❓ Question seeks detailed information on WA's rangeland monitoring programs, including funding, staffing, and how data informs lease renewals. Answer provides some details on WARMS and DAFWA's role, but lacks specific financial and staffing data for the full 20-year period. Some questions are redirected to the Minister for Lands.
AnsweredQoN 1486Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
With regard to Government and
government-initiated monitoring of the condition of Western
Australia’s pastoral rangelands: (a) what
programs have operated over the past 20 years and across what years; (b) for each
program, what is/was its specific purpose; (c) how
many full time equivalent positions have been employed in the operations
of each
of these programs for each year,
for the past 20 years; (d) what was the annual
expenditure on each of these programs for the
past 20 years; (e) what
are the budget allocations for these programs in the
forward estimates; (f) how
will the information collected on the condition of individual leases be used in
the process to renew pastoral leases on 1 July 2015; (g) what
programs
and or methods
for monitoring of rangelands conditions
on each pastoral lease will be implemented from 1
July 2015; (h) how has the
substantial amount of evidence-based rangeland condition information provided by the Department of
Agriculture and Food been used by the Pastoral Lands Board to
administer adherence to lease conditions; and (i) as an economic
development agency, are rangeland
management and development decisions underpinned by sound
natural resource management science?
government-initiated monitoring of the condition of Western
Australia’s pastoral rangelands: (a) what
programs have operated over the past 20 years and across what years; (b) for each
program, what is/was its specific purpose; (c) how
many full time equivalent positions have been employed in the operations
of each
of these programs for each year,
for the past 20 years; (d) what was the annual
expenditure on each of these programs for the
past 20 years; (e) what
are the budget allocations for these programs in the
forward estimates; (f) how
will the information collected on the condition of individual leases be used in
the process to renew pastoral leases on 1 July 2015; (g) what
programs
and or methods
for monitoring of rangelands conditions
on each pastoral lease will be implemented from 1
July 2015; (h) how has the
substantial amount of evidence-based rangeland condition information provided by the Department of
Agriculture and Food been used by the Pastoral Lands Board to
administer adherence to lease conditions; and (i) as an economic
development agency, are rangeland
management and development decisions underpinned by sound
natural resource management science?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
11 September 2014
Responded by
Minister for Agriculture and Food
Response time
23 days
a) The Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia (DAFWA) commenced the West Australian Rangeland Monitoring System (WARMS) in 1993. The system became fully operational in 1995 in the northern grasslands, and in 1999 in the southern shrublands. WARMS has operated in all years since 1993.
Through its pastoral lease inspection activity, DAFWA assessed rangeland condition on individual pastoral leases until 2009. Since the Pastoral Lands Board's (PLB) adoption of Rangeland Condition Monitoring in 2009, DAFWA has assessed rangeland condition trend on pastoral leases identified as at risk of exhibiting land management issues.
b) The purpose of WARMS is to assess rangelands condition at the landscape level across the pastoral estate. The purpose of pastoral lease inspections is both to provide the PLB with the information it requires to perform its land management responsibility under the
Land Administration Act 1997
(LAA)
,
and to support landholders in applying sustainable land management practices.
c) During the last 20 years, DAFWA's rangeland monitoring activity has resided in different projects, many of which were also engaged in non-monitoring activities such as livestock industry development and/or biosecurity. Therefore, it is not possible to advise staffing allocations to rangelands monitoring with precision. Since 2008, staff specifically allocated to rangeland assessment monitoring is estimated at 6 FTEs.
d) See question c). It is not possible to advise with precision the level of annual expenditure in rangelands monitoring over the last 20 years.
e) Forward estimates do not provide budget allocations at the project level. Within the project planning framework, DAFWA's intent is to maintain the current resourcing of rangeland monitoring.
f) This question should be referred to the Minister for Lands.
g) This question should be referred to the Minister for Lands.
h) DAFWA's assessment of lease level rangeland condition has supported the PLB's responsibility under the LAA and particularly informed the PLB's issuance of land management directives against land holders in situations where land management issues are identified.
i) As an economic development agency, DAFWA's monitoring and assessment of rangeland conditions in the pastoral estate is based on sound scientific principles that inextricably link rangeland condition with its productivity for grazing livestock. DAFWA's advice is predicated on an understanding that producers and stakeholders alike will apply this information to enhance pastoral sustainability and natural resource values.
Through its pastoral lease inspection activity, DAFWA assessed rangeland condition on individual pastoral leases until 2009. Since the Pastoral Lands Board's (PLB) adoption of Rangeland Condition Monitoring in 2009, DAFWA has assessed rangeland condition trend on pastoral leases identified as at risk of exhibiting land management issues.
b) The purpose of WARMS is to assess rangelands condition at the landscape level across the pastoral estate. The purpose of pastoral lease inspections is both to provide the PLB with the information it requires to perform its land management responsibility under the
Land Administration Act 1997
(LAA)
,
and to support landholders in applying sustainable land management practices.
c) During the last 20 years, DAFWA's rangeland monitoring activity has resided in different projects, many of which were also engaged in non-monitoring activities such as livestock industry development and/or biosecurity. Therefore, it is not possible to advise staffing allocations to rangelands monitoring with precision. Since 2008, staff specifically allocated to rangeland assessment monitoring is estimated at 6 FTEs.
d) See question c). It is not possible to advise with precision the level of annual expenditure in rangelands monitoring over the last 20 years.
e) Forward estimates do not provide budget allocations at the project level. Within the project planning framework, DAFWA's intent is to maintain the current resourcing of rangeland monitoring.
f) This question should be referred to the Minister for Lands.
g) This question should be referred to the Minister for Lands.
h) DAFWA's assessment of lease level rangeland condition has supported the PLB's responsibility under the LAA and particularly informed the PLB's issuance of land management directives against land holders in situations where land management issues are identified.
i) As an economic development agency, DAFWA's monitoring and assessment of rangeland conditions in the pastoral estate is based on sound scientific principles that inextricably link rangeland condition with its productivity for grazing livestock. DAFWA's advice is predicated on an understanding that producers and stakeholders alike will apply this information to enhance pastoral sustainability and natural resource values.
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