The SA Arid Lands region covers more than half of South Australia, with borders that extend to New South Wales, Queensland, and the Northern Territory. It includes some of the driest parts of the state, featuring intact ecosystems like deserts, plains, and mountain ranges, home to unique plants and animals. The population is small, with the bulk of the population coming from towns like Port Augusta, Quorn, Coober Pedy and Roxby Downs. The region’s land use is dominated by pastoralism and mining, with significant conservation areas and water systems like Lake Eyre and the Great Artesian Basin.
Main industries: Pastoralism, mining, gas and petroleum, renewables, tourism, conservation
With an average rainfall of less than 250mm, the region includes some of the driest parts of South Australia. The region’s weather is unpredictable with irregular rainfall and episodic events.
The SA Arid Lands has a large percentage of intact ecosystems and natural biodiversity. These iconic terrestrial ecosystems include sandy deserts, stony plains and the Gawler, Flinders and Olary Ranges. They are home to a range of unique plants and animals, many of which are only found within this region.
Agriculture across the South Australian Arid Lands is primarily focussed on extensive livestock grazing systems, with approximately 60 per cent of the region made up of pastoral leases. Sheep and cattle graze a range of diverse native pasture systems, producing wool, meat and live export commodities. Despite the challenges in managing livestock enterprises in arid climatic zones with a highly variable rainfall pattern, these rangelands regions are critical to the states’ agricultural economy.
The region’s water resources are critical to the health of plants, animals, communities and the viability of the pastoral, mining and tourism industries. Alongside ground water, drawn from the Great Artesian Basin is surface water dominated by four major catchments in the north which terminate at Kati-Thanda Lake Eyre. Boom periods are triggered when interstate floodwaters and rainfall events enter the catchments and recharge lakes, dams and wetlands, including the Ramsar-listed Coongie Lakes. In the south, the rainfall is low and catchments are small. With so much life dependent on a healthy water supply, careful management of the region’s water is critical.
We oversee the sustainable management of the soil, water, pest plants and animals and biodiversity of the SA Arid Lands. We support thriving landscapes, native species and ecosystems and resilient communities.
