STRONG PEOPLE HEALTHY COUNTRY and WATER - Anangu Kunpu, Ngura Kunpu munu Kapi
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Alinytjara Wilurara Winter 2020
Landscape Board
STRONG PEOPLE HEALTHY COUNTRY and WATER
Anangu Kunpu, Ngura Kunpu munu Kapi
02
Landscape Board’s commitment
05
Malleefowl on the wrong track
06
Regional Indigenous tourism
08
Regional Indigenous tourism
10
Healthy warru in APY Lands
Palya, Strong People, Healthy Country and Water
From thehappening
What’s A/General Manager, Alinytjara Wilurara
Welcome to the unique set of circumstances that Becoming familiar with new ways to
2019 Winter edition became evident within days of my communicate will undoubtedly be of
of Palya. taking over the role. benefit given the remoteness of the
communities where the majority of
I’m James Thiessen With the arrival of COVID-19 and the our board members live and the many
and I’ve been acting restrictions put in place to manage responsibilities they carry as leaders
in the role of AW’s its spread we have not been able to within their communities.
Regional Manager recruit for positions that were already
for the past 3 months in the pipeline. As the COVID-19 restrictions ease
having been AW’s Program Manager (hopefully), we will of course continue
since April 2019. This has left us with a very lean team to observe all necessary behaviours to
and I am extremely grateful and ever ensure that the health of our team,
I must confess I hadn’t contemplated amazed at their stoic ability to keep and all the people we work with
managing the team under the very remains paramount.
our work afloat particularly in the
midst of transitioning from being a The feeling of entering a new era on
INVITATION Natural Resources Management Board so many levels is both exciting and
The Alinytjara Wilurara to the new Alinytjara Wilurara (AW) perhaps a little daunting but none the
Landscape Board invite you to join us Landscape Board. Adjusting to and less, from what I have observed of this
on Facebook orgnising working from home added team and this Board so far they are
AW weather stations another layer of challenges. more than up for the challenge.
Check out data from the weather
stations in the AW region on... The closure of the Aboriginal I look forward to continuing to act
https://www.awsnetwork.com.au/ communities across the AW region also in the role of General Manager for
meant adapting to new ways to keep the AW Landscape Board until the
Next AW Landscape Board meeting up our support for the on-country recruitment is finalised.
post July 2020, Adelaide work being undertaken by Aboriginal I hope you enjoy this edition.
rangers and land managers.
Ceduna Arts and Cultural Centre Palya
Genuine local Aboriginal art Although information technology is not
2 Eyre Highway, Ceduna a strong suit for many of our Board
members they very admirably rose
International Day of the World’s
to the occasion and held their final James Thiessen
Indigenous People
NRM Board meeting and inaugural A/General Manager
09 August 2020
Landscape Board meeting on MS Teams. Alinytjara Wilurara Landscape Board
Where we are and what
we do
The Alinytjara Wilurara Landscape region
(previously known as the Alinytjara Wilurara
Natural Resources Management region)
covers the northwest quarter of South
Australia.
In Pitjantjatjara, alinytjara means ‘north’
and wilurara means ‘west’.
The region spans over a quarter of a
million square kilometres, and has a
population of approximately 3000
people, many of whom identify with
the Pitjantjatjara, Yankunytjatjara,
Ngaanyatjarra, Kokatha, Mirning
or Wirangu peoples.
As the only all-Aboriginal board
in Australia responsible for
managing an NRM region, the
AW Landscape Board’s aim is
the protection of the land
for the mutual benefit of the
country and its people.
Title page: Pastoral Management Team member spraying athel pine regrowth in the APY Lands Photograph courtesy of APY
From the Chair
Welcome to the
2020 Winter
edition of Palya.
As the inaugural
Chair of the
new Alinytjara
Wilurara (AW)
APY Lands: Returnig warru back to
Landscape Board I am delighted to
country where they had previously once again have the opportunity
become extinct to drive change for a healthier and
more prosperous AW region.
I would like to express my sincere
thanks to Mick Haynes, the AW
02 AW region remains focus 07 Weather and Climate Guide NRM Board’s Presiding Member
From NRM Board to Landscape AW’s new climate guide from February 2019 to February
Board, AW’s committment to the presents historical 2020. His competence as a leader
region remains constant weather and climate shone through with his inclusive,
info from last 30 years affable manner and ability to gain
clarity greatly respected.
08 Tacking athel pine in APY The past six months has presented
many challenges to our board
Sustained efforts to remove athel
04 Friends of the GVD members and staff who have
pine paying off in APY Lands
demonstrated both adaptability
With a mutual and resilience in the midst of state-
interest in natural wide COVID-19 restrictions.
and cultural history
FoGVD undertake During this time they have been
important research managing an array of complex
tasks related to transitioning
05 Malleefowl on wrong track from an NRM Board, operating
10 Healthy warru in APY Lands
under the NRM Act (2004) to the
How COVID-19
Increasing warru AW Landscape Board operating
confused
population needs under the new Landscape SA Act
Maralinga management
malleefowl (2019). It is expected that the full
to sustain growth
extent of these changes will not be
completed until mid-2021.
06 Regional Indigenous tourism 12 Making Maralinga Tjarutja
Partnering to support Indigenous
With COVID-19 highlighting just
Telling the real story of what
groups develop and manage happened to the people who
how unpredictable the future can
tourism on their lands walked, lived and hunted on this be, it has also forced us to consider
land for thousands of years alternative ways to operate that
will influence our future plans and
mechanisms for delivery.
Although our Board is now
administered under a new Act,
we remain committed to seeking
opportunities and delivering
better ways to support the region’s
people in realising their aspirations
of keeping Culture and Country
healthy.
Alinytjara Wilurara Landscape Board member Parry Agius
Mima Smart talks about country while filming Presiding Member
Maralinga Tjarutja documentary on location photo credit: Adelaide Review Alinytjara Wilurara Landscape Board
Palya, Strong People, Healthy Country and Water
The Alinytjara Wilurara region
remains our focus
On 1 July 2020, the Natural develop sustainable communities through “Thank you to all the past AW
Resources Management Act 2004, a healthy environment. NRM Board members. Through
under which the Alinytjara Wilurara their efforts we became a
Mr Parry Agius, who has been a Board strong, high-achieving and
Natural Resources Management
member since 2008, including eight respected Board with proven
(AW NRM) Board previously
years as its Presiding Member, has been capacity to make a difference
operated was superseded by the
appointed as Presiding Member for the in our region”. Parry Agius
new Landscape South Australia
new AW Landscape Board and is referred
Act 2019. Accordingly the AW to as the Chair.
NRM Board has now transitioned
to become the Alinytjara Wilurara The AW Landscape Board and its partners
(AW) Landscape Board. remain committed to the continued
delivery of practical, on-ground programs
All members of the AW NRM Board that support management of the
transitioned directly, as appointed region’s land, water, pest animals and
members, into the Alinytjara Wilurara plants, and biodiversity. As in the past
(AW) Landscape Board on 01 July they also aim to value-add in the areas
2020. They bring with them many of Aboriginal leadership, governance,
well-established partnerships, a strong employment opportunities and economic
commitment to driving positive results
development.
and a passion to use their considerable
skills and knowledge to
Film strips: feature some of the many AW NRM
Board’s highlights and achievements over the years
02 Alinytjara Wilurara Landscape Region
Looking back at the AW NRM Board’s many achievements and
forward to continued success as the AW Landscape Board.
The AW NRM Board was established in The members of the Landscape Board “Regardless of the challenges
2005 and, as it remains to this day, was carry a proud legacy of Aboriginal that change may present, the AW
the only all-Aboriginal Board managing leadership, governance, employment Landscape Board will continue to
an NRM region in Australia. opportunities and economic work together with the people of
development. the AW region, our partners and
“From inception to the current day the stakeholders to define and deliver
Board remains committed to community In addition to administrative changes strong and effective mechanisms to
consultation to guide project priorities there are some minor boundary support healthy people and healthy
and inform planning. Supporting the changes around the Far West Coast country in the Alinytjara Wilurara
health of communities and their country area that better reflect existing park region,” said Mr Agius.
is and will remain at the heart of all borders.
future endeavours,” said Mr Agius.
(L-R) Parry Agius, Peter Miller, Julie O’Toole,
Kristy Richards, Debbie Hansen, Sally Scales,
Anton Baker, Mima Smart, and Mick Haynes
Alinytjara Wilurara Landscape Region 03
Palya, Strong People, Healthy Country and Water
Friends of the
Great Victoria Desert
Alinytjara Wilurara (AW) regional The Great Victoria Desert (GVD) was
staff have had the pleasure of named after a British queen by the Field trip 2011
working with the Friends of the explorer Ernest Giles in 1875.
Great Victoria Desert (FoGVD) for
over a decade. It is the largest dune desert in
Australia, covering 350,000 square
Ceduna-based AW staff support kilometres (35 million hectares).
the FoGVD to plan their activities. It straddles the South Australia /
Field trips are only undertaken after Western Australia border, stretching
approval is given by the traditional more than 700 kilometres from west
owners of the area to be visited. to east. It experiences low rainfall
which averages around 200 mm Field trip 2014
The FoGVD come from all walks of to 250 mm per year, but rains vary
life, backgrounds and professions greatly from year to year.
but share a common passion for the
bush and a keen interest in natural Maximum daily temperatures are
and cultural history. from 30 to 45 degrees Celsius in the
summer (15 to 25 in the winter). At
They provide voluntary assistance night, the winter temperature can
to DEW and AW staff in caring for drop below zero.
the parks and reserves in the South
Australian section of the Great Dry as it is, the GVD includes Field trip 2015
Victoria Desert and promote and some remarkably diverse areas.
provide educational material on the Mamungari Conservation Park has
region to the general public. both high biodiversity and protection
from exploitation. The trees are
The Friends have collected plant particularly spectacular and for
specimens for the State Herbarium of animals, it provides a vast corridor
South Australia on an opportunistic connecting the mallee areas of
basis and more formally by surveying eastern and western Australia.
one-hectare vegetation plots
identified by the Herbarium. They Aboriginal people have used the
Field trip 2016
also photograph vegetation at set Great Victoria Desert area for at
points every three years. These least 24,000 years. Extended usage
records are supplied to the Herbarium. of the GVD proper was generally
restricted to post-rainfall periods
The group has supported research and the groups moved frequently
projects recording marble gum to take advantage of what the
distribution and camel damage to land had to offer. Highly specialised
the desert vegetation. water finding, collecting and storage
systems were developed.
Field trip 2017
With improved access and increased
availability of vehicles and supplies
several permanent Aboriginal
communities have been established
in the Great Victoria Desert.
Visit the FoGVD website to see
more about the Field trips, and
their findings at https://www.
Field trip 2018
communitywebs.org/fgvd/
Source: https://www.communitywebs.org/fgvd/
4 Alinytjara Wilurara Landscape Region
COVID-19 travel restrictions
gave false sense of security to
Malleefowl on Googs Track
Malleefowl took the opportunity
during this quiet period to begin
building their mound in the soft
sand on the vehicle track.
Unfortunately several vehicles had
driven over the mound and so it
will likely be abandoned.
“Unfortunately there’s no way to
Malleefowl on divert the track safety as travellers
from the north can’t see the
mound as they drive up over the
the wrong track dune crest.
“Still, it is good to see that the
Malleefowl are actively preparing
In late May, Alinytjara Wilurara’s last year’s breeding season and were their nests for incubation over the
Ecologist Brett Backhouse happy to see evidence of Malleefowl months leading up to September.
and Sustainable Community activity at most of the locations.
Coordinator Karrena Veltman “The country is really dry but signs
travelled (in separate vehicles to Unfortunately fox and cat prints of light rain are evident. Hopefully
be COVID-19 safe) to Yellabinna were also plentiful on dune crests winter will kick in soon and
Regional Reserve to set up remote and around Malleefowl mounds. conditions will be wet enough for
sensor cameras and monitor activity *egg incubation in September,”
Images previously captured by the
around Malleefowl mounds. said Karrena.
motion sensor cameras confirm the
“It was a pleasure to be able to interest of feral animals in both the This project was supported by
get back out in the field for a eggs and malleefowl chicks. the AW NRM Board with funds
few days after months of being from the Australian Government’s
based in the Ceduna office due With COVID19 restrictions
National Landcare Program.
to the COVID-19 restrictions” said significantly reducing visits to the
Karrena. Park, Googs track had not been *Moisure is required for decomposition
driven on since January 2020. of the leaf litter creating warmth for the
The pair visited several mounds incubating eggs.
that AW have monitored since
The mix of leaf and other fine litter collected Evidence of light rain marks the sand
AW’s Ecologist Brett Backhouse examines to form the huge mounds takes an dedicated around this Ooldea Guinea-flower
the contents of the mound effort by prospective malleefowl parents (Hibbertia crispula) bush
Alinytjara Wilurara Landscape Region 5
Palya, Strong People, Healthy Country and Water
10 Deserts Regional
Photograph © Nyangumarta Warrarn
Aboriginal Corporation 2017
Indigenous Tourism
As a proud partner of the 10 •• provide recommendations for the Portal/website
Deserts Project (10DP) the Alinytjara integration of permit systems and/
Wilurara Board keenly supports or areas for new permit systems 10DP is also commencing design for
the development of their Regional a regional desert tourism website
and possible desert tourism loops
Indigenous Tourism Strategy. called Desert Journeys. The tourism
that will join up different products
website will provide a centralised
for high volume tourism.
The 10 Deserts Project aims to build access point for people wanting
the capacity of Indigenous groups The development of the Regional to visit the desert and provide a
to look after country for a range Indigenous Tourism Strategy was ‘one-stop-shop’ for visitors to gain
of economic, social, cultural and funded mainly by the Commonwealth access to Indigenous groups’ permit
environmental outcomes through Government under the Building Better systems. The website will have
Indigenous land management Regions Fund with the addition of lots of photos, films and stories
collaboration across Australia’s by traditional owners in order to
funds from the 10DP.
desert country. communicate to visitors the rich
Funding priorities include: Indigenous cultures and history of
The Project commissioned the the deserts and promote visitor
Indigenous Consulting Group to •• regional tourism project officers respect for Indigenous cultural
develop the strategy and conducted that can provide direct practical values in the deserts.
a series of consultations across the support to Indigenous groups to
desert areas to identify key issues develop tourism initiatives The deserts are vast, so the 10DP
and actions Indigenous groups •• supporting exchanges and will initially develop a prototype
wanted to develop and manage learning from successful in the north-west of WA. This site
tourism on their lands. Indigenous tourism businesses will enable the 10DP to design the
website properly based around
Using this feedback, the regional •• infrastructure such as signage, traditional owner (TO) priorities and
strategy was developed based on the campsites and water points to test and refine the functionality
following aims: before seeking to engage other
•• regional on-country meetings to
•• maximise opportunities to enable groups to get together groups in other areas in the website.
increase revenue for Indigenous and discuss tourism and develop
people and Indigenous land projects that manage or develop
management organisations from
World Indigenous
tourism
tourism Tourism Summit
•• support for groups to develop
•• provide a roadmap and regional projects such as loops, 10DP is hoping to secure funding
recommendations for activities trails or permit systems to support groups to attend the
to strengthen capacity and World Indigenous Tourism Summit
•• support for groups to attend
support development of in Perth however, due to COVID-19
conferences, tourism industry
additional products aligned the date is yet to be finalised. This
workshops and get the training
with organisations’ interests and will be a fantastic opportunity for
they need. desert groups to build tourism in
capacity
The strategy was finalised in the deserts and to learn from other
•• identify potential funding groups all over the world.
November 2019 and the documents
sources to assist with
are available at: https://10deserts.org/ Learn more about the conference
implementation of the
recommendations project/tourism/Portal/website at: wits2020.com.au
06 Alinytjara Wilurara Landscape Region
Alinytjara Wilurara’s
Regional Weather and Climate Guide
Pastoralists across the country advantage of new opportunities and the Regional Weather and Climate
are modifying their operations in prepare for the future droughts. Guide for the Alinytjara Wilurara
response to changes in the local region.
weather conditions. At each NRM region consultation
workshop, communities were The guides were funded through
Throughout 2019, climate data presented with different graphics the Commonwealth Government’s
experts from the Bureau of showing trends in their local weather. Drought Assistance Package.
Meteorology (BoM) together with
CSIRO scientists specialising in AW are pleased to have participated
the inter-relationships between and contributed to
climate and agriculture visited all
56 of Australia’s NRM regions
to explore how historical
weather observations could
provide insights into changes
experienced in the region.
The result of these consultations
combined with further data
analysis by BoM, CSIRO and
Farmlink are localised climate
guides for each NRM region.
These are available on the Bureau’s
website as well as via the National
Farmer’s Federation FarmHub tool
and the Climate Kelpie website.
The climate guides present
historical weather and climate
information from the last 30 years
of observations, and in doing so,
describe the current climate in the
context of short-term and long-
term regional variability.
The aim is to agriculturally
relevant climate information so
land managers can make the best
decisions based on information
not just about the past but also
about the possible future.
Knowing about what can be
expected, such as likely rainfall
and duration, temperature trends,
frost risk, when to expect the
wet season, and the nature of
local droughts, floods and heat
Reference: Regional climate guides put data in the
waves helps land managers take hands of farmers by Kate Langford 27 November
2019 CSIRO website
Alinytjara Wilurara Landscape Region 07
Tackling athel pine in the APY Lands Photography courtesy of APY
Tackling the scourge of athel pine lakes and bore drains in the pastoral The work of APY’s Pastoral
(Tamarix aphylla), regarded as one zone toward the Northern Territory Management Team is vital given
of the worst weeds in Australia, border. athel pine could potentially infest
is challenging in remote regions watercourses throughout most
such as the Anangu Pitjantjatjara The plant, which can produce of inland South Australia if left
Yankunytjatjara Lands, (APY) in far thousands of seeds a year from a unchecked. This would use up
northwest South Australia. single tree is native to northern valuable natural resources, hinder
Africa and Asia. It was first mustering, and alter vegetation and
In late March to May 2020, APY introduced into Whyalla in South river structure. Athel pine consumes
Pastoral Land Care Officer (and Australia in the 1930’s from
water more quickly than native
Regional Agriculture Landcare California. Since then it has been
plants, reducing the number and
Facilitator) Walter Tjami and extensively planted as shade and
quality of watering holes. The plant
other members of the Pastoral wind breaks and for erosion control
concentrates salt, which is excreted
Management Team, including around rural South Australia.
by its leaves. This makes the ground
Glenn Ward and Cleon Kenny, and
Athel pine was declared a Weed of beneath athel pine saltier and
Land Management worker Bruce
National Significance because of its excludes native pasture grasses and
Hammond, worked to contain the
spread of athel pine around the invasiveness, potential for spread, other salt-sensitive plants.
Kenmore Park area, 460km south of and economic and environmental
impacts, but it was not formally An important part of the APY
Alice Springs. Pastoral Management Team’s work is
recognised as a weed in Australia
In South Australia, the main until the late 1980s. Infestations also consultation with traditional owners
naturalised infestations of athel pine reduce the cultural and aesthetic to discuss weed management and
are in the APY Lands on creek lines, value of affected land. Below: Glen Ward and Walter Tjami rigged out in
Below: Athel pine regrowth appropriate safety gear ready for chemical spraying
08 Alinytjara Wilurara Landscape Regionpoisoning program. Triclopyr 600 included arid river systems. Further
was sprayed using backpacks and infestations have been located in
trailer spray units, with chainsaw surrounding areas.
cut-stump techniques used to ensure
penetration of the poison. There has been effective removal
of athel pine over the last two
Although it was evident that there growth seasons, but also some
was a high degree of effective removal regrowth. Tryclopyr 600 with
since last year’s poison and cut-stump dye was used to allow future
program some stumps displayed assessment of poison application
juvenile growth of up to two metres. techniques.
The northern region of Kenmore As part of the program, APY team
Park was also sprayed with Tryclopyr members underwent training on all
600 using backpacks, but without aspects of modern conservation land
stump cutting. management, including drone use,
GPS recording, chemical handling
As this area is larger than the and use and safe work practices.
southern region, it was decided to use
it as a trial site for future evaluation. APY Pastoral Land Care has also
With most plants being less than one been learning about and using
Above: Walter and Glen using the GPS hand-held unit metre high the spraying without cut drone technology. Drones are a
for mapping affected areas stump technique was used. possible tool, once Traditional
Owner consent is given, to help
gain approval to complete this work Mr Tjami and Mr Ward are keen with mapping, for fire boundaries,
on their land. to further evaluate this site over monitoring feral animal numbers
the current growing season to gain and locating infestation of
Site assessment over the southern and greater understanding of the best destructive weeds such as athel
northern regions of Kenmore Park techniques for effective removal of pine in remote areas.
was undertaken with the guidance athel pine.
and assistance of Mr Tjami and APY General Manager Richard
Mr Ward. Mr Kenny also provided “Given previous high success rates we King said the athel pine removal
assistance in the northern region. expect to achieve total removal of program was an important
athel pine over the next two growth part of the Pastoral Land Care
A comprehensive plan was discussed seasons,” Mr Tjami said. strategy and an example of
and developed to ensure further one of the many initiatives that
successful removal of existing Locations were plotted using GPS to
enabled Anangu to engage with
athel pine demonstrating juvenile guide further opportunities to ensure
their community, and develop
growth. Given the remoteness and complete removal of athel pine from
leadership skills.
larger infestation of the northern both the southern and northern
area, the APY team developed a regions of Kenmore Park. “The Pastoral Land Care programs
plan to address the southern areas provide Anangu a chance to
Areas plotted over Kenmore Park
first with a further cut-stump and be involved and consult on
totalled more than 100 hectares and
meaningful work with other
Anangu to build skills and capacity
for the future, and importantly,
become part of the solution to
manage issues on the APY Lands,”
Mr King said.
“I commend the Pastoral
Management Team on its very
good work.”
This Pastoral Project was supported
by the AW NRM Board with funds
from the Australian
Government’s
National Landcare
Program.
Alinytjara Wilurara Landscape Region 09APY Lands
Healthy warru population continues to grow
With the population of endangered to travel to the APY Lands to provide the APY Lands where populations
black-footed rock-wallabies vital support. existed in the past.
(warru) continuing to increase Since 2017 the pintji warru population
Impressively however APY Land
within the Anangu Pitjantjatjara has bounced back strongly, with 51
Management rangers and staff
Yankunytjatjara Lands’ 100-hectare wallabies being trapped in March
managed to perform a limited
enclosure (pintji) many are now 2019. This survey indicated that the
trapping survey from 11-22 May at
ready for translocation. total population within the pintji
the warru pintji, and translocate 34
warru to Wamitjara in the Musgrave was up to 80, possibly higher.
An inspection of the pintji in March
this year indicated that warru Ranges. During the May 2020 program
(Petrogale lateralis) food resources the available members of the
In May 2017, the WRT undertook the
were under extreme pressure after
first warru translocation from the Above: Approaching Wamitjara release site
two years of low rainfall and an
pintji to Wamitjara, a site where they Below: Climbing up to the traps inside the pintji
increase in warru numbers.
had been locally extinct since 2006.
The APY Lands generally receives
The pintji was constructed in 2009
most of its rain in summer so good
to protect warru from predation
rain is now not expected for up to
by feral foxes and cats. It is located
six months. To prevent a decline
approximately 25km northeast of
in the condition of warru and
Pukatja in the APY Lands.
relieve pressure on the scant food
resources the Warru Recovery Team Considered one of South Australia’s
(WRT) decided urgent action should most endangered species, warru
be taken to reduce the number of were reintroduced to the APY Lands
warru in the pintji. through the Monarto Zoo captive
breeding program. Since then the
Due to coronavirus restrictions,
population has steadily increased.
the usual full-scale annual warru
trapping survey had to be cancelled The pintji now provides a local source
as many of the Warru Recovery population from which warru can
Team (WRT) members were unable be translocated to various sites in
10 Alinytjara Wilurara Landscape RegionWRT used 12 traps a night over five
nights (60 trap nights) to trap 46
initiative successfully managed by
APY through its Land Management
Fruit fly
individual warru and translocate 34 program and supported by the
of them to Wamitjara. Under normal Alinytjara Wilurara NRM Board
circumstances, annual surveys would with funding from the Australian
use 31 traps over four nights (124 Government’s National Landcare
trap nights). Program.
The results from this year’s trapping “The reintroduction of this
session are not directly comparable previously endemic species of black-
to previous years, as under normal
conditions the trapped warru are
footed rock-wallaby to the APY
Lands enables the delicate balance
A call to arms
released back into the pintji, often to of the desert ecosystem to continue, Recent fruit fly outbreaks in
be re-trapped on subsequent nights. as it has for thousands of years,” Mr Adelaide’s Northern suburbs met
King said. with a swift multi-agency response
However, the results do indicate
that the pintji warru population by PIRSA with Alinytjara Wilurara’s
“The removal of even a minor
continues to increase strongly in the Data & Information Management
endemic species can have major
absence of predators and that future Coordinator Adam Wood called
impacts to the environment and
translocations will be necessary in to assist the PIRSA Spatial
on the cultural practices of what
to maintain the health of the (mapping) team.
is considered to be the oldest
population and of the food plants continuing living culture in the Mapping support is crucial to the
they rely on. world.” success of fruit fly eradication. The
coordinated response requires
In addition to the removal of warru Mr King said APY was extremely
mapping land parcels grouped
from the pintji, the team used the proud of the progress being made
in blocks within outbreak areas
trapping session to remove warru by Land Management rangers and
to support multiple teams on the
from the ‘Medicine Pen’, a smaller staff who were working towards
ground and ensure each property
separately fenced hill within the opening another colony in the south
is accounted for.
pintji, in preparation for the arrival of the APY Lands.
of new animals with different A fruit fly outbreak is declared by
“The successful reintroduction of PIRSA when fruit fly are detected
genetic lineage.
warru into the APY Lands ensures through maggot infested fruit or
In 2019 the Monarto Zoo captive that we have an important and through the presence of flies in
breeding program acquired two integral piece of the desert’s natural their surveillance traps.
female warru joeys from wildlife order of physical and spiritual life
back where it belongs,” he said. “It was a great experience working
rescue volunteers in the Northern
with a different spatial (mapping)
Territory. The WRT plan to introduce “Further to this, the warru’s team. I picked up some new tips
the offspring of these warru to the reintroduction also ensures that the and tricks that will definately be
pintji in order to increase the genetic oldest living culture has an important of benefit in my work with the AW
diversity of the pintji’s population. moiety that gives relevance to the Landscape team,” said Adam.
stories and ceremonies in honour of
APY General Manager Richard
the small black-footed rock-wallaby Outbreak and suspension areas
King said the warru program was running and hopping
a very special and long-running through its natural Once a fruit fly outbreak is
Below: Brendan Lewis releasing warru into rock cave habitat.” declared, PIRSA establishes a
at Wamitjara 1.5 km outbreak area and a 7.5
Right: Rangers walking up Wamitjara carrying warru Photography courtesy of APY Lands km suspension area around the
detection site before beginning
the eradication program. PIRSA
then works systematically with
residents and workplaces to locate
and remove fruit fly from the area.
To view Outbreak map visit:
https://www.pir.sa.gov.au/__data/
assets/pdf_file/0018/360360/Fruit_Fly_
Outbreaks_Metropolitan_Adelaide_
Market_Access_2020-06-04_v2.pdf
Alinytjara Wilurara Landscape Region 11The making of
Maralinga Tjarutja
Between 1953 and 1957, the British “This documentary is important to how and why the tests were
exploded nine atomic bombs in the Maralinga people because it allowed to go ahead.
the Great Victorian Desert in South gives us a voice to tell the real story
Australia – two at Emu and seven at of what happened to the people Writer and director of the
Maralinga. The largest was the 26.6 who walked, lived and hunted on documentary Larissa Behrendt said
kiloton Taranaki test at Maralinga this land for thousands of years,” “This is an extraordinary story and
on 9 October 1957. Up to 600 said Mr LeBois. it is a privilege to bring it to the
additional ‘minor’ tests involved the screen. The red earthed country that
explosive scattering of highly toxic In 2009 the people of the region stretches under blue skies provides a
‘dirty’ materials like plutonium, fought to have the contamination cinematic backdrop to the story of a
uranium and beryllium. cleaned up and to receive community that has rebuilt itself to
compensation. They also fought for be strong and proud of its culture.
Many local Aboriginal families handback of the Maralinga Village It is a story that deserves to be told
were severely affected by the and test sites. through the voices and art of the
tests and the true extent of the people who lived it.”
health problems associated with They have since rebuilt communities
contamination over a much wider that are vibrant, creative and Maralinga Tjarutja celebrates the
area is difficult to quantify. culturally strong that will ensure people, their tenacious spirit and
Maralinga Tjarutja custodianship of cultural strength through which
In May 2020 the inspiring their lands into the future. they fight to retain their country.
documentary Maralinga Tjarutja
(MT) premiered on ABC television As part of the production Jeremy Produced in association with
that shone a light on the people LeBois and Mima Smart, a respected Screen Australia and financed with
who have lived on these lands for Elder from Yalata Community (and support from South Australian Film
over 60,000 years. While it’s a story an AW Landscape Board member) Corporation the documentary can
of deep tragedy, it also celebrates travelled to Adelaide to investigate now be viewed on ABC’s iview.
their incredible resilience.
“Many Australians don’t know
that the Maralinga Tjarutja lands
were where the British Nuclear
Test Program was carried out” said
Maralinga Tjarutja Trusts’ Chairman
Jeremy LeBois.
The community was initially
approached in regards to the
production of the ABC mini-series
‘Operation Buffalo’. After the MT
Council read through the script
they felt it was important to have
the real story told. They negotiated
for production of the Maralinga
Tjarutja documentary and for it to Establishment of the Oak Valley Ranger team exemplifies the community’s
be screened the week before the determination to have strong healthy country. The AW Landscape Board is proud
mini-series started. to support their ongoing work through the 10 Deserts Project’s partnership.
12 Alinytjara Wilurara Landscape RegionAW Team news Aquatic Centre as a customer service
officer. My government experience
A beautiful sister for four-year-old
brother Oliver.
really helped in the application
process. I have also volunteered Strangely, the cheeky little face
occasionally with Conservation below is not unlike the one we used
Volunteers Australia on different to see in our office.
revegetation projects.
Violet Kate
“At uni, I am on the committee for the
Geography and Development Society.
In Winter of 2019 I interned with
the legal team at South Australian
Native Title Services and worked on
two native title claims, which was an
incredible learning experience.
“Now I am working as an intern
Volunteer Jess, you’re a Star! with PIRSA for Biosecurity SA. At
the moment, along with 2 other
Jessica Mullins has been an incredibly
students, I am researching key issues
helpful and resourceful volunteer
that will feed directly into South
with AW since September 2018
Australia’s new Biosecurity Act and
while also stuying for a Bachelor of
really enjoying it.
Law and Bachelor of Environmental
Policy and Management at the “Volunteering has opened so Meanwhile, over on the west coast,
University of Adelaide. many doors for me and given me AW’s Operations Manager (now on
confidence in my professional maternity leave) Yasmin Wolf and
We asked Jess to share a few
capabilities. Someone told me when her partner ‘Snowy’ welcomed the
thoughts about her experience...
I started at AW that volunteering arrival of their beautiful daughter
“It was by chance that AW was is the most valuable thing I can do Trinity Bree in late May 2020.
happy to take on a volunteer with my time – while what I learn
at university is important, it will be Three-year-old
when I was looking to gain some
the practical experience I’ve gained ‘big’ brother
experience, and natural resource
management was something that that will continue to open doors. I Keon is also very
appealed to me. I volunteered cannot thank the AW team enough proud of his new
for a short time with another for supporting me over the past few sister.
NRM region, but I really wanted years,” said Jess.
Trinity Bree
to continue with AW as I found
The AW team also want to thank
the work more interesting and
Jess for her cheerful, positive, can-do
rewarding, also, the team was
attitude. It was a pleasure to have
brilliant and very welcoming.
you onboard. All the best for the
“Working with AW allowed me to future Jess!
see the theories I learned at uni
applied to real life. For example, Congratualtions -
being able to apply the GIS skills It’s baby girls all round
learned at Uni to help produce
maps for AW added a whole new Two lovely ladies from the AW
dimension to my understanding. team recently brought two more
I’ve also been able to see how a lovely little ‘ladies’ into the world.
government department works
(although it still confuses me). Congratulations to Leah Kyriacou
Perhaps most importantly, I’ve and her partner Simon Wicks (Fire Swaping hats to full time mother-
been able to gain experience in a Management Officer with DEW) hood can be a very demanding, so
professional environment, and I on the arrival of Violet Kate Wicks please take good care of yourselves...
believe this experience has been in January 2020. (we want you back).
key to gaining other opportunities. Leah is now on maternity leave from The AW team are delighted to
“For paid work, I have been her positon as AW’s Conservation see the team ‘family’ extended,
working casually at the Adelaide and Planning Systems Officer. congratulations and all the best!
Alinytjara Wilurara Landscape Region 13Parry Agius
Chair
Alinytjara Wilurara
Landscape Board
Serving the
Mima Smart
Yalata Community
PEOPLE, COUNTRY, WATER
of the Alinytjara Wilurara Region
Debbie Hansen Kristy Richards
Board Member, Tjuntjuntjara Board Member, ALT
Julie O’Toole Peter Miller
Board Member, AMYAC Board Member, Far West Coast
Adelaide Office
Level 9, 81-95 Waymouth St
ADELAIDE, SA 5000
Mick Haynes GPO Box 1047
Sally Scales ADELAIDE 5001
Board Member, APY Lands Board Member, Far West Coast
Tel: 8463 4860
Ceduna Office
50B McKenzie Street
CEDUNA, SA 5690
PO Box 569, CEDUNA 5690
Anton Baker Tel: 8625 3144
Board Member, APY Lands
landscape.sa.gov.au/aw/You can also read
