Douglas Daly - Questions and Answers

There are many myths about the Douglas Daly. Here are some facts:

Facts on the Douglas Daly

• The Douglas Daly comprises about 20 farms used primarily for grazing export cattle and small scale mixed farming;
• It covers an area from Jindare, Tipperary and the Daly River across to the Stuart Highway, and includes the Douglas Daly Research Farm, established by the Government about 30 years ago, and a small number of Stray Creek blocks released for development by the current Government in 2000/01 for development.
• The district contributed about $27 million to the Territory economy in the past financial year, most of this from export cattle to places such as Indonesia;
• The district covers about 100,000 hectares;
• The district's high rainfall and good soils make it suitable for mixed farming, based on improved pastures, which is the major agricultural land use in the district.
• About 20 per cent of the Douglas Daly District and less than 6 per cent of the Daly Basin have been cleared for all land use, including farming.

Where most of Australia was "built on the sheep's back", the Territory was built on the back of our cattle pioneers The pastoral industry directs about $300 million directly into the Territory economy and $800 million indirect. Nearly 200,000 Territory cattle are exported through the Port of Darwin each year to countries such as Indonesia and the Philippines.

Will the Daly become another Murray River?

There is no comparison between the Daly and Murray Rivers except that each is long. The Murray system crosses three States and has a million people trying to survive on its water, with resulting salinity. One of the longest navigable river systems in the world, the Murray receives less rain in its catchment than the Daly and suffers from a historic over-allocation of its water.

The Daly is also a perennial river (ie flows all year).

There is little or no water use by comparison with the Murray. Of course, we agree that the Daly is a unique river which must be carefully guarded. However, comparisons with the Murray just aren't valid.

Is the Daly is under threat from proposed cotton farming and broadscale irrigation?

No such projects are planned for the region. Irrigation in the Douglas Daly is for small scale projects such as peanuts, melons, sorghum and turf and is quite sustainable.

Is the Daly is under threat from new water licences, pumping from the river, and draw-down from the aquifer?

The local pastoral industry and farms use comparatively little for watering stock and a small amount of irrigation. The Department of Natural Resources, Environment and the Arts reports that water use is significantly less that the
amount that can be used sustainably. Farmers recognise that the certainty of their operations depends on security of water supply and farmers will support any efforts by the Government to ensure sustainable supply into the future.
In comparison with the millions of Murray users, the Douglas Daly has only about 20 farms, which rely on rain water and bores from the Oolloo aquifer.

What about claims that 30 billion litres will be pumped from the Daly River, what is the likely impact on ground and surface water?

Current government projections of total surface and ground water use for the entire Katherine-Daly region suggest a total extraction in 2010 of 90,284 ML, of which an estimated 32,386 ML will be removed from the Oolloo aquifer and Daly
River downstream of the Dorisvale Crossing.

The important issue to consider with water extraction is how much impact this has on the flow of the Daly during the late dry season when natural flows are lowest.

The target set by Government is that extraction should not reduce the natural flow of the river by more than 20% during this low period.

Current and projected water use in the Douglas Daly District is well within the Government’s targets.

Based on the amount of rain for all years in which there are records and projections of water use in the Douglas-Daly, the impact on flow at Mt Nancar will be less than the Government’s 20% target.

Clearly, it is important to get this balance right to ensure sustainable water use in years to come. New water modelling is about to be done.

Is the Daly is under threat from nutrients and chemicals discharged by farms into the aquifer and river?

There is no evidence of chemicals leaching into the river. It makes no sense for farmers to allow soil and chemical run-off anyway, that's as good as letting money run down the drain.
In addition:

• Herbicides and fertilisers are used infrequently (less than once a year on improved pastures);
• The timing of their use is designed to minimise loss to surface or ground water (such as during the build up when storms are rare and less intense than during the Wet);
• Herbicides degrade quickly in the moist build-up conditions;
• Leaf litter, soil carbon and clay block the movement of herbicides to groundand surface water;
• Contour banks prevent erosion and run-off into the water;
• Most bores are set well back from the Douglas and Daly rivers.

There has been criticism of proposed widespread clearing in the district.

Some of the photos purportedly showing widespread clearing are misleading. They include photos showing past activities or clearing out of context. Clearing is done to improve pastures, just as you weed a garden before planting and fertilising.

Government clearing restrictions are designed to ensure that only suitable land (soils and slopes) is cleared and that development is sustainable. This includes the retention of riparian (riverside) strips and protection of significant vegetation
such as wetlands and rainforest.

At present, about 20 per cent of the Douglas Daly (and 4% of the area covered by the Daly Reference Group) is cleared. About 34% is non-arable land (rocky, steep, poor or marginal soils) that cannot be cleared to any great extent. The Government has proposed keeping about 26% of the Douglas Daly in reserves. Farmers are waiting to learn what is proposed by Government so they know what natural values might need to be conserved off-park.

There will always be a need for conservation corridors and farmers support the idea of setting aside a major part of the area for parks, as long as sufficient resources are then allocated to looking after this land.

The issue isn't how much land is cleared but well the land is managed.

There are claims that farming and development, including road building, causes erosion

Farming practices have been modified over the years to prevent erosion, for example by the use of contour banks and zero tilling methods. Recent research found that the major contributor to sediment in the Daly River was collapsed river
banks, channels and gullies in highly erodible soils that had not been cleared. These seem to be caused by increased rainfall leading to raised water tables, river bank collapses, and increased severe flooding.

Farmers also know that well-grassed and mulched areas prevent erosion and avoid heavy grazing to protect their land.

What about claims that farming threatens fish in the river?

Most farmers like fishing and they certainly respect the environment in which they operate. There has been no evidence of diverse impacts on fishing from farming. In fact, information presented to the Community Reference Group
showed that fish stocks in the Daly have increased, probably because of restrictions on commercial fishing.

Does grazing cattle cause degradation to the land?

Farmers have adapted grazing practices to reduce land degradation, for example not grazing improved pastures during the Wet when the greatest erosion can occur and the adoption of rotational grazing, which sees intensive grazing for short periods as a means of better managing weeds and reducing soil degradation. Research by the CSIRO found that maintaining at least 40% ground cover in improved pastures leads to no greater soil loss than occurs from natural vegetation.

Do pastoralists respect the environment?

Pastoralists are, in fact, the ultimate greenies. They love their land and lifestyle. They also know that healthy land is a capital asset, so there is nothing to be gained by allowing land to become degraded.

Well-managed land is more profitable and bounces back fast from activities such as grazing. Pastoralists live with the land, not just on it.

The industry also works closely with the Government's Farmbiz courses, which cover topics such as grazing practices and biodiversity.

When will the moratorium on clearing be lifted?

In December 2003, the Government announced the establishment of a Community Reference Group to develop a land use strategy for the region. At the same time, the Government declared a moratorium on new clearing permits, dams, irrigated cotton and subdivision approvals. The CRG failed to agree on many outcomes and the moratorium was extended until 2007. This is of concern to pastoralists and farmers of the Douglas Daly, many of whom bought blocks in good faith from the Government and are now unable to develop them.

No farms are interested in growing cotton or in building dams.

Farmers believe existing guidelines on clearing provide for sustainable development. They believe it is important for Government to implement its Parks and Conservation Masterplan in the region by identifying parks and priorities for non-park conservation. Douglas Daly farmers, through their Adaptive Management Plan, have begun a program of monitoring and adaptive management of land development processes. They are demonstrating that farming and conservation can co-exist, they are prepared to continually improve practices, and they can be trusted to get on with ecologically sustainable development of the region. There is no need for a moratorium on clearing in the Douglas Daly.

What is rotational grazing?

Rotational (or cell) grazing is based on a traditional South African farming method, whereby paddocks are divided into small wells and intensively grazed for short periods. This gives paddocks plenty of time to 'bounce back' after grazing, which in turn minimises erosion and weeds. The intensive grazing also contributes to better natural fertilisation by cows, and cattle are fatter, happier and more used to being handled.

How significant is the weed problem in the Douglas Daly?

Weeds cost the Territory an estimated $13 million a year, providing a significant impact on pastoral production and a major challenge for pastoralists in the Douglas Daly. Weeds such as hyptis and sida were introduced to the district by early explorers and settlers and are now almost impossible to eradicate. Gamba Grass was introduced later. Pastoralists are trying various methods to eradicate the weeds, but it is a costly and time-consuming business.

Left to its own devices, the government could never afford to eradicate weeds from the district. Combating the problem of weeds on farms and road verges will require a cooperative and strategic district-wide approach, scientific research,
information sharing and improved nature conservation in parks, on road verges, recreation areas, wildlife corridors and privately owned land. Gamba grass can be useful as a pasture crop for fattening cows. However, it has to be controlled so it doesn't seed and spread.

Sound information on the cost effectiveness of weed control on Douglas Daly properties is being investigated by farmers and will be available by 2008.

What about wild pigs?

Feral pigs in the area are a major source of concern to farmers and help spread weeds, erode riparian areas and damage plants.