Outlook for pastoral stations improved by $45million program

22/4/03
Many Western Australian pastoralists have an improved outlook for the future after completing projects under the $45million Gascoyne Murchison Strategy (GMS).
The GMS is a joint State/Commonwealth initiative that has greatly helped pastoralists meet economic and environmental challenges.
It is one of 12 being implemented nationally and covers a broad spectrum of activities including business and industry development, sustainable environmental management and lease adjustment.
Agriculture Minister Kim Chance recently visited seven properties in the area to inspect GMS-funded initiatives and hear first-hand accounts of how stations have used GMS grants to improve and diversify their businesses.
"The GMS is now in its last year, and pastoralists are seeing the benefits of better business practices, stock management and diversification programs," he said.
"Throughout the Gascoyne-Murchison area there are examples of third and fourth generation pastoralists diversifying into aquaculture, tourism, horticulture and other industries and reaping both social and economic benefits.
"Not only are they managing their business and their environment better - they are also founding sustainable enterprises for future generations."
Mr Chance, who was accompanied on the tour by GMS chairman Ian Laurance, said one of the success stories had been the adoption of Total Grazing Management (TGM) practices.
A recent study showed that pastoralists who changed to yards that provide total control of domestic, native and feral animals increased their cash surplus by about $80,000 in the first year of operation.
Mr Chance inspected one of the region's 24 TGM yards at Sherwood Station near Meekatharra, where Bill Nichols and his son Harvey run both cattle and sheep.
According to Harvey Nichols, the TGM yards allow total control of Sherwood's water sources.
"We built the yards to cattle height so we can run both sheep and cattle, and the system has made a huge difference to how we manage livestock," Mr Nichols said.
"It's now much easier to muster and generally handle the livestock."
At Mt Augustus Station, GMS grants have contributed to better fencing and water for the property's cattle herd and a plan to expand a tourism project capitalising on the proximity of Mt Augustus is at the concept stage.
Owner Don Hammarquist said accommodation and facilities needed to be improved and more activities developed to meet visitor expectations.
Tourism is taking off at Bidgemia, where Jane McTaggart has developed accommodation in the shearers' shed and in the homestead, a total of 30 beds.
"We have been operating for about a year, and we're enjoying it," Mrs McTaggart said.
"It's a good supplementary business to the main one of running the station."
Under the GMS, Bidgemia has changed enterprise from sheep to cattle, a move that Lochy McTaggart said has had very positive outcomes.
Mr Chance's tour also included Wahroonga Station, where Di Morrison's pilot aquaculture project is using artesian water to develop an ornamental fish-breeding business, and a viticulture project and changeover to South African damara sheep at Wooramel.
Mr Chance also saw a flowing artesian bore being plugged at Yaringa Station, part of a $5.4million GMS project that has capped bores throughout the Carnarvon artesian basin and controlled for use the vast amounts of water flowing into open bore drains.
Minister's office: 9213 6700