Review of desert enterprises 25 - Home - Ninti One · Information contained in this publication may...

2006

Review of desert enterprises reliant on natural and

cultural resources

Mitchel l JonesCraig James

Report

25November

Review

of desert enterprises reliant on natural and cultural resources

Mitchell Jones

25

Review of desert enterprises reliant on

natural and cultural resources

Mitchell Jones

Craig James

November 2006

A joint project between Desert Knowledge Cooperative Research Centre

and the

Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation

Desert Knowledge CRCII Review of desert enterprises reliant on natural and cultural resources

Contributing author informationMitchell Jones was formerly a Project Officer with CSIRO’s Sustainable Ecosystems program and is now based at the Central Land Council in Alice Springs.

Craig James was a research scientist based at the CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems Centre for Arid Zone Research in Alice Springs from 1994 to 2007, where he worked on changes biodiversity induced by grazing, and arid-zone conservation planning. He is now the General Manager Commercialisation and Communication for the DKCRC and resides in Canberra.

Desert Knowledge CRC Report Number 25

Information contained in this publication may be copied or reproduced for study, research, information or educational purposes, subject to inclusion of an acknowledgement of the source.

ISBN: 1 74158 036 6 (Online copy)

ISSN: 1832 6684

Citation

Jones M, James C 2006, Review of desert enterprises reliant on natural and cultural resources, Report of a study for the Desert Knowledge and Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Desert Knowledge Cooperative Research Centre, Alice Springs.

The Desert Knowledge Cooperative Research Centre is an unincorporated joint venture with 27 partners whose mission is to develop and disseminate an understanding of sustainable living in remote desert environments, deliver enduring regional economies and livelihoods based on Desert Knowledge, and create the networks to market this knowledge in other desert lands.

For additional information please contactDesert Knowledge CRC

Publications Officer

PO Box 3971

Alice Springs NT 0871

Australia

Telephone +61 8 8959 6000 Fax +61 8 8959 6048

www.desertknowledgecrc.com.au

© Desert Knowledge CRC 2006

Desert Knowledge CRC IIIReview of desert enterprises reliant on natural and cultural resources

Marita Thompson, Joe Breen, Anita Rogers and Gayle Connell generously gave of their time to aid in this project. Furthermore, participants in the survey component provided their precious time by allowing us to gain their insights.

The work reported in this publication was supported by funding from the Desert Knowledge CRC, collaborative partnership partly funded by the CRC Programme of the Commonwealth Department of Education, Science and Technology. The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent the views of Desert Knowledge CRC or its Participants.

Acknowledgements

Desert Knowledge CRCIV Review of desert enterprises reliant on natural and cultural resources

Contents

Acknowledgements IIIFigures VSummary 11. Introduction 32. Approach 5

2.1 Enterprise framework 52.2 Literature search 62.3 Enterprise survey 62.4 Database products 6

3. Coverage (Who’s doing what, and where) 93.1 Geographic Extent 93.2 Enterprise categories 103.3 Summary 12

4. Enterprise survey results 134.1 Survey respondents 134.2 Survey data 14

5. Summary and next steps 195.1 Communication of results 195.2 Future research 21

6. Appendices 236.1 Enterprise Review Survey Questionnaire 236.2 Participants in Enterprise Survey 296.3 Enterprise Database – Organisation List 306.4 Literature Database – Reference List 34

Desert Knowledge CRC VReview of desert enterprises reliant on natural and cultural resources

Figures

Figure 1: Enterprise framework 5Figure 2: Geographic coverage of desert enterprise review by locality 9Figure 3: Number of enterprises by post code region in the enterprise database 10Figure 4: Number of enterprises by resource type 10Figure 5: Number of enterprises by industry type 11Figure 6: Number of enterprises by enterprise type 12Figure 7: Survey respondents by industry type 13Figure 8: Goals of the enterprise stated by survey respondents 14Figure 9: Stated trade origin 15Figure 10: Factors affecting success 16Figure 11: Stated reasons for future growth potential 16Figure 12: Factors blocking progress of enterprise 17Figure 13: Issues associated with enterprise sustainability 18Figure 14: Spatial distribution of industry types for 50 selected enterprises 20Figure 15: Spatial distribution of enterprise types for 50 selected enterprises 21

Desert Knowledge CRC 1Review of desert enterprises reliant on natural and cultural resources

The research project was undertaken to provide a coherent picture of the types of enterprises using cultural or natural resources that occur across desert Australia. Currently, there is no single source of information on the enterprises based on natural resources that are scattered throughout desert Australia. In providing a coherent picture, this review explores:

• The diversity of enterprises that are currently active, or have been active in desert Australia• The enterprises that have been successful, and why• Where the enterprises are• As far as is possible, what connections exist between enterprises.

We also set out to understand what enterprises had been tried and failed, and why, but this infor-mation proved too hard to gather with the time and resources available for the project.

Literature reviews and surveys of people involved in desert enterprise networks were used as the main method for collecting information. The resulting products of the review were aimed at being used by:

• Researchers in the Desert Knowledge CRC to identify opportunities for further research on sustainable use of natural resources, enterprise development and business systems and networks

• Operators of small- to medium-sized (SMEs) enterprises for identifying opportunities and contacting people involved in similar activities.

The scope of the review was to obtain a broad coverage of SMEs; (1) geographically across desert regions at a national-scale, and; (2) across the range of different enterprise types (i.e. industries). Given such a broad scope, the work presented in this report is not guaranteed to have identified all of the enterprises, but we believe that it does represent all of the types of enterprise that may be encountered, and it provides a good baseline for further research, and further development of a network database.

The main products of the project are:

1. This written report which is a preliminary investigation into various aspects of desert enterprises based on a survey of 34 individuals

2. A searchable publication database containing 164 references to documented material3. A searchable enterprise database populated with 196 contacts across 13 industry types.

The publications database contains references to documentation based on the categories used in the enterprise database.

The enterprise database contains contacts categorised according to organisation type (enterprise, industry association or government/research organisation), resource type (plant, animal, mineral, landscape and culture), industry type (bushfoods, tourism, horticulture, livestock, forestry, aquac-ulture, etc) and enterprise type (crayfish, camels, essential oils, artefacts, painting, etc).

From the survey component of the project it was possible to identify a number of issues that influence enterprise success in desert Australia. Success was realised in a number of ways, for example: the achievement of financial returns, continuity of operation, or the actualisation of

Summary

Desert Knowledge CRC2 Review of desert enterprises reliant on natural and cultural resources

important socio-economic outcomes. Identifying reasons for the failure of enterprises was a weakness of the project and requires further work to provide a more coherent and balanced picture of desert enterprises.

Results of the survey are not statistically quantitative but do indicate that diversification and the development of market niches are a key strategy towards ensuring enterprise sustainability. Common issues that were of concern to desert enterprises were:

• The difficulty of attracting and retaining staff in regional or remote areas• A general lack of industry coordination in desert regions (and the need for it)• The continued maintenance of the natural or cultural resource which enterprises are

dependent upon• The need for diversification and development of market niches to ensure economic

sustainability.Suggestions for future activities are based around communication of research outcomes, further development of databases as an information resource and options for future research.


1. IntroductionTraditionally, the predominant natural resource–based type of enterprise in desert Australia has been pastoralism which uses native pastures to grow sheep and cattle. In more than 100 years since pastoralism began there has been gradually declining terms of trade and in some regions, declining productive potential of the landscape. These trends, and natural entrepreneurial activity, have led people to explore a diverse array of other ways of making money from natural resources in desert Australia. There are now dozens of different ways that people use cultural or natural resources across inland Australia to generate wealth. Enterprises based on similar natural resource bases are working in parallel, but they can remain oblivious of each others’ activities due to distance and poor communication networks. Where people are trying new things, they may be grappling with the same problems that have been solved by other people in different places. Too often, the reasons for success or failure of an enterprise are not recorded or advertised. In short, there is no contem-porary and coherent picture of the diversity of enterprises using cultural or natural resources across desert Australia despite the large amount of literature on this topic (e.g. in RIRDC reports, state government agencies, such as Cherikoff 1998; Ellard & Seidel 2000; Mansfield & Kenna 1995; Johnson 1999; etc).

As an aid to guiding research investment on natural-resource enterprises in the Desert Knowledge Cooperative Research Centre (DKCRC), a review of enterprise diversity was desired. The aim of this project report is to collate existing information about what has occurred and is occurring in different parts of desert Australia. In particular, we sought to:

• determine the diversity of enterprises that are currently active, or have been active in desert Australia

• identify the enterprises that have been tried and failed and why• identify the enterprises that have been successful, and why• indicate where different types of enterprises occur• determine as far as is possible, what connections exist between enterprises.

The scope of the review was to obtain a broad coverage of small- to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs): (1) geographically across desert regions at a national scale; and (2) across a number of different enterprise types (i.e. industries). We did not include the pastoral industry or mass tourism in this review because they are already well known and well organised.

Given such a broad scope and achievable resolution of information by remote investigation, it was impossible to provide an exhaustive account of desert enterprises in all regions. However the work presented in this report illustrates the diversity of enterprises encountered and provides a good baseline for further research.


2. ApproachOur approach was to construct a conceptual framework of desert enterprises (see next section) and use this as a basis for: (1) searching for relevant literature or documentation about different types of enterprise; and (2) surveying people by phone interview to develop and expand a contact database of companies, associations and individuals involved in different industries.

2.1 Enterprise framework

The conceptual framework used to organise our approach to the review is shown in Figure 1. Individual enterprises were identified and categorised using the framework which provided a means of tracking progress to ensure broad coverage of enterprises. There are four main categories shown in Figure 1, with increasing level of detail:

1. Organisation type: whether an individual enterprise or representative body, such as an industry association, or government/research organisations working with or across industries.

2. Resource type: the plant, animal, mineral or landscape natural resources, or culture-based resources that the enterprise relies on.

3. Industry type: the generalised commercial production activity of the enterprise (e.g. horticulture, tourism, etc).

4. Enterprise type: the specific type of activity the enterprise is engaged in (e.g. bush-food growing, safari hunting, etc).

Once the enterprise framework had been constructed, keywords were developed for use in the search for literature, and contacts sought for input into the survey component of the project.

Sometimes there was the potential for conflict in identifying small- from large-scale enterprises. Mostly this was done on an industry-type basis. For example, tourism and horticulture were differentiated on the basis of location of operation (e.g. local to an area), business size (e.g. small numbers of staff and tourists or small turnover) or type of product (e.g. small group tours or specialty crops such as olives). Figure 1: Enterprise framework


2.2 Literature search

A combination of internet and electronic database searches were used to locate documentation relating to the various enterprise types. In addition, publications were added based on data obtained through the enterprise survey (section 2.3).

References to documentation regarding various enterprise types were entered into and managed with Procite® bibliographic database software for future reference (section 2.4.1).

2.3 Enterprise survey

An initial list of contacts was established through the literature search and from consultation of peers. The contact list was used as the basis for requesting participation in a detailed survey (Appendix 6.1). From approximately 50 individuals approached to participate in a survey, a total of 34 respondents provided detailed information about the industry or enterprise they were involved in (see Appendix 6.2).

The survey questionnaire (Appendix 6.1) was used in semi-structured interviews either over the phone or in person where possible. The questionnaire was divided into a series of 21 questions to obtain information about various aspects of enterprise (for individual enterprises) or industries (including industry associations or government/research organisations). Aspects covered by the survey included markets, size of the enterprise/industry, factors enabling success or preventing growth, sustainability, research needs, and additional industry contacts and documentation. Data from 34 completed survey questionnaires were entered into an electronic database (Microsoft Access® – see section 2.4.2 – ‘Enterprise Database’).

2.4 Database products

During the data collection phase of the project it was important to document references to published material (reports, promotional material, websites, etc), enterprise or individual contact information and data obtained from surveys. In order to achieve this, two separate databases were constructed: (1) a publication database (bibliographic); and (2) an enterprise database (contact details). These databases are destined to be made available on the DKCRC web site for the benefit of people who may be after additional information about particular enterprises. Further development and maintenance of the two databases is discussed in section 5.1.2 – ‘Information resource’.

2.4.1 Publication databaseA publication database was created based on electronic searches and information provided via enterprise surveys. The database contains referencing details that allow users to obtain documentation based on keywords (i.e. keywords relating to a specific industry or enterprise as shown in Figure 1). Referencing details include information relating to a specific publi-cation such as the author’s name, title, publisher, ISBN, keywords, etc. The list of references to publications can be found in Appendix 6.4.


2.4.2 Enterprise databaseFields for the enterprise database were obtained from the enterprise survey questionnaire (Appendix 6.1). The database contains data for a number of enterprises utilising natural or cultural resources. The types of data collected include:

• Contact information• Organisation name and individual contacts within the organisation• Postal address, phone/fax, email, website and locality

• Enterprise information• Organisation type, resource type, industry type and enterprise type (refer to section 2.1

‘Enterprise Framework’)• Data obtained from completed survey questionnaires.

2.4.3. Confidentiality of responsesPeople being surveyed were informed before the survey began what the survey was for and how the information would be used. They were invited to decline to proceed with the interview at that point. After the survey, respondents were asked to identify whether any of their answers were of a sensitive nature and therefore should be kept confidential. Finally, respondents were asked whether they would agree to have their name and contact details shown on the searchable database that is to be made available on the DKCRC web site.


3. Coverage (Who’s doing what, and where)The comprehensiveness of the review of desert enterprises can be represented in two ways: (1) geographically (where enterprises are located); or (2) by type of activity (what commercial activity the enterprise is involved in). These are discussed in more detail below.

3.1 Geographic Extent

As shown in Figures 2 and 3, a broad geographic coverage of desert enterprises was obtained by the review. However gaps exist across western Queensland, north-western Western Australia, north-eastern South Australia, north-western Victoria and parts of western New South Wales. These gaps may reflect a genuine paucity of enterprises in these regions or a failure of the research methodology to make connections into those regions. This potential gap in geographic coverage is addressed in Section 5.

Enterprises that fall outside of the desert (e.g. those in Victoria) have been included where they rely on resources that come from the desert (e.g. sandalwood from Western Australian deserts that is processed in Albany). In addition some industry associations were located outside desert areas.

Figure 2: Geographic coverage of desert enterprise review by local i tyThe red dots represent the locality (i.e. city, town, Aboriginal community, pastoral station, etc) where contacts from the enterprise database are located.

Although there are regional gaps in coverage, a number of enterprises may be operating from a specified locality (Fig. 3), and enterprises may operate over broader regions (e.g. small-group tourism enterprises that visit a number of places as part of a tourist route). Data concerning the area of operation of enterprises was not collected due to the difficulties of collecting and recording the information. However if this type of data is pursued in the future it can be accommodated in the existing enterprise database.


Figure 3: Number of enterprises by post code region in the enterprise database The size of the red circle indicates how many enterprises are operating within the particular post code region.

3.2 Enterprise categories

Of the 196 contacts that make up the Enterprise database, 152 (~78%) were individual enterprises and 22 (~11%) each represented either industry associations or government/research organisations.

Although broad categories were used to describe enterprise activities, some enterprise contacts were recorded across more than one category. This can be observed in Figures 4 – 6 as a greater sum of the number of enterprises than enterprise database entries. For example: an Aboriginal community that is engaged in tourism (cultural and/or eco-tourism), horticulture and painting, or a pastoral enterprise active in crayfish farming and small-scale tourism. Both of these are examples of enterprise diversification – 38 (~19%) of the 152 enterprise contacts present in the enterprise database were involved in more than one resource type.

84 86

32

54

8

0

25

50

75

100

Culture

based

Plant bas

ed

Animal

based

Landsc

ape bas

ed

Mineral b

ased

Resource Type

Num

bero

fDat

abas

eC

onta

cts

Figure 4: Number of enterprises by resource type


The majority of enterprises identified in the project are either culture-based (84 responses) or plant-based (86 responses) (Fig. 4). The relatively high value for landscape-based enterprise (54 responses) mainly reflects involvement in landscape-based tourism activities. Coverage of other industries was not as extensive, particularly for mineral-based industry activities (8 responses).

7

39

72

9

16

27

3

31

6165

1210

6

0

20

40

60

80

Multimed

ia

Bushfoods

Tourism

Floricultu

re

Seed Colle

ction

Livesto

ck

SaltMining

Cross

Cultural

Awarenes

s

Arts&

Crafts

Horticu

lture

Forestry

Viticultu

re

Aquacultu

re

Industry Type

Num

bero

fDat

abas

eC

onta

cts

Figure 5: Number of enterprises by industry type

The tourism, art and crafts, and horticulture categories were well represented in the review (Fig. 5). A large number of enterprises were identified based on eco- and Indigenous-cultural tourism, art & crafts (mainly a function of Indigenous art and cultural centres) and horticulture (fruits and vegetables suitable for production in desert climates).

The majority of enterprises identified (Fig. 6) were involved in painting (43 responses), various types of fruit production excluding olives, dates and figs (38 responses), artefact production (27 responses) and ‘other’ (33 responses). ‘Other’ is composed of enterprise activities such as fishing tours (an arid north-west coast activity), olives, dates and figs, traditional performing arts and other horticultural products (e.g. mixed citrus, mango). Olives, dates and figs were separated out from fruit production to highlight the use of arid-tolerant crops.


21

43

38

9 911

3

9

4

13

7

27

21

9 10

6

13

3 3 3

15

12

7

11

4 4

8

35

33

0

12.5

25

37.5

50

Quandong

Paintin

gFru

it

Wine Grapes

Eucalyp

tus

Timber

Products

Donkeys

Kangaro

o

Crayfis

h

BushTomato

Ceramics

Artefac

ts

Vegeta

bles

Essen

tial O

ils

Sandalw

ood

Carbon Cred

its

Camels

Horses

Safari H

unting

Dunellia

(algae

)

Acacia

Fabric

s

Weavin

g

Table

Grapes

Tea-tr

ee

HoneyGoats Emu

FishOther

Enterprise Type

Num

bero

fDat

abas

eC

onta

cts

Figure 6: Number of enterprises by enterprise type

3.3 Summary

A wide range of activities were recorded by the review of desert enterprises. In terms of enter-prise activity, a broad coverage was obtained for the various industries that are currently active. Both geographic and enterprise coverage can be improved as and when new enterprises appear or through greater participation of individuals. Improving the coverage of enterprises is given attention in section 5.2.


4. Enterprise survey resultsThe thirty-four people who participated in the detailed survey are listed in Appendix 6.2. A brief summary of respondents shows that of the total number of respondents, individuals operating enter-prises accounted for 76% of completed surveys and Government/Research Organisations accounted for 24%. Government/Research Organisations have been excluded from the summaries in this section due to their involvement across industries. Insights gained from all respondents have been incorporated into the synthesis presented in section 5.

4.1 Survey respondents

In terms of resource-type, a large number of enterprises were involved in either culture (10 respondents) or plant-based (11 respondents) activities. Animal- and landscape-based activities accounted for 6 and 2 respondents respectively. Mineral-based enterprises were not covered by the survey component of the project.

A number of enterprise respondents were involved in more than one income-generation activity. Of the 26 enterprises surveyed, 46% of respondents engaged in some kind of diversification activity (i.e. were involved in more than a single enterprise type). The degree to which survey respondents were involved in various industries is shown in Figure 7. Tourism (7 respondents), art & crafts (7 respondents), horticulture (6 respondents) and livestock (5 respondents) were well repre-sented. Other enterprise activities being undertaken by survey respondents included horticultural production of olives, dates, figs, citrus and melons.

3

7

2

3

5

1

7

6

1

3

0

2

4

6

8

Bushfood

Tourism

Floricultu

re

Seed Colle

ction

Livesto

ck

Cross

-cultu

ralaw

arenes

s

Arts&

Crafts

Horticu

lture

Forestry

Viticultu

re

Industry Type

Num

bero

fRes

pons

es

Figure 7: Survey respondents by industry type


4.2 Survey data

Survey data have been summarised below based on responses to key questions from the survey (Appendix 6.1). It is important to note that not all survey questions received adequate responses, hence the need to summarise data based on responses to key questions (e.g. questions 15 and 16). Section headers include the corresponding question number in the survey questionnaire (i.e. What are the goals of the enterprise? was Question 7 in the survey – see appendix 6.1).

4.2.1 What are the goals of the enterprise? (Question 7)Apart from primary income, a number of enterprises cited socio-economic development as a key enterprise goal (Fig. 8). ‘Socio-economic development’ was used to describe activities that contributed to social and/or economic outcomes for the community (locally or otherwise) from which the enterprise is based. The category for ‘other’ covered additional motiva-tions for desert enterprises: (1) increased awareness and education relating to the bushfoods industry; (2) advocacy for Indigenous participation in industry (employment); and (3) the maintenance, expression and increased awareness of culture in the case of culture-based enterprises.

15

8

3

10

0

4

8

12

16

Primary

Income

Socio-ec

onomicDev

elopmen

t

Additional

Income

Other

Enterprise Goal

Num

bero

fRes

pons

es

Figure 8: Goals of the enterprise stated by survey respondents

4.2.2 What are the enterprise markets? (Question 9)From survey data, most respondents identified local trade as a major source of income for their enterprise (17 responses) followed by international trade (13 responses). Regional (8 responses), interstate (9 responses) and national (7 responses) markets were less important in terms of income base.


Figure 9 shows that access to markets relied predominantly on passing trade (11 responses), followed by sales over the internet (8 responses). The category ‘other’ was made up of word-of-mouth, local markets, through established industry contacts (via industry associations, conferences, visits with prospective buyers) and the use of charter flights to bring visitors in more remote places.

11

8

19

0

5

10

15

20

Passin

g Trade

Internet

Sales

Other

Trade Type

Num

bero

fRes

pons

es

Figure 9: Stated trade origin

4.2.3 How successful do you consider the enterprise to be? (Question 11)From survey data, the current success of enterprises surveyed was rated predominantly as either high (10 responses or 38% of respondents) or very high (11 responses or 42% of respondents). However, as shown in Figure 10, many respondents considered that longevity, or the fact that the enterprise is still in operation, was a testimony to enterprise success (this is more an indicator of success rather than a reason for success). Growth rate, innova-tiveness and goals achieved were viewed as being less influential upon enterprise success. For the category ‘Other’ a diverse range of responses was provided and additional reasons for success included:

• The broader regional and community role of the enterprise in harnessing continued enthusiasm from community

• In relation to Indigenous communities engaged in art and craft and bushfoods: the delivery of a wide range of essential returns to participants; the creation of strong women/strong families; provision of employment; health and exercise while gathering materials; and increase status and self-esteem

• Targeting different markets: e.g. producing ‘collectable’ or exhibition quality artworks and artwork more suited to the tourist market

• The goal of sustainability being achieved• Marketing of a ‘destination’ as part of a broader regional business strategy.


Extracting meaningful information about enterprise success and the reasons for success proved problematic. This is mostly due to flaws in survey design such as confusion between indicators of success and reasons for success. Further investigation of the reasons for success and/or failure should bear in mind the need to address this issue in future work.

9

6 6

3

15

0

4

8

12

16

Longevity

Growth

Rate

Innovativ

enes

s

GoalsAch

ieved

Other

Factors Affecting Success

Num

bero

fRes

pons

es

Figure 10: Factors affect ing success

4.2.4 How much potential for future growth do you think the enterprise has? (Question 12)From survey data, the potential for future growth was rated as moderate, high or very high for the majority (80%) of respondents. From Figure 11, the majority of respondents believed that market development (15 responses) would provide the basis of future growth for their particular enterprise, leading to an increase in demand (10 responses) for their particular product.

15

10

1

5

0

4

8

12

16

Market

Develo

pment

Increas

edDem

and

Reduce

d Competitio

n

Impro

ved Pro

duction

Factors Affecting Future Growth

Num

bero

fRes

pons

es

Figure 11: Stated reasons for future growth potential


4.2.5 What factors are blocking progress or preventing growth of the enterprise? (Question 13)A number of factors were viewed as blocking progress of enterprises (Fig. 12). The lack of skilled staff was of notable concern (9 responses), followed by cash flow, insurance costs and geographic isolation each with 6 responses. Generic responses in the category ‘Other’ were:

• Lack of business and financial management skills• Land tenure and/or access (particularly in areas where native title remains unresolved in

Western Australia)• Fragmentation of industry or lack of coordination (in particular the bushfoods industry)• External, uncontrollable market forces (e.g. SARS epidemic)• Legislative barriers• Administrative support in instances where literacy is a problem.

A specific example of why an enterprise ceased is shown in the Case Study text box below.

6

45

3

6

9

2

4 4 45

6

17

0

6

12

18

Cash Flow

Market

Size

Inadeq

uateTran

sport

Climate

Variab

ility

Insuran

ceCosts

Lack of Skil

ledStaf

f

GST/BAS Admin.

Lack of Wate

r

Acces

s toCap

ital

Unique Time to

Market

Lack of Other

Resource

s

Geograp

hicIso

lation

Other

Factors Blocking Progress

Num

bero

fRes

pons

es

Figure 12: Factors blocking progress of enterprise

Case study of enterprises ceasing – cut flowers

A cut-flower enterprise that operated for 18 years ceased its operations in 2004. The reasons given for why this enterprise ceased were:

a) ‘Production costs became too high (i.e. increases in wages 3-fold, fuel costs 2-fold, chemicals 3-fold and cartage 2-fold).’

b) The price paid for flowers declined from $3.50 per bunch in the beginning to $2.50 recently! ‘The rise in the dollar reduces the return below viability.’

c) ‘Lack of rain for three years. We had to store water in dams, because the underground water is too salty.’

This is an example of an enterprise that lost its competitive edge due to price margin squeezes.


4.2.6 Are there any actual or potential issues associated with the sustain-ability of the enterprise that concern you? (Question 14)Issues associated with enterprise sustainability are presented in Figure 13. Enterprises surveyed overwhelmingly cited ‘Other’ concerns (16 responses). Issues cited for this category were as follows:

• Indigenous culture as a product or for tourism development will be affected by social impacts on culture – therefore affecting sustainability (i.e. needs careful management)

• Maintaining natural and cultural environments for their uniqueness• The need to develop small niche markets (tourism, camels, and small business e.g., mining

services)• Fly-in/Fly-out presents a problem for economic development but is a harsh reality• In the bushfoods industry: continuity of supply, food industry regulation, and the need to

develop a market and supply at the same time• Issues relating to staff burn-out, succession, development, and attracting and retaining staff

in regional areas• The need to diversify to ensure continuation of enterprise• Land access – depending on native title access agreements.

1

34 4

16

0

6

12

18

Waste

Disposa

l

Market

Deman

ds for Sustainab

leUse

RawMate

rials

Unavail

able

Deman

d Outstrip

ping SupplyOther

Factors Affecting Sustainability

Num

bero

fRes

pons

es

Figure 13: Issues associated with enterprise sustainabi l i ty


5. Summary and next steps The major aim of this project was to collate existing information on desert enterprises across Australia. From the survey component of the project it was possible to identify a number of issues that influence enterprise success in desert Australia. Success was assessed in a number of ways: for example, the achievement of financial returns; continuity of operation; or the actualisation of important socio-economic outcomes. Identifying reasons for success and failure of enterprises has been elusive because the number of responses in each category of enterprise type was not sufficient for statistical analysis (partly because the number of enterprises is low). In addition the design of the survey questionnaire may have contributed to confusion over indicators of success as opposed to reasons for success.

The majority of enterprises surveyed believed their enterprise to be highly successful. Success was not solely defined in financial terms. Respondents to the survey said that success also involved the enterprise still being in operation, and that enterprise goals were being achieved. Enterprise goals included socio-economic development objectives that allowed the enterprise to engage local community members as customers and enhance profitability.

It must be noted that extracting meaningful information about enterprise success and the reasons for success proved problematic. This is mostly due to lack of responses, difficulties encountered with tracking enterprises that have been unsuccessful, and flaws in survey design, for example, the confusion between indicators of success and reasons for success. To address this issue, further investigation of the reasons for success and/or failure should include more detailed case-studies, greater coverage of enterprises, and should seek to include information from other organisations.

In addition to local markets, international markets figured highly as a means of income generation for the enterprises surveyed and may be linked to the reliance on passing trade (e.g. location is important in terms of accessing international tourist dollars). Internet-based trade provided an extra means of generating income or interest in the enterprise.

Future growth potential of enterprises surveyed was largely positive, and reliant on market devel-opment leading to increased demand. A number of factors may act to block potential growth. These were the need for and retention of skilled staff; the lack of financial management skills; cash flow; insurance costs; geographic isolation; land access; legislative barriers; and industry fragmentation.

Issues associated with the sustainability of surveyed enterprises were revealed to be largely industry-specific, however a key message that emerged related to the need to diversify enterprise activities and the development of market niches.

5.1 Communication of resultsThis section of the report suggests what additional steps are needed to further develop an under-standing of desert enterprises. Whilst this project has succeeded in its mandate to collate existing information, gaps exist in terms of covering the diversity of activities, and in understanding issues that affect desert enterprises.


5.1.1 CommunicationDependant upon future project development, the target audience for communication purposes will be broadened to attract additional participants to the project and inform the wider community. Further communication of this research may involve the use of the Desert Knowledge CRC website to further promote the project.

5.1.2 Information resourceCurrently this project includes two electronic databases and a final report. The conversion from static information to the provision of a dynamic resource that is accessed and used by a network of desert enterprises has not yet taken place. The following points list potential activities that may assist in the provision of a useful information resource:

1. Extension of data collection to improve geographic coverage2. Extension of data collection to improve enterprise coverage3. Development of linkages with other projects involved in similar research (e.g. DKCRC

Linked Business Networks project)4. Further development of web-based content via the DKCRC website (e.g. online form for

entering contact details, survey responses and allowing for an interactive search facility) – an example of the sorts of maps that could be served on the web site is shown in Figs 14 and 15

5. Additional project updates and an online product sample made available to a wider audience via industry newsletters and other media.

It is important to note that issues surrounding participant confidentiality should be addressed as part of any future activities.

Figure 14: Spatial distr ibut ion of industry types for 50 selected enterprises


Figure 15: Spatial distr ibut ion of enterprise types for 50 selected enterprises

5.2 Future research

5.2.1 What’s happening and where is it happening?Achievement of one goal of this project – to identify the diversity of desert enterprises that are in operation and where they are – was completed but with the caveat that it appears that we were unsuccessful in identifying what is happening in some regions. Rather than assuming that there is little or no activity in these regions, it would be worth probing more deeply with alternative contacts and networks to those used in this study to see if the coverage could be completed in those areas. This might best be done through a local contact, but also by adver-tising the existence of the database on the DKCRC web site and encouraging people to volun-tarily update the enterprise database.

5.2.2 Successes and failuresAnother goal of the project was to identify successes and failures so that in future people might have a better idea about what to try and how (or least identifies who to contact to find these things out). While it is apparent that enterprises that are in existence are successful at some level, it is much harder to get comprehensive information about why some enterprises have been tried and failed. This was clearly due to: (1) reluctance of people with first-hand knowledge to discuss failures; and (2) that most people with first-hand knowledge were not available for interview. We suggest that a more fruitful way to gain the sorts of insights we had hoped to get in this superficial review would be to undertake case studies of some enterprises that have struggled. Results from interviews give some indication of where case studies should be undertaken.


6. Appendices

6.1 Enterprise Review Survey Questionnaire


6.2 Participants in Enterprise Survey

Organisation Name PositionCentre for the Management of Arid Environments (CMAE) Ben Norton Director

Centre for the Management of Arid Environments (CMAE) Gary Price MSc Student

Chunky Timber Company Kim Gent Owner/Operator

CSIRO Land & Water Maarten Ryder Research Scientist

Desart Inc. Rose Wall is Executive Off icer

Docker River Camel Project Wayne Anthoney Project Manager

Etiwanda Boer Goats Megan Mosely Owner/Operator

Forest Products Commission WA/Arid Forest Branch Grant Pronk Acting Manager

Goldf ields Esperance Development commission Annaliese Walster Manager

Goldf ields Esperance Development Commission Christ ine Boase Development Off icer

Gunbarrel Laager Travel lers Rest Gil l ian & Malcolm Marchant Owner/Operator

Ikuntj i Art ists Trisha Dann Coordinator

Jim’s Weeds, Seeds & Trees Andrea Wil l iams Owner/Operator

Julal ikari Arts Alan Murn Coordinator

Madden Camel Enterprises Steve Madden Owner/Operator

Mardel la Downs Holdings Pty Ltd Stephen French Director

Mid-West Development Commission – WA Don Hall Senior Project Manager

Minymaku Arts Sarah Twigg – Patterson Coordinator

n/a Laurie J Snel l Owner/Operator

n/a Peter Hi l l Owner/Operator

n/a R.A. Grieve Owner/Operator

Ngurrat juta I i t ja Ntjarra - Many Hands Art Centre Anna McKenzie Coordinator

Oak Val ley Tours Rob & May Le Rossignol Owner/Operator

Outback Pride Mike and Gayle Quarmby Owner/Operator

Papunya Tula Art ists Paul Sweeney Manager

Red Centre Farm John & Shir ley Crayford Owner/Operator

Sustainable Tourism CRC Alicia Boyle NT Network coordinator

Tanamera Bushfoods Ray Rogers Owner/Operator

Temmaku (has now changed owners) Jean and Howard Hall Owner/Operator

The Date Farm Gavyn Jones Plantat ion Manager

Tjanpi Aboriginal Baskets Thisbe Purich Coordinator

Warlukurlangu Art ists Ceci l ia Alfonso Manager

Yalata Community Incorporated Richard Mil ls Owner/Operator

Yamatj i Bit ja Aboriginal BushTours and Cultural Education Geoff Stokes Owner/Operator


6.3 Enterprise Database – Organisation List

Number Organisation

1 Aboriginal Art & Culture Centre

2 Aboriginal Art and Culture Centre

3 Aboriginal Tourism Austral ia

4 Adventure Tours Austral ia

5 Ali Curung Women’s Centre

6 Alice Springs Prison Group

7 Alice Wanderer

8 Anangu Tours

9 Anyinginyi Arts & Crafts

10 Arnie’s Fishing Adventures

11 Art ists of Ampilatwatja

12 Associat ion of Societ ies for Growing Austral ian Plants

13 Aussie Game Meats

14 Aust. Govt. Business Entry Point

15 Aust. Govt. Small Business

16 Austral ian and New Zealand Organic Olive Associat ion

17 Austral ian Camel Safaris

18 Austral ian Citrus Growers Inc.

19 Austral ian Honey Bee Industry Counci l

20 Austral ian Inst i tute of Hort iculture Inc

21 Austral ian Native Edible & Medicinal Seed Service

22 Austral ian Native Produce Industr ies Pty Ltd

23 Austral ian Olive Associat ion

24 Austral ian Quandong Industry Associat ion Inc

25 Austral ian Society of Vit iculture and Oenology Inc

26 Back of Beyond Tours

27 Barkly Regional Arts

28 Beth Harms

29 Bidjara

30 Bindi Inc – Mwerre Anthure

31 Boer Goat Breeders’ Associat ion of Austral ia

32 Bond Springs Outback Retreat

33 Brewarrina Aboriginal Cultural Museum

34 Broken Hil l – Outback Tours

35 Broken Hil l & Outback Personal Tour Guides

36 Bush University – Wedgetai l Tours

37 Campbell ’s Tours and Safaris

38 Ceduna Arts & Cultural Centre

39 Central Austral ia Tourism Industry Associat ion

40 Central Austral ian Camel Industry Associat ion Inc.

41 Central Land Counci l – Rural Enterprise Unit

42 Centre for New Industr ies Development – Agriculture WA

43 Centre for the Management of Arid Environments

44 Centre for the Management of Arid Environments (CMAE)

45 Charles Darwin University

46 Charl ie Cicero

47 Chunky Timber Company

48 Coniston Stat ion


49 Coolgardie Camel Farm

50 Corner Country Tours

51 CSIRO Land & Water

52 Curt in University of Technology

53 David & Kathleen Hil ls ley

54 Department of Agriculture Western Austral ia

55 Dept. of Primary Industr ies QLD

56 Desart Inc

57 Desert Diversity Tours

58 Desert Fruit Company

59 Desert Tracks

60 Diamantina Touring Company

61 Discovery Ecotours

62 Docker River Camel Project

63 East Kimberley Tours

64 Eco Adventures Al ice Springs

65 Eco-farm Bushfood Directory

66 Elimatta Housing Aboriginal Corporat ion

67 Emu Run Tours

68 Ernabel la Arts

69 Essential Oi l Producers of Austral ia

70 Etiwanda Boer Goats & Commercial Goat Operation T/A Manuka (Cobar) P/L

71 Felchi l lo Oasis

72 Forest Products Commission WA / Arid Forest Branch

73 Frontier Camel Farm & Tours

74 Gallery Gondwana

75 GEDC - aboriginal economic development sect ion

76 Goanna Safari ’s

77 Goldf ields Esperance Development commission

78 Goodwini i Eremophila Gardens & Nursery

79 Goombading Aboriginal Boat Tours

80 Greg Mil loy

81 Gunbarrel Laager Travel lers Rest

82 Gunya Tit j ikala Aboriginal Resort

83 Haasts Bluff Community

84 Hermannsburg Potters Aboriginal Corp

85 Hort iculture Austral ia Limited

86 House of Oz Aboriginal Art and Art i facts

87 Ikuntj i Art ists

88 Inland Aquaculture Associat ion of South Austral ia

89 Irrkerlantye Arts

90 Irrunytju Arts

91 Iwantja Arts & Crafts

92 J. & T. Hickey

93 Janganpa Performance Group

94 Jim’s Weeds, Seeds & Trees

95 Julal ikari Arts

96 Julal ikari Buramana Aboriginal Corporat ion

97 Kalt j i t i Arts & Crafts

98 Kangaroo Industry Associat ion of Austral ia

99 Keringke Arts

100 Kimberley Dreamtime Tours

101 Laurie J. Snel l


102 Lil la Aboriginal Tours

103 Lombadina Aboriginal Adventures

104 Longreach Bush Tucker

105 Madden Camel Enterprises

106 Mangkaja Arts

107 Mardel la Downs Holdings Pty Ltd

108 Marnta Media Pty Ltd

109 Mart in & Susan O’Donnell

110 Maruku Arts

111 Michael & Gaye Krake

112 Mid-West Development Commission - WA

113 Mildura Native Nursery

114 Mil i l i Maku Arts & Crafts

115 Minesite Rehabil i tat ion Services Pty Ltd

116 Minymaku Arts

117 Mt Romance Austral ia Pty Ltd

118 Mulpa Tours

119 Muntari Wild Foods of Austral ia

120 Napperby Stat ion

121 National Associat ion for Sustainable Agriculture Austral ia Ltd

122 Native Food Growers Group Inc

123 Nectarbrook Discovery Plantat ion

124 Ngurrat juta I i t ja Ntjarra - Many Hands Art Centre

125 Northern Terr i tory Hort iculture Associat ion

126 NSW Agriculture

127 NSW Agriculture

128 Ntaria Arts Centre

129 Nyinkka Nyunyu

130 Oak Val ley Tours

131 Oil Mallee Associat ion

132 Oil Mallee Company

133 Outback Experience 4WD Tours

134 Outback Pride / Reedy Creek Nursery - Wholesale Plant propagators

135 Pam Payne

136 Papulankutja Art ists

137 Papulu Apparr-Kari Aboriginal Corp

138 Papunya Tula Art ists

139 Patjarr Community

140 Penong Woolshed

141 Peter Hi l l

142 Primary Industr ies and Resources South Austral ia - Rural Solut ions

143 Quandong Café and Bush Bakery

144 Queensland Bushfood Associat ion

145 Queensland Department of Primary Industr ies

146 Queensland Landcare

147 R.A. Grieve

148 Red Centre Farm

149 Red Centre Produce

150 Red Sand Art Gal lery

151 Robert & Denham Ridgewell , Janet Bourke

152 Robins Foods Pty Ltd

153 Rod Horner

154 Sahara Tours


155 Sarah & Peter Smith

156 Schultz Farm

157 Small Business Development Corporat ion

158 Stephen & Kyl ie Gray

159 Stephen & Sophia Cresswell

160 Stockman Safaris

161 Sunraysia Nurseries

162 Sustainable Tourism CRC / Education Coordinator DKCRC

163 Tailor Made Tours

164 Tanamera Bushfoods

165 Tangentyere Counci l

166 Temmaku (has now changed owners)

167 Terri tory Lettuce

168 Tesl ing Tropical Fruit and Mango Wine

169 Thankakal i Aboriginal Cultural Centre

170 The Date Farm

171 The Gemtree Caravan Park

172 The Olive People

173 The Original Dreamtime Art Gal lery

174 Tit j ikala Art Centre

175 Tjanpi Aboriginal Baskets

176 Tjukurla Community

177 Tjurma Arts and Crafts

178 Trevor & Cindy Smith

179 Tri-state safaris

180 Turkey Bore Arts and Crafts

181 University of Western Austral ia

182 Vic Cherikoff Food Services

183 Victoria Desert Tours

184 Walkatjara Art Uluru

185 Walkatjura Cultural Centre

186 Wallace Rockhole Tourist Park

187 Waralungku Arts

188 Warburton Arts

189 Warlayirt i Art ists

190 Warlukurlangu Art ists

191 Warumpi Arts

192 Watiyawanu Art ists

193 Wayne & Claire Howard

194 Wayoutback Desert Safaris

195 Wepowie Ostr ich Farm

196 Wilu Arts Group

197 Yalata Community Incorporated

198 Yamatj i Bit ja Aboriginal BushTours and Cultural Education


6.4 Literature Database – Reference List

Aboriginal Communities of the Northern Territory of Australia. (1993) Traditional Aboriginal medi-cines in the Northern Territory of Australia. Darwin, NT., Conservation Commission of the Northern Territory of Australia. 651p.

ACIL Australia Pty Ltd. (1992). A development strategy for the emu industry, prepared for the Emu Industry Strategy Development Steering Committee. Perth, WA, ACIL Australia. 147p.

Agriculture and Resource Management Council of Australia and New Zealand. (1999). Australian stand-ard for hygienic production of ratite (emu/ostrich) meat for human consumption. (SCRAM Report 71). Collingwood, VIC., CSIRO Publishing. 38p.

Ahmed, A. K. and Johnson, K. A. (2000). Horticultural development of Australian native edible plants. Australian Journal of Botany 48[4]: 417-426.

Altman, J. C., Hunter, B. H., Ward, S., and Wright, F. (2002). Some competition and consumer issues in the indigenous visual arts industry. (Centre for Aboriginal Economic Policy Research Discussion Paper 235/2002). Canberra, ACT., Australian National University. [n.p.].

Annas, M. (1997). The label of authenticity: a certification trade mark for goods and service of indig-enous origin. Aboriginal Law Bulletin 3[90]: 4-8.

ATSIC and The Department of Primary Industries and Energy. (1997). National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander rural industry strategy. Canberra, ACT, ATSIC. 76p.

ATSIC/The Department of Primary Industries and Energy. (1997). The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander rural industry strategy. Canberra, ACT, ATSIC. 85p.

Australian Ethnobotany Research Community. Ethnobotany Australia. [n.d.]. http://www.ethnobotany-australia.net/forum/

Australian Government (2004). Tourism white paper: Indigenous tourism business ready program. http://www.tourism.australia.com/AboutUs.asp?lang=EN&sub=0304&al=148.

Australian Government/Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts Abo-riginal and Torres Strait Islander Services Australia Council for the Arts. [2004]. Indigenous art centre strategy and action plan. Canberra, ACT, Australian Government. 8p.

Australian Government Department of the Environment and Heritage. Kangaroo harvesting. [n.d.]. http://www.ea.gov.au/biodiversity/trade-use/wild-harvest/kangaroo/harvesting/ kangha.

Bailey, M. (2000). Developing quality assurance safety and marketing standards for the bushfood indus-try. Canberra, ACT, RIRDC. [n.p.].


Bailey, P. (1997). Development of an IPM program for the control of quandong moth in quandong or-chards. Canberra, ACT, RIRDC. [n.p.].

Barr, A. (1988). Traditional bush medicines: an Aboriginal pharmacopoeia. Richmond, VIC., Green-house Publications. 256p.

Beshai, A. A. (1984). The economics of a primary commodity: gum Arabic. Oxford Bulletin of Eco-nomics and Statistics 46[4]: 371-381.

Bindon, P. (1996). Useful bush plants. Perth, WA, Western Australian Museum. 286p.

Biodiversity and traditional knowledge: equitable partnerships in practice. (2000). (People and plants conservation series). London, Earthscan. 504p.

Bobbitt, J. (2003). Buffalo, camel, crocodile, emu, kangaroo, ostrich and rabbit meat: new value added products: a report for the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation. (Report 03/036). Barton, ACT, RIRDC. 56p.

Bomford, M. and Caughley J. (ed) (1996). Sustainable use of wildlife by Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islanders. Canberra, ACT, Australian Government Publishing Service. 216p.

Brand, J. C. and Cherikoff, V. (1985). The nutritional composition of Australian Aboriginal food plants of the desert regions. Plants for arid lands: proceedings of the Kew International Conference. (ed-ited by G.E. Wickens, J.R. Goodin and D.V. Field). London, Allen & Unwin. 452p.

Brand, J. C. and Maggiore, P. M. A. (1992). The nutritional composition of Australian acacia seeds. Australian dry-zone acacias for human food. (edited by A.P.N. House and C.E. Harwood). Can-berra, ACT, Australian Tree Seed Centre, CSIRO Division of Forestry. pp.54-67

Brand-Miller, J. C. (1994). Nutrition of Australian Aboriginal foods. Australian Science pp.25-28.

Bush food workshop. (2001). Held at Centralian College, Alice Springs. 8 August 2001. Alice Springs, Northern Territory, Northern Territory Government. 66p.

Cane, S. B. (1986). Bush tucker: intensified use of traditional resources on Aboriginal outstations. Science and Technology for Aboriginal Development in Central Australia: proceedings of a workshop. Alice Springs, Northern Territory. 8 – 10 October 1985. (edited by B.D. Foran and B. Walker). (CSIRO Division of Wildlife and Rangelands Research No.3). Alice Springs, Northern Territory, CSIRO and Centre for Appropriate Technology. pp. 90-98.

Cann, B. (1994). Date production in central Australia: an economic evaluation. (Technical Bulletin Northern Territory Department of Primary Industry and Fisheries.126). Darwin, NT, Department of Primary Industry and Fisheries. 19p.

Central Australian Camel Industry Association Inc. Camels Australia export. (2003). http://www.camel-saust.com.au/publication.htm.


Central Australian Camel Industry Association Inc. [2001]. The Central Australian Camel Industry. Alice Springs, NT, Central Australian Camel Industry Association Inc. 4pp.

Cherikoff, V. (1989). The bushfood handbook: how to gather, grow, process and cook Australian wild foods. Boronia Park, NSW, Bush Tucker Supply Australia. 208p.

Cherikoff, V. (1998). Marketing the Australian bushfood industry. Canberra, ACT, RIRDC. [n.p.].

Chopquenot, D., Caughley, J., and McLeod, S. (1998). Scientific, economic and social issues of com-mercial use of wild animals in Australia. . Kingston, ACT, Bureau of Resource Sciences. 78p.

Clark, M. and Black, N. (ed) (1997). Tourism audit and marketing strategy for the desert uplands. Can-berra, ACT, CRC. 118p.

Coombs, H.C., Brandl, M.M. and Snowdon, W.E. (1983). Botanical information from A.C. Kalotas. In ‘A certain heritage’. Canberra, ACT, Australian National University. pp.485-514

Coombs, H.C., Brandl, M.M. and Snowdon, W.E. (1983). Native resources. In ‘A certain heritage’. (CRES Monograph 9). Canberra, ACT, Australian National University. pp.273-274.

CSIRO Division of Horticulture. (1989). The quandong (Santalum acuminatum). Urrbrae, SA, CSIRO Division of Horticulture. 2p.

Cuffe, P. [2000]. Boer cross for export: building the goat meat industry. Web: http://boergoat.une.edu.au, [date accessed]

Dalton, W. and Bright, F. (2003). Information on pastoral businesses in the rangelands of Western Aus-tralia. . (Miscellaneous Publication 24/2003). South Perth, WA, Department of Agriculture. 20p.

Davies, J. and Young, E. (1995). Sustainability, development and rural Aboriginal communities. Aus-tralian Geographer 26[2]: 150-155.

Denham, R. (1998). Sandalwood at a glance. Perth, WA, Department of Agriculture. 4p. Web: http://ag-spsrv34.agric.wa.gov.au/progserv/natural/trees/treecrop/SANDALW2.HTM.

Department of Community Development, Sport and Cultural Affairs Northern Territory Government. [2003]. Northern Territory Indigenous arts strategy: building strong arts business. Darwin, NT, Northern Territory Government. 17p.

Department of the Premier and Cabinet, Western Australia. [2004]. Indigenous tourism: sustainability issues and opportunities. WA, Department of the Premier and Cabinet. 7p. Web: http://www.sustainability.dpc.wa.gov.au/CaseStudies/indigenoustourism/ indigenoustou.

Desert Knowledge. (2001). Bush food workshop. Centralian College, Alice Springs. 28 August 2001. Alice Springs, NT, Northern Territory Government. [n.p.].


Devitt J. (1992). Acacias: a traditional Aboriginal food source in central Australia. In ‘Australian dry-zone acacias for human food’. Glen Helen, Northern Territory. 7-10 August 1991. (edited by A.P.N. House and C.E. Harwood) Canberra, ACT, Australian Tree Seed Centre, CSIRO Division of Forestry. pp.37-53.

Dorges, B. and Heucke, J. (2003). Demonstration of ecologically sustainable management of camels on Aboriginal and pastoral land. Alice Springs, NT, The Authors. 26p.

Eco Farm. [2000]. Bushtucker. Web: http://www.bushtucker.com.au

Ecotourism Association of Australia. [2002]. Outcomes from the Ecotourism Australia-wide online con-ference. In ‘Ecotourism Association of Australia International Conference’. Cairns, Queensland. 6-7 August 2002. Australia, Ecotourism Association of Australia. 24p.

Ellard, K. and Seidel, P. (2000). Development of a sustainable camel industry: a compilation of two reports for the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation. Part 1: Western Australia by Kevin Ellard, Part 2: Northern Territory by Peter Seidel. (RIRDC Publ.No.99/118; RIRDC Project No. DAW-81A and DNT-19A). Kingston, ACT, RIRDC. 70p.

Emmott, T. [n.d.]. Salmon gum (Eucalyptus salmonophloia) use in farm forestry. Canberra, ACT, Greening Australia (WA). 6p.

Emu Producers Association. (1996). Producing the chick: proceedings of a seminar on emu egg incuba-tion, hatching and rearing of young chicks. LaTrobe University, Bendigo. 27 April 1996.Victoria, Emu Producers Association of Victoria. [n.p.].

Evans, J. V. (1980). The angora-mohair industry in Australia. In ‘Refresher course for veterinarians: the J.D. Stewart Memorial refresher course in goats’. ( Proceedings No.52). Sydney, NSW, Sydney University, Post-Graduate Committee in Veterinary Science. pp.67-177.

Ferguson, K. and Bailey, P. (2001). Integrated pest management of Quandong Moth - control of Quan-dong Moth in quandong orchards. (RIRDC Publication No.01/172). Canberra, ACT, RIRDC. 38p.

Fletcher, K. and Fletcher, M. (2001). Australian herb industry resource guide. Launceston, Tasmania, Focus on Herbs Consultancy & Information Service. 165p.

Fletcher, R. (1994). Sandalwood (Santalum spp.). The Australian New Crops Newsletter 2. [n.p.]. http://www.newcrops.uq.edu.au/newslett/ncnl2-54.htm

Flower, R. (2000). Characteristics of anti-viral compounds in Australian Bush Medicines. Canberra, ACT, RIRDC. [n.p.].

Forbes-Smith, M. (1999). Innovative products from indigenous Australian bushfoods. Canberra, ACT, RIRDC. [n.p.].

Foreign Affairs and Trade. (1997). Australia’s kangaroos. http://www.kangaroo-industry.asn.au/morin-fo/fs023.pdf


Forest Products Commission, Western Australia.[2000]. Farming Western Australian sandalwood: mak-ing money and making a difference. Perth, WA, Forest Products Commission. 2p.

Fox, J. E. D. (1987). Potential of Australian acacias from arid and semi-arid zones. In ‘Australian aca-cias in developing countries: proceedings of an international workshop’. Forestry Training Cen-tre, Gympie, Queensland. 4-7 August 1986. (edited by John W. Turnbull). (ACIAR Proceedings No.16). Canberra, ACT, Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research. pp.101-106.

Fulton, A.(1999). Investigation into safety and food values of certain Prostanthera species. Canberra, ACT, RIRDC. [n.p.].

Goddard, C. and Kalotas, A. (ed) (1988). Pu_nu: Yankunytjatjara plant methods of preparing foods, medicines, utensils and weapons from native plants. Designed and illustrated by Julie Jones; with additional illustrations by Jill Hodson, Mary Flynn and Heather Carey. North Ryde, NSW., Angus and Robertson. 166p.

Goddard, C. and Kalotas, A. (ed) (2002). Punu: Yankunytjatjara plant use: traditional methods of pre-paring foods, medicines, utensils and weapons from native plants. Alice Springs, NT., Jupurrka Books. 121p.

Gordon-Mills, E. M. and Australian Quandong Industry Association. (2000). The quandong: Australia’s premier native fruit. Upper Sturt, SA, Australian Quandong Industry Association. [n.p.].

Graham, C.(1996). Australian native bushfoods: processed production potential and including cost evaluation. (RPT-1A). Canberra, ACT, RIRDC. [n.p.].

Graham, C. and Hart, D. (1998). In ‘The new rural industries: a handbook for farmers and investors’. (edited by Keith Hyde). Canberra, ACT, RIRDC. pp. 227-234.

Graham, C. and Hart, D. (1997). Prospects for the Australian native bushfood industry: a report . (RIRDC Research Paper Series No.97/22). Barton, ACT, Rural Industries Research and Develop-ment Corporation. 74p.

Grant, W. J. R. and Buttrose, M. S. (1978). Santalum fruit - domestication of the quandong Santalum acuminatum. Australian Plants 9: 316-318.

Griffin, G. F. (1985). Bushtucker. Australian Plants 13[103]: 127-134.

Harris, D.R. and Hillman, G.C. (ed) (1989). Foraging and farming: the evolution of plant exploitation. (One World Archaeology No.13). Results of a symposium held at the World Archaeological Con-gress held in Southampton, England in September 1986. London ; Boston, Unwin Hyman. 733p.

Harwood, C. E.(1994). Human food potential of the seeds of some Australian dry-zone Acacia species. Journal of Arid Environments 27[1]: 27-35.

Hele, A. (2001). Bush tomato production. South Australia, Primary Industries and Resources. 2p. http://www.anpi.com.au and http://www.pir.sa.gov.au


Herbert, A. (1999). Cultivation of bushfoods: preliminary investment analysis of the commercial cul-tivation of 6 bushfoods. (Marketing Economics and Rural Adjustment Services (WA) No.99.6). Perth, WA, Agriculture Western Australia. Economic Series. [n.p.].

Holst, P. J. (1982). Goats for meat and fibre in Australia. (SCA Technical Report Series No.11). Can-berra, ACT, Standing Committee for Agriculture. 184p.

Holst, P. J. and Miller, M. [2000]. Goat and sheep production from semi-arid range in western New South Wales (Australia): a comparative analysis. In ‘Proceedings of the 7th International Confer-ence on goats’. France. 15-21 May 2000. [s.l., s.n.]. pp.327-328. Web: http://www.iga-goatworld.org/availabl.htm

Horsman, C. (2000). Domestic market analysis for wildflowers: a report for the Rural Industries and Re-search and Development Corporation. Barton, ACT, Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation. RIRDC. 20p.

House, A.P.N. and Harwood, C.E. (ed) (1992). Australian dry-zone acacias for human food: proceedings of a workshop. Glen Helen, Northern Territory. 7-10 August 1992. Canberra, ACT, Australian Tree Seed Centre, CSIRO Division of Forestry. 145p.

Hutchinson, W., Jeffre, M., O’Sullivan, D., Casement, D., and Clarke, S. (2004). Recirculating aquac-ulture systems: minimum standards for design, construction and management. South Australia, Inland Aquaculture Association of South Australia. Web: http://www.iaasa.org.au

Hyde, K. (1998). Success factors for developing new rural industries. Agricultural Science 11[2]: 14-17.

Isaacs, J. (1987). Bush food: Aboriginal food and herbal medicine. McMahons Point, NSW, Weldons. 256p.

Jago, B. (1999). Feral goat (Capra hircus) in Queensland. (Pest status review series-land protection). Queensland, Department of Natural Resources and Mines. 24p.

Johnson, P. (1999). The prospects of commercialising indigenous boab tubers as vegetables. Canberra, ACT, RIRDC. [n.p.].

Johnson, T. [2000]. Determining the role of the Boer goat in the Australian goat industry. South Perth, WA, Department of Agriculture. 2p.

Joint Venture Agroforestry Program (JVAP). (2000). Emerging products and services from trees in lower rainfall areas. (The JVAP Research Update Series No. 2; RIRDC Publication No. 00/171). Barton, ACT, Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation. 22p.

Karingal Consultants. [1994]. The Australian wildflower industry: a review. (Research Paper (RIRDC) No.94/9). Canberra, ACT, AGPS. 301p.


Kealley, I. G. (1999). Goldfields timber research project: report by the Research Project Steering Com-mittee, G.R. Siemon and I.G. Kealley. Como, Western Australia, Department of Conservation and Land Management. 130p.

Kelly, J. [n.d.]. Kangaroo industry background. Web: http://www.kangaroo-industry.asn.au/morinfo/BACKGR1.HTM

Kangaroo Industry Association of Australia. KIAA further resources. Web: http://www.kangaroo-indus-try.asn.au/resource.html

Land & Water Australia/FWPRDC Joint Venture Agroforestry Program, Natural Heritage Trust, Board-man, R., Bush, D., Harwood, C. E., and Spencer, D. J. (2002). Australian low rainfall tree im-provement group: compendium of softwood tree improvement strategies: a report for the RIRDC. Barton, ACT, RIRDC. 56p.

Lassak, E.V. and Southwell, I.A. (1977). Essential oil isolates from the Australian flora. International Flavours and Food Additives 8: 126-132.

Latz, P. (1995). Bushfires and bushtucker: Aboriginal plants use in Central Australia. Alice Springs, NT, IAD Press. 400p.

Lee, C. L. and Nel, S (2001). . A national aquaculture development strategy for indigenous communi-ties in Australia final report March 2001. Canberra, ACT, Department of Agriculture Fishers and Forestry Australia. 120p.

Lethbridge, B. (1999). Genetic and agronomic improvement of quandong. Canberra, ACT, RIRDC. [n.p.].

Lethbridge, B. and Randell, B. (2003). Genetic and agronomic improvement of quandong. (RIRDC Pub-lication No 03/110; RIRDC Puroject No.AQI-1A). Barton, ACT, RIRDC. 28p.

Lindsay, E. A., Yoke, B., Jamie, J., and Bremner, J. B. [n.d.]. Antibacterial compounds from Carissa lanceolata R.Br. Phytochemistry 55[5]: 403-406.

Lister, P. R., Holford, P., Haigh, T., and Morrison, D. A. (1996). Acacias in Australia: ethnobotany and potential food crop. In ‘Progress in crops conference’. Indianapolis, USA. 22-25 October 1995. (edited by Jules Janick). Alexandria, USA, ASHS Press. pp.228-236.

Loveys, B. R. and Jusaitis, M. (1994). Stimulation of germination of quandong (Santalum acuminatum) and other Australian native plant seeds. Australian Journal of Botany 42[5]: 565-574.

Low, T. (1990). Bush medicines: a pharmacopoeia of natural remedies. North Ryde, NSW, Angus and Roberston. 238p.

Low, T. (1989). Bush tucker: Australia’s wild food harvest. North Ryde, NSW, Angus and Robertson. 233p.


Low, T. (1991). Wild food plants of Australia. (Australian nature field guide). North Ryde, NSW, An-gus and Robertson. 240p.

Low, T . (1991). Wild herbs of Australia and New Zealand. North Ryde, NSW, Angus and Robertson. 160p.

Manefield, G. W. and Tinson, A. H. (1997). Camels: a compendium. (T.G. Hungerford vade mecum series for domestic animals No.10; T.G. Hungerford vade mecum series for domestic animals Se-ries C). Sydney, New South Wales, University of Sydney Post Graduate Foundation in Veterinary Science. 372p.

Mansfield, J. G. and Kenna, G. (1995). Cut flower potential of Centralian species. (RIRDC Project No.DNT-16A). Canberra, ACT, RIRDC. [n.p.].

Maslin, B. R., Thomson, L. A. J., McDonald, M. W., and Hamilton-Brown, S. (1998). Edible wattle seeds of Southern Australia: a review of species for use in semi-arid regions. Collingwood, VIC, CSIRO Publishing. 108p.

McCloy, L. and Rowe, P. (2000). Assessing the potential for a commercial camel Industry in Western Australia. RIRDC Publ. No. 00/123; RIRDC Project No. DAW-92A. Barton, ACT, RIRDC. 39p.

McColl, C. R. (1992). Central Australian date industry: a strategy for development. (Technical Bulletin Northern Territory Department of Primary Industry and Fisheries No.186). Darwin, NT, Depart-ment of Primary Industry & Fisheries. 29p.

McEllister, F. V. and Tamblyn, C. (1991). Date production in central Australia: an agronomic and economic evaluation. (Technical Bulletin Northern Territory Department of Primary Industry and Fisheries . Notes: Agdex no. 277/820). Darwin, NT, Northern Territory Department of Primary Industry and Fisheries. 34p.

McGregor, B. (1998). Goat meat. In ‘The new rural industries: a handbook for farmers and investors’. (edited by Keith Hyde). Canberra, ACT, Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation. pp.46-49. Web: http://www.rirdc.gov.au/pub/handbook/contents.html

Miers, G. (2004). Cultivation and sustainable wild harvest of bushfoods by Aboriginal communities in central Australia. (Publication No W03/124; RIRDC Project No. CLC-1A). Canberra, ACT, RIRDC. 4p.

Morse, J. (1999). Cultivation and sustainable wild harvest of bushfoods by Aboriginal communities in central Australia. Canberra, ACT, RIRDC. [n.p.].

Mulvaney, D.J. and Golson, J. (ed) (1971). Aboriginal man and environment in Australia. Canberra, ACT., Australian National University Press. 389p.

Murray, D. R. (1984). The food value of Acacia seeds. Australian Plants 13: 25-26.


Murray, P. [2000]. Background to goats and goat meat production in Australia. Web: http://www.pcm-consulting.com.au/goats/information/papers/background.htm

New rural industries: a handbook for farmers and investors. (2004). Web: http://www.rirdc.gov.au/pub/handbook/contents.html

Northern Territory Tourist Commission. (2002). Australia’s outback Northern Territory experience Aboriginal culture. Darwin, NT, Northern Territory Tourist Commission. 24p.

O’Malley, P. (1997). Emu farming. RIRDC: The New Rural Industries pp.40-45. Web: http://www.rirdc.gov.au/pub/handbook/emu.html

Page, T. (2000). Domestication and improvement of Kunzea pomifera, Muntires. Canberra, ACT, RIRDC. [n.p.].

Parkes, J., Henzell, R., and Pickles, G. (1996). Managing vertebrate pests: feral goats. (Managing verte-brate pests; Scientific editing by Mary Bomford). Canberra, ACT, Australian Government Pub-lishing Service. 129p.

Peterson, N. (1979). Aboriginal use of Australia Solonaceae. In ‘The biology and taxonomy of the Solanaceae’. Based on papers presented at an international symposium, University of Birming-ham, 13-17 July 1976. London, Academic for the Linnean Society of London. [n.p.].

Phelps, D. (1996). Establishment of an economically viable and ecologically sustainable bushfood industry in Australia’s northern rangelands: phase 1 desktop pre-feasibility study. (DAQ189A). Canberra, ACT, RIRDC. [n.p.].

Phelps, D. G. (1997). Feasibility of a sustainable bush food industry in western Queensland. (RIRDC 97/11). Canberra, ACT, RIRDC. 76p.

Phelps, D. G. and Phelps, W. J. (1996). Australia’s bush food potential in the rangelands: wild har-vest or plantation production? In ‘Proceeding of the 9th Biennial Australian Rangeland Society Conference’. Port Augusta. 24-27 August 1996. (edited by L.P. Hunt and R. Sinclair). Cottlesloe, Western Australia, Australian Rangeland Society. pp.116-117.

Phelps, D. G. and Phelps, W. J. (1994). Economic food plants of western Queensland. In ‘Clean coun-try, clean product, clear profit: best practice for practical rangeland management in Australia: the Rangeland Society 8th biennial conference’. Katherine, Northern Territory. 21-23 June 1994. Australia, The Society. Pp.287-288.

Phillips, A. (2001). Co-grazing cattle and camels: a report for the Rural Industries Research and Devel-opment Corporation. (RIRDC Project DNT-20A; RIRDC publication No.01/092). Kingston, ACT, RIRDC. 52p.

Pople, T. and Grigg, G. (1999). Commercial harvesting of kangaroos in Australia. Web: http://www.ea.gov.au/biodiversity/trade-use/wild-harvest/kangaroo/harvesting/index.html


Positive Solutions. (2002). Northern Territory arts policy review executive summary. Darwin, NT, Posi-tive Solutions. 6p.

Prenzel, P. [n.d.]. Simple grafting for growers – winter time is quandong grafting time. Web: http://www.aqia.com.au/research/grafting.html

Price, K. and Verios, L. (1999). Ideas: a diversification manual for the pastoral rangelands. (Miscellane-ous Publication 53/99). Perth, WA., Agriculture Western Australia. 9p.

Radomiljac, A. M. (1998). The influence of pot host species, seedling age and supplementary nursery nutrition on Santalum album Linn. (Indian Sandalwood) plantation establishment within the Ord River Irrigation Area, Western Australia. Forest Ecology and Management 102[2-3]: 193-201.

Radomiljac, A. M., McComb, J. A., and Shea, S. R. (1998). Field establishment of Santalum album L.: the effects of the time of introduction of pot host (Alternanthera nana R.Br. Forest Ecology and Management 111[2-3 ]: 107-118.

Research trial into a better rootstock for the grafted Quandong. [2004]. http://www.aqai.com.au/re-search/page6.html

Rod Steinert Tours. (2004). Dreamtime tours: Aboriginal dreamtime and bushtucker tour. Web: http://www.rstours.com.au

Reid, E. J. and Betts, T. J. (1979). Records of Western Australian plants used by Aboriginals as medici-nal agents. Planta Medica 36: 164-173.

Ross, J. Punshon A. (1995). A taste of Australia: authentic Australian cuisine. Noble Park, VIC, Five Mile Press. 180p.

Rouda, R. R. [2004]. Discussion paper on the development of camel industries in Western Australia. Kalgoorlie, WA, Department of Agriculture Western Australia. [n.p.].

Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (Australia)/Joint Venture Agriforestry Pro-gram. (2002). Breeding trees for the low rainfall regions of southern Australia. (edited by C.E. Harwood and D. Bush). (RIRDC Publication No.02/031; JVAP Research update Series No.4). C.E. Harwood and D. Bush. Barton, ACT, RIRDC. 23p.

Ryder, M. (1999). Evaluating performance of cultivated bushfood plants in South Australia environ-ments. Canberra, ACT, RIRDC. [n.p.].

Sam Miles Associates. (2001). Aboriginal horticulture in central Australia: developing a strategic man-agement plan for a horticulture industry on Aboriginal freehold land in central Australia. Alice Springs, NT, Sam Miles and Associates. 42p.

Sawenko, T. (2004). Centrefarm: developing commercial horticulture on Aboriginal land in Central Australia. Alice Springs, NT, Centrefarm Aboriginal Horticulture Limited. [n.p.].


Sawenko, T. (2000). Developing commercial horticulture on Aboriginal land in Central Australia: Central Land Council Aboriginal horticulture strategy. Alice Springs regional outlook confer-ence: case studies in regional innovations and opportunities. Alice Springs, Northern Territory. 6 December 2000. Canberra, ACT, ABARE. 5p.

Schultz, M. (1996). Feasibility study of Salicornieae as oil-seed halophytes for saline land and water. (RIRDC Project Report DAV-88A). Canberra, ACT, RIRDC. [n.p.].

Simpson, S. and Chudleigh, P. (2001). Wattle seed production in low rainfall areas: a report for the RIRDC. (RIRDC Publication No.01/08; RIRDC Project No.AGT-7A). Canberra, ACT, RIRDC. 33p.

Slater, A. T. and Carson, C. J.(2003). Australian cut flower best bets program. (Project No. DAVI93A). Canberra, ACT, RIRDC. 87p. Web: http://www.rirdc.gov.au/WNP/03-055Sum.html

Smetana, P. (1995). Emu Farming - background information June 1994. (Miscellaneous publication 37/94). Western Australia, Department of Agriculture. 159p.

Smuts, M. M. S. and Bezuidenhout, A. J. (1987). Anatomy of the dromedary. (Oxford Science Publica-tions). Oxfordshire, UK, Clarendon Press. 230p.

South Australia. Department of Agriculture/State Tree Centre South Australia. (1991). Quandongs: a viable opportunity conference. Minnipa Research Centre, South Australia. SA, Department of Agriculture South Australia, State Tree Centre. 29p.

Southwell, I. A. (1987). Essential oil isolates from the Australian flora. Flavour and Fragrance Journal 2: 21-27.

Stynes, B. (1997). Opportunities for contributing to the development of Aboriginal food plants.. Tropi-cal Grasslands 31[4]: 311-314.

Survey of indigenous tourism: final report March 2000. [s.l., s.n.]. 50p.

Tait, D. (1997). Bushfood industry database scoping study. Canberra, ACT, RIRDC. [n.p.].

Thomson, L. A. J., Turnbull, J. W., and Maslin, B. R. (1994). The utilization of Australian species of Acacia, with particular reference to those of the subtropical dry zone. Journal of Arid Environ-ments 27: 279-295.

Tourism Training South Australia. [n.d.].Identifying strategies for the integrated development of the Australian native foods industry in South Australia. Web: http://www.pir.sa.gov.au

Turner-Neale, M. and Henderson, J. (1996). Bush foods: Arrernte foods from Central Australia=Nhenhe-areye anwene-arle arlkweme. Alice Springs, Northern Territory, IAD Press. 70p.


Warburton, C. L., James, E. A., Fripp, Y. J., Truemand, S. J., and Wallace, H. M. (2000). Cloonality and sexual reproductive failure in remnant populations of Santalum lanceolatum (Santalaceae). Biological Conservation 96[1]: 45-54.

Warren, R. and Ryder, M. (2003). Soil biological constraints and benefits to quandong and other native food production. (RIRDC Web Publication No.03/138; RIRDC Project No. CSL-20A). Canberra, ACT , RIRDC. 21p.

West Australian Nut and Tree Crop Association and West Australian Nutgrowing Society. (1975-) Quandong. Subiaco, Western Australia, West Australian Nutgrowing Society.

Western Australian Tourism. (2001). Western Australian tourism product and infrastructure develop-ment plans. Web: http://www.tourism.wa.gov.au/industry/tdp.asp

Western Australian Tourism Commission. (2003). Gascoyne Region tourism product and infrastructure development plan 2004-2013. Western Australia, Government of Western Australia. 18p.

Western Australian Tourism Commission. (2003). Goldfields region: tourism product and infrastructure development plan 2004-2013. Perth, WA, Western Australian Tourism Commission. 19p.

Western Australian Tourism Commission. (2003). Journey further: a cultural tourism strategy for West-ern Australia 2003-2007: a discussion paper. Western Australia, Government of Western Aus-tralia. 23p.

Williams, N. M. (1998). Intellectual property and Aboriginal environmental knowledge. (CINCRM dis-cussion paper No.1). Darwin, NT, Centre for Indigenous Natural and Cultural Resource Manage-ment, Northern Territory University. 30p.

Wills, R. (1998). Food safety of Australian plant bushfoods. Canberra, ACT, RIRDC. [n.p.].

Wright, F. (1999). The art and craft centre story Volume 1 Report: a survey of thirty-nine Aboriginal community art and craft centres in remote Australia, undertaken by Desart Inc. (edited by Book-Morph Publishing). Woden, ACT, ATSIC. Service. 340p.

Wright, F. and Morphy, F. (ed) (2000). The art and craft centre story Volume 2: summary and recom-mendations: a survey of thirth-nine Aboriginal community art and craft centres in remote Aus-tralia, undertaken by Desart Inc. Woden, ACT, ATSIC. 132p.

Zorzetto, A. and Chudleight, P. (1999). Commercial prospects for low rainfall agroforestry. RIRDC. Project No. AGT-4A. Canberra, ACT, RIRDC. 133p.

Review of desert enterprises 25 - Home - Ninti One · Information contained in this publication may...

Documents

Transcript of Review of desert enterprises 25 - Home - Ninti One · Information contained in this publication may...