Pilbara Planning Project

The Pilbara Planning project aims to work alongside pastoral managers and the livestock sector to develop a methodology that integrates business, livestock and ecological systems planning to maximise profit whilst maintaining or improving range condition. This process should help direct public and private investment to maximise returns and long term viability of pastoral leases.

The business and property planning project will help participating stations to more confidently direct their resources to maximise profit and land management. It will also assist DAFWA to develop a more targeted and holistic extension service pertaining to livestock production systems and natural resource management. This project also has the capacity to support closer engagement with the rural services sector (i.e. Landmark) and the Department of Agriculture and Food providing improved opportunities to support sustainable industry growth.

This project has been designed as a participatory process and relies on the active involvement of pastoral managers and station staff for its development and implementation

Specifically this pilot project aims to:

• Provide pastoral operations with a thorough planning process that accurately benchmarks:
  • current production systems,
  • current environment and landscape function,
  • current economic benchmarks and business performance.
• Following the determinations of the current situation the project team and station managers will work together to develop;
  • property appropriate best practise cattle management production systems;
  • best practice precision grazing management systems,
  • best practice environment and landscape management and restoration activities as appropriate.
  • detailed business plan with profitability, production, economic and ecological goals identified.

The integrated systems developed will be underpinned by rigorous economic modelling that will support the activities and provide an important monitoring tool. This planning process will utilise all existing reports, staff experience, and studies.

At the conclusion of the pilot project it is hoped that the service (or a modified version of it) will be rolled out as part of our work in the Fortescue River catchment area in 2010 and 2011. ERSM will be developing property plans on all willing stations within the catchment area.

If you are situated within the Fortescue river catchment please contact us to signal your interest in an ESRM property plan for your property.