An inventory of rangelands in part of the Broome Shire, Western Australia

The inventory of rangelands in part of the Broome Shire in Western Australia was undertaken by DAFWA between 1989 and 1990. It describes and maps the natural resources of the region’s pastoral leasehold land. This survey report provides a baseline record of the existence and condition of the natural area’s resources, to assist with the planning and implementation of land management practices. The report identified and described the condition of soils, landforms, vegetation, habitat, ecosystems, and declared plants and animals. It also assessed the impact of pastoralism and made land management recommendations. The survey of part of the Broome Shire covers about 8664km² of pastoral land in the Canning Basin region. It lies adjacent to the west coast of the Broome Shire, which is in the south-west of the Kimberley region of Western Australia. The survey area is dominated by extensive sandplains and dune fields which border the northern edge of the Great Sandy Desert. A smaller area of coastal plain occurs on the western edge of the survey area. Soils on the sandplain and dune fields are predominantly deep red sands and loamy sands. Coastal plain soils are light grey silty clays. Pastures are dominated by spinifex communities on the sandplain with halophytic species dominating pastures on the coastal plain. There are no permanent water courses in the area although there are several springs on the inland margin of the coastal plain. Stock are almost entirely dependent upon man-made watering points

Cutting up the landscape: the construction and deconstruction of Australia’s physical, cultural and economic identity.

The research project is an investigation of how paper-cutting techniques can be applied to depict the way in which people interact with their environment. This is achieved by looking at historical and contemporary ideas regarding the environment as a shared landscape. This investigation is a studio-based production of artwork that encompasses and explores the decorative and technical elements of paper cutting, together with ideas about the impact of human interventions on their surrounding environment. Ideas explored cover the changing characteristics of the Australian landscapes in a physical, cultural and an economic sense. The major objective of the research project is to develop a body of visual art works that investigate the relationship between traditional paper-cutting techniques and the development of imagery that provides social commentary in a contemporary context. Traditionally Chinese paper cutting is used in daily life for purposes that are decorative, ceremonial and documentary. The objective of the project is to consider the possible applications of the paper-cut in a contemporary western context to create artwork that contributes to discussion about the impact economic, cultural and industrial changes have on the way we perceive and interact with our environment. This project aims to investigate the use of decoration and ornament by artists that reference issues relevant to their contemporary climate, particularly the use of traditional craft techniques as a means for artists to discuss ideas that are relevant to the broader community. To investigate historical and contemporary ideas about the landscape as a malleable and ever changing resource, including ideas about shared public space, and the impact economic, cultural and industrial changes have on the way we perceive and interact with and within our environment. To utilise and expand on techniques used by folk artists in the creation of traditional paper-cuts by applying the basic principals of paper cutting in a contemporary context through the production of object and installation based work. And to create a body of work that entices the viewer through dichotomy between imagery attractive because of its decorative element whilst dealing directly with complex social concerns. The use of the paper cut as the primary technique works in conjunction with the theoretical component of the work in numerous ways. Making many incisions in a piece of paper creates a paper cut. This can be construed as an invasive and destructive, even violent act; yet the creative potential of such actions cannot be over-looked. This method of production draws a parallel with the way many people view the ‘development’ of post-colonial Australia. The selective removal or inclusion of paper in order to create a bigger picture is similar to the way we selectively use spaces in the landscape, dividing it up for development, or reserving parts for ecological and recreational purposes. Like a large paper-cut, the landscape becomes subdivided and shaped into an entity that reflects our economic, cultural and industrial directions

Subsurface Lateral Flow in Texture-Contrast (Duplex) Soils and Catchments with Shallow Bedrock

Development-perched watertables and subsurface lateral flows in texture-contrast soils (duplex) are commonly believed to occur as a consequence of the hydraulic discontinuity between the A and B soil horizons. However, in catchments containing shallow bedrock, subsurface lateral flows result from a combination of preferential flow from the soil surface to the soil—bedrock interface, undulations in the bedrock topography, lateral flow through macropore networks at the soil—bedrock interface, and the influence of antecedent soil moisture on macropore connectivity. Review of literature indicates that some of these processes may also be involved in the development of subsurface lateral flow in texture contrast soils. However, the extent to which these mechanisms can be applied to texture contrast soils requires further field studies. Improved process understanding is required for modelling subsurface lateral flows in order to improve the management of waterlogging, drainage, salinity, and offsite agrochemicals movement