Our Organisation
SRPA is a non-profit incorporated industry association representing pastoralists across the Southern Rangelands region of Western Australia.
The association is governed by a Board of 9 members, all pastoralists in the Southern Rangelands.
These Board members volunteer their time and efforts to govern the SRPA so that it meets all compliance requirements and to guide the group in such a way that it delivers real outcomes for its members.
They are supported by a part time Executive Officer.
The association is governed by a Board of 9 members, all pastoralists in the Southern Rangelands.
These Board members volunteer their time and efforts to govern the SRPA so that it meets all compliance requirements and to guide the group in such a way that it delivers real outcomes for its members.
They are supported by a part time Executive Officer.
Goulding, P.M. (2014), Generalised Regions of Western Australia.
Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia, Perth.
Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia, Perth.
The Southern Rangelands Region
The WA Southern Rangelands region encompasses all of the land area south of the Pilbara (but not including the South-West Land Division).
Pastoral leases were taken up as early as the late 1800s with sheep being the foundation for the pastoral industry. Just over a century later the sheep industry was struggling with falling commodity prices, rising operational costs, and increasing pressure from predators. Most producers have now transitioned to beef cattle which are better able to resist predator attacks.
The landscapes of the Southern Rangelands exhibit the typical “boom and bust” cycle of arid regions. Nature preserves this environment by largely “shutting down” when drought conditions prevail. To the untrained eye, this environment can appear to be on the brink of collapse, but the tenacity of Mother Nature allows this natural environment to persist. A few good rainfall events can transform this hot, dry, harsh landscape into a sea of native grasses, forbs and wildflowers.
Southern Rangelands pastoralists have, by virtue of their isolation, always been resourceful and innovative. Their ability to adapt, change and evolve is demonstrated by the myriad management improvements that are supporting ecological restoration across the Southern Rangelands, all while still running successful livestock enterprises.
Pastoral leases were taken up as early as the late 1800s with sheep being the foundation for the pastoral industry. Just over a century later the sheep industry was struggling with falling commodity prices, rising operational costs, and increasing pressure from predators. Most producers have now transitioned to beef cattle which are better able to resist predator attacks.
The landscapes of the Southern Rangelands exhibit the typical “boom and bust” cycle of arid regions. Nature preserves this environment by largely “shutting down” when drought conditions prevail. To the untrained eye, this environment can appear to be on the brink of collapse, but the tenacity of Mother Nature allows this natural environment to persist. A few good rainfall events can transform this hot, dry, harsh landscape into a sea of native grasses, forbs and wildflowers.
Southern Rangelands pastoralists have, by virtue of their isolation, always been resourceful and innovative. Their ability to adapt, change and evolve is demonstrated by the myriad management improvements that are supporting ecological restoration across the Southern Rangelands, all while still running successful livestock enterprises.
The WA Southern Rangelands encompass all the land area south of the Pilbara (but not including the South-West Land Division) and are home to landscapes that have suffered severe loss of perennial ground cover plant species and the consequent erosion due to a century of Merino enterprises that could sustain a profit with poor reproduction and mortality figures.
After the collapse of the Wool Reserve Price Scheme came the wild dog explosion that eliminated both sheep and goats, forcing many stations to develop alternative businesses servicing the mining industry.
Relief from grazing pressure has enabled some landscapes to regenerate and pastoralists are either erecting predator proof fences for the eventual re-introduction of sheep and/or re-engineering infrastructure to run cattle.
Over time Federal, State and Local governments have identified “revitalising the rangelands” as part of their economic development strategies. However, Industry leadership has been lacking and no clearly articulated and coordinated pathway through which to deliver development activities has meant no significant contribution to this aim. The pastoral industry of the Southern Rangelands has lacked an industry leadership group, with no single voice to determine and address priorities for revitalisation.
On October 2nd, 2020, a “roundtable” forum was held at Mount Magnet to gauge pastoralists’ interest in forming a grower group to represent the southern rangelands area. There was unanimous endorsement to establish a Grower Group for the Southern Rangelands and an interim committee was nominated. The committee subsequently agreed to name the group the Southern Rangelands Pastoral Alliance (SRPA).
After the collapse of the Wool Reserve Price Scheme came the wild dog explosion that eliminated both sheep and goats, forcing many stations to develop alternative businesses servicing the mining industry.
Relief from grazing pressure has enabled some landscapes to regenerate and pastoralists are either erecting predator proof fences for the eventual re-introduction of sheep and/or re-engineering infrastructure to run cattle.
Over time Federal, State and Local governments have identified “revitalising the rangelands” as part of their economic development strategies. However, Industry leadership has been lacking and no clearly articulated and coordinated pathway through which to deliver development activities has meant no significant contribution to this aim. The pastoral industry of the Southern Rangelands has lacked an industry leadership group, with no single voice to determine and address priorities for revitalisation.
On October 2nd, 2020, a “roundtable” forum was held at Mount Magnet to gauge pastoralists’ interest in forming a grower group to represent the southern rangelands area. There was unanimous endorsement to establish a Grower Group for the Southern Rangelands and an interim committee was nominated. The committee subsequently agreed to name the group the Southern Rangelands Pastoral Alliance (SRPA).
Formation of SRPA
The vast distances between towns, communities and even properties meant that pastoralists across the Southern Rangelands had no unified industry “voice”.
In October 2020 a forum was held at Mount Magnet to gauge pastoralist interest in forming a grower group to represent the Southern Rangelands.
There was unanimous endorsement for this and the Southern Rangelands Pastoral Alliance was formed.
In October 2020 a forum was held at Mount Magnet to gauge pastoralist interest in forming a grower group to represent the Southern Rangelands.
There was unanimous endorsement for this and the Southern Rangelands Pastoral Alliance was formed.
The WA Southern Rangelands encompass all the land area south of the Pilbara (but not including the South-West Land Division) and are home to landscapes that have suffered severe loss of perennial ground cover plant species and the consequent erosion due to a century of Merino enterprises that could sustain a profit with poor reproduction and mortality figures.
After the collapse of the Wool Reserve Price Scheme came the wild dog explosion that eliminated both sheep and goats, forcing many stations to develop alternative businesses servicing the mining industry.
Relief from grazing pressure has enabled some landscapes to regenerate and pastoralists are either erecting predator proof fences for the eventual re-introduction of sheep and/or re-engineering infrastructure to run cattle.
Over time Federal, State and Local governments have identified “revitalising the rangelands” as part of their economic development strategies. However, Industry leadership has been lacking and no clearly articulated and coordinated pathway through which to deliver development activities has meant no significant contribution to this aim. The pastoral industry of the Southern Rangelands has lacked an industry leadership group, with no single voice to determine and address priorities for revitalisation.
On October 2nd, 2020, a “roundtable” forum was held at Mount Magnet to gauge pastoralists’ interest in forming a grower group to represent the southern rangelands area. There was unanimous endorsement to establish a Grower Group for the Southern Rangelands and an interim committee was nominated. The committee subsequently agreed to name the group the Southern Rangelands Pastoral Alliance (SRPA).
After the collapse of the Wool Reserve Price Scheme came the wild dog explosion that eliminated both sheep and goats, forcing many stations to develop alternative businesses servicing the mining industry.
Relief from grazing pressure has enabled some landscapes to regenerate and pastoralists are either erecting predator proof fences for the eventual re-introduction of sheep and/or re-engineering infrastructure to run cattle.
Over time Federal, State and Local governments have identified “revitalising the rangelands” as part of their economic development strategies. However, Industry leadership has been lacking and no clearly articulated and coordinated pathway through which to deliver development activities has meant no significant contribution to this aim. The pastoral industry of the Southern Rangelands has lacked an industry leadership group, with no single voice to determine and address priorities for revitalisation.
On October 2nd, 2020, a “roundtable” forum was held at Mount Magnet to gauge pastoralists’ interest in forming a grower group to represent the southern rangelands area. There was unanimous endorsement to establish a Grower Group for the Southern Rangelands and an interim committee was nominated. The committee subsequently agreed to name the group the Southern Rangelands Pastoral Alliance (SRPA).
Meetings
The SRPA Board holds bi-monthly on-line meetings. Minutes of these are available on request.
The SRPA Annual General Meeting is held at rotating venues in order to provide easier in-person attendance to all pastoralists across the Southern Rangelands. Minutes of SRPA AGMs are available here: