Alice Springs Region

NEXT MEETING (Combined meeting NTCA and CLMA)

Alice Springs Region
Current Chairman:	Mr Ben Hayes
Next Meeting:	Branch General Meeting
Venue:	TBA
Time:	TBA
Documents:	TBA

As part of the ongoing relationship with the Northern Territory Cattlemen’s Association, Livestock Nutrition Technologies (LNT) is proud to sponsor the NTCA's four branch AGM’s.

LNT has supplied quality supplement blocks to NT cattlemen for over 40 years. With Shaun Coutts, our local Northern Territory area manager, based in Katherine LNT is committed to long term support of the NT cattle industry. 

For more information visit Livestock Nutrition Technologies online.


BRIEF

The Alice Springs region is arid with limited permanent surface water exists in this region. There is a heavy reliance on underground water which varies greatly in quantity, quality and accessibility. In most cases the water is sub-artesian and must be pumped to the surface.

The predominate cattle type is Bos taurus cattle ( Hereford and Shorthorn). Some properties have Bos indicus cattle to supply the SE Asian live export trade.

The region has significant areas of mulga country. Grasses used for grazing includes perennial grasses, ephemeral annual grasses, shrubs and top feed and spinifex.

Most properties are family owned, and the cattle industry is characterised by breeding and fattening stock to slaughter weights to supply abattoirs in southern states.

FACTS AND FIGURES

MARKETS: The Alice Springs membership predominately turn off cattle to all states and Territories of Australia including export cattle to SE Asia

CATTLE NUMBERS: 70,000 + are turned off on average each year

RAINFALL: 6-10 inches of rain per year

Mr Dick Cadzow, Alice Springs Chairman: 2007 Branch Report

2006-07 saw another busy year for Central Australian Pastoralists, the NTCA was also kept busy representing the industry.

Drought

The ongoing drought in the Southern and Eastern Alice Springs region saw Roy and the Association knocking on doors in Canberra to get the issue addressed. The Association, along with, DPIFM worked hard to get a formal submission to the federal government to get the region recognised as being in Exceptional Circumstance.

This hard work paid off with the region receiving full Exceptional Circumstances declaration in June 2007. This is the first time that it has been acknowledged that this area, despite its seasonal variability, can be susceptible to prolonged drought periods that have a severe impact on the industry.

The Association will continue working with members and government to help producers access the drought relief available.

Roads

Roads are an ongoing issue with all of us all to aware of the expense and problems caused by the deteriorating road network

The Association continues to work at a Territory and Federal level to address the problem and members are encouraged to contact the secretariat regarding bad sections and send photos where possible

Pastoral Lease Payments

The increased demand over recent years for the quality pastoral land the Territory has to offer has seen a lift in values across the Territory. Unfortunately this doesn’t come with increased earnings. Despite this the Unimproved Capital Values (UCV’s) for the pastoral estate released earlier in the year left the industry confused over the methodology and valuations given.

The Association is working hard to bring sense and certainty to the issue by having the valuations revisited and getting lease payments linked to CPI into the future.

Local Government

An issue that poses a large and ongoing problem for the pastoral industry is the NT Governments proposed local government changes.

We all are all in favour to see the functioning and management of indigenous communities improve. However, imposing another level of government and taxation on the pastoral industry, for which we receive nothing in return is not an effective or sensible way of addressing the problem.

Staffing

This year saw Ian McLean join Bev in the office performing a variety of roles (see page??). Ian will be familiar to most of you and I encourage everyone to make use of him.

Meat Profit Day

‘Beef Buffel Biodiversity’ was the theme for the Meat Profit Day, held in September, the event was a big one for the region and the result of a lot of work by the committee, the association and many stakeholders.

Bohning Yards

Whilst the drought affected sales during the year, the Bohning yards continued to provide a valuable service through the year. Steve Turner and his team have been busy with cattle going through and keeping the yards maintained. The show sale is shaping up well and the yards are ready for a busy year ahead.

Dick Cadzow
Chairman
Alice Springs Branch
February 2007