More than $3m in Southern Rangelands Revitalisation grants on offer for stations in Gascoyne, Murchison

Pastoralists in the Gascoyne and Murchison can share in more than $3 million in State Government grants to make their stations more drought-resilient. Grants from a total pool of $3.15m under the Southern Rangelands Revitalisation Program are available for pastoralists in the Gascoyne, Murchison, Goldfields and Nullarbor to pursue projects that boost business profitability and rejuvenate the landscape. Up to $25,000 is on offer for training and sharing knowledge on landscape regeneration and profitable grazing that revitalises the Southern Rangelands. Pastoralists who complete the training can then apply for up to $75,000 to implement projects, and up to $5000 to help adopt agricultural technologies that support the proposals. This venture comes follows a successful pilot program, supported by the State Government and the Commonwealth Future Drought Fund and Drought Resilient Soils and Landscapes program, which has to date backed six station initiatives. Biodiversity monitors, native grass seed nurseries, remote water monitoring networks, and earthworks to rehydrate the landscape are some of the measures undertaken by pilot participants. Melangata sheep station in the Murchison has received a grant of almost $42,000 for vermin-proof, solar-powered electric fencing to create a “haystack” of feed in a rested paddock for use in dry periods, as well as remote camera monitoring. Results of this project, and others, will be shared with stations throughout the regions through field days and workshops. WA Agriculture and Food Minister Jackie Jarvis said the Southern Rangelands Revitalisation Program was powering ahead, supporting practical initiatives to improve conditions in the area. “(The program) builds on the skills and knowledge of recipients, drawing on peer learning and expertise, to develop strong projects that create lasting and transformational benefits to businesses and the landscape,” she said. “This terrific initiative is helping the Southern Rangeland pastoral industry to embrace new approaches to build more resilient businesses and conserve our valuable land resource for the future.”