands or from the management of rangelands resources.
- Identify strategic opportunities for the investment of royalties for regions funds in rangelands revitalisation. An important outcome of rangelands reform is that the potential of the resource is restored.
Anticipated outcomes
At the end of the 3 year Rangelands Reform Program, it is anticipated that:
Existing diversification opportunities will be better utilised
New forms of tenure will be available to support diversified land uses
Transitional arrangements will be clearly identified and underway
Short term responses to address acute problems in specific areas will have been implemented or be underway
The potential for new economic opportunities will be well understood
Specific developments and significant new investment will be in progress
With the input of pastoralists and other key stakeholders, ensuring that the potential of the resource is restored.
Driving growth in the rangelands
Growth will primarily be driven through:
- Encouragement of new investment opportunities and land uses
- Identification of measures to restore the rangelands’ productive capacity and conservation values;
- New forms of land tenure.
Steering Committee
A high level steering committee has been established, chaired by the Department of Regional Development and Lands, with membership from the following other agencies:
- Department of the Premier and Cabinet
- Department of Agriculture and Food
- Department of Environment and Conservation
- Department of Mines and Petroleum
- Department of Water
- Office of Native Title
- Department of Indigenous Affairs
- Department of Planning
- Tourism Western Australia.
The steering committee of the Rangelands Reform Program will report quarterly to the Minister for Regional Development and Lands and the Minister for Agriculture and Food. Reporting will be against milestones identified in a program plan.
Stakeholder engagement and consultation
The Hon Wendy Duncan MLC Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Regional Development and Lands will lead consultation on the delivery of the program.
The program will invite participation and feedback from a wide variety of stakeholders and industry bodies, with the
Pastoral Lands Board acting as a key reference body for the reform.
The
Regional Development Council, and industry representative organisations among others, will also be engaged on the delivery of the program.
Funding the reform
An amount of $2.25 million is being provided from the Royalties for Regions - Regional Communities Services Fund to establish the Rangelands Reform Program. The funds will be allocated over three years, commencing 2010-11.
The funding will be used to employ a team of five policy, legal and project officers within the Department of Regional Development and Lands and Department of Agriculture and Food, to ensure the program is delivered effectively within the time frame the Government has set.
An additional Department of Regional Development and Lands officer dedicated to supporting rangelands diversification will also be employed.
Impact on Native Title issues
There are likely to be complex interactions between revised pastoral/rangelands tenures and other forms of tenure in the rangelands; native title rights and interests arising from the
Native Title Act 1993 (Cwlth) and National Competition Policy. For example, any new form of tenure contemplated through this process is highly likely to trigger the native title future act requirements and therefore lessees wishing to pursue this option will have to negotiate with native title parties as part of the approvals processes.
Recent reviews of the pastoral industry
The two most recent reviews of the pastoral industry, undertaken in 2009 by the Minister for Agriculture and Food are:
- A Review of the Process to Permit Diversification on Pastoral Leasehold Land in Western Australia (Department of Agriculture and Food WA (DAFWA) August 2009).
New forms of tenure proposed
In 2011, the Department, in consultation with other relevant agencies, will prepare proposed amendments to the Land Administration Act 1997 (WA) to allow pastoral lease holders increased capacity to diversify their operations.
New tenure options being considered include:
- Perpetual pastoral lease under existing pastoral framework
‘Rangelands lease’ allowing for a diverse range of permitted uses, including conservation and tourism
Broader diversification activities permitted for existing pastoral leases and/or perpetual pastoral leases described above in (1).
The tenure options may be able to be taken up by existing pastoral lessees, new investors and/or for joint investment, depending on the individual circumstances. Any new tenure option will also take account of the unique status and circumstances of native title holders and claimants and the indigenous community generally.
Consideration will also need to be given to the governance structure applying to the administration and enforcement of these forms of tenure.
For options available under existing pastoral tenure refer to
permits to diversify. Here you will also find information on alternative tenure options.
RDL released a Land Tenure Options Discussion Paper in April 2011 to help explain the concept of the proposed new tenure options.
Stakeholders were encouraged to provide feedback on the proposals by 20 May 2011.
To view the information sheet, click on the link below.
This paper responds to the issues raised in submissions to the Rangelands Tenure Options Discussion Paper and outlines the next steps that the Government will undertake.
To view the response paper, click on the links below.
Response to the Rangelands Tenure Options (PDF)
- Information Sheet: Land Tenure Options being progression and the implications of the Native Title Act 1993
This information sheet provides an overview of the six broad changes to the Land Administration Act 1997 the Hon Minister Brendon Grylls, intends to progress under the State Government’s Rangelands Reform.
To view the information sheet, click on the links below.
Advice and support on diversifying your operations
Through us, the Government is committed to supporting pastoral lessees considering diversification options under existing pastoral tenure.
We are able to assist lessees with the development of proposals which address all agencies’ requirements. In addition, we can provide advice on what the diversification process entails and can meet with lessees on site to discuss proposals.
As part of the Rangelands Reform Program, and while alternative forms or tenure are being considered, the Government will add resources to this area in order to further support lessees. In addition, we and the Department of Agriculture and Food will work with other agencies to streamline the process and essentially create a ‘one stop shop’ for lessees wishing to discuss diversification options.
Pastoral lease renewal in 2015
Rangelands Reform is being conducted in addition to the work we are undertaking on
pastoral lease renewals in 2015.
More information and how to stay informed
We will keep pastoralists and other stakeholders informed about the program and its delivery through regular newsletters and consultation opportunities.
If you would like to receive updates on the program, please subscribe to our
E-Newsletter.
The Hon Wendy Duncan MLC Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Regional Development and Lands will lead consultation with key stakeholders on the delivery of the program, including tenure reform options.