Presented by land management adviser Andy Cole at the Horse SA 'DIY Horse Property Plan' Greenock, Dec 1 2016 (Edited version for online publication) For more Horse SA events visit http://www.horsesa.asn.au This project is jointly funded through Adelaide and Mt Lofty Ranges Natural Resources Management Board levy, Horse SA and the Australian Government’s National Landcare Programme http://www.naturalresources.sa.gov.au/adelaidemtloftyranges/land/landholder-services

1. Do It Yourself - Horse Property Management Plan

2. What is a property management plan?
Council requirements - horsekeeping
Consider the natural resources
Start with a vision
Map to land class
Draw new plan
Develop an action plan
Examples
CONTENTS

3. WHAT IS A PROPERTY MANAGEMENT PLAN?
It’s an ongoing process NOT a blue print!

4. It has THREE parts:
A. Your Vision
B. Overlay plans using aerial photograph to:
- Identify land classes
- Record existing infrastructure
- Draw a new plan based on managing distinct
land classes
C. Action Plan (priorities, timeline and costs)
WHAT IS A PROPERTY MANAGEMENT PLAN?

5. WHAT IS A PROPERTY MANAGEMENT PLAN?

6. Under the Development Act 1993, horsekeeping means:
‘The keeping or husbandry of horses where more than one
horse is kept per three hectares [7.4 acres] of land used
for such purposes or where hand feeding of a horse is
involved.’
Development approval from your local council is required
in these circumstances or when associated structures
(including stables and holding yards) for horsekeeping are
required.
COUNCIL REQUIREMENTS – HORSEKEEPING

7. Requirements may vary from council to council. It is
important to contact your local council so you know what
specific issues need to be addressed in your application.
Most councils will require you to address the following:
 Site plan – land must be < 12% slope (varies with
councils).
 Description of proposal – details of stables, yards,
paddocks. E.g. stables and yards must be at least 30m
from any dwelling or boundary, Stables must be a
minimum of 3.7m x 3.7m, have a wooden kick board to
1.3m, roof height of 2.75m. Yards need to be 50 to
100sq metres. Roof must have gutters to collect water.
Note: some councils require a screen of native
vegetation planted around intense horse keeping areas.
COUNCIL REQUIREMENTS – HORSEKEEPING

8.  Pollution prevention – avoid polluting surface or
underground water. Buildings may have to be 25 to
50m from the nearest watercourse. Manure heaps
should be covered and be at least 50m from any
watercourse.
 Water demand and use – include washdown areas
 Waste water disposal and water quality – avoid
draining into watercourses and keep separate from
septic tanks.
 Soil management - avoid erosion and keep a minimum
70% ground cover at all times
 Vegetation – do not damage native vegetation
 Air quality – dust and smell must be addressed
Note; The above are only examples , you must check
with your local council before applying for horsekeeping.
COUNCIL REQUIREMENTS – HORSEKEEPING

9. When developing a property management plan you should
always consider the natural resources and ensure there
are no negative impacts on the environment.
The following are some of these to consider:
 Protect all native vegetation (including grasses) and
maintain biodiversity.
 Avoid soil erosion and don’t overgraze,
 Grazing horses on sandy soils risks wind erosion,
 Avoid pugging soils, so do not graze waterlogged soils,
 Surface water quality should be maintained so don’t
graze animals in watercourses,
 Control weeds (especially declared weeds),
 Lime acid soils,
 Reduce the risk of fire.
CONSIDER THE NATURAL RESOURCES

10. Goals
Years 3 Yrs 5 Yrs 10 Yrs 20 Yrs
Personal
Farm
START WITH A VISION

11. MAP TO LAND CLASS USING AN
AERIALPHOTOGRAPH

12. Sources including:
The internet:
• Google Earth http://maps.google.com.au/
• Nearmap https://www.nearmap.com/welcome-
new#welcome
• Private businesses e.g Aerometrix Pty Ltd. 413 Magill Rd, St
Morris, SA
• Department for Environment, Water and Natural Resources,
Mapland. Level 1, 100 Pirie Street, Adelaide SA Phone 8463
3999
OBTAINING AN AERIALPHOTOGRAPH

13. Walk around your property & identify obvious physical features
(land classes).
Include on an overlay:
Natural features (ridgelines, slopes, flats, gullies, watercourses,
drainage lines etc).
Native vegetation (include different qualities)
Degraded areas (saline sites, acidity, erosion sites).
Rocky outcrops
Soil types
Waterlogged areas (and seasonally restricted areas - due to
waterlogging etc).
These features are then grouped together into similar areas/classes
on the map, so areas of the same land class can be identified and
managed appropriately.
MAP TO LAND CLASS - THE FIRST STEP

14. Walk around your property & record on a second clear overlay
sheet all the permanent features which currently exist:
Include on the overlay:
• fences,
• gates,
• yards,
• sheds,
• tanks and water troughs
• raceways,
• irrigation systems
• others
Note: you could add these to your first overlay (use different
colour pen)
DRAW THE EXISTING LAYOUT AND
INFRASTRUCTURE – SECOND STEP

15. Draw on a third overlay a new plan based upon land capability.
This need you to identify the land classes from overlay one and re-
fence to land classes.
For example, watercourse and dams should be earmarked to be
fenced off. Determine location and number of water troughs.
Wet boggy areas should be fenced to control stock access.
Steep and rocky areas should be isolated from other paddocks
Native vegetation should be fenced off from stock. If no stock -
identify the quality and record key actions, for example weed
control or replanting.
Saline areas should be fenced out.
Consider all other land classes.
DRAW A NEW PLAN BASED ON LAND
CLASSES – THIRD STEP

16. CONSIDER THE BENEFITS OF AN
EQUICENTRAL SYSTEM
All of the paddocks lead back to the surfaced holding yard. There is
shade/shelter and water in this central area. Hay can also be fed here.
http://www.equiculture.com.au/equicentral-system.html

17. CONSIDER THE BENEFITS OF AN
EQUICENTRAL SYSTEM
This Equicentral system caters for horses and cattle.
http://www.equiculture.com.au/equicentral-system.html

18. Draw up a yearly work program which you know is
achievable both financially & physically. Break down
large/difficult tasks such as:
• Pasture renovation
• Broad-scale revegetation
• Weed control programs
• Fencing to land-class
• Establishing shelterbelts
Keep the work plan in a highly visible location.
DRAW UP AN ACTION PLAN

19. Area Description Issues Action Timeline Costs
Main
Pdk
2ha
Weed control and
pasture
improvement.
Better grazing
management.
Main grazing
paddock, gently
sloping, some
water logged areas
in lower parts.
Equipment
friendly.
Slash or graze.
Soil Test
Fertilise /Lime
Oversow clover
Divide into 2
Oct 2016
Nov 2016
Apr 2017
May 2017
Aug 2019
$120
$200
$900
$500
$800
Good Ryegrass,
patchy Capeweed,
Annual Grasses,
poor clover,
Catsear, ungrazed
Water
course
and
dam
Water course is
badly degraded.
Dam wall is
damaged.
Woody weeds
and willows Dam
wall has damage
through livestock
movement.
Establish
reticulated water
system for stock.
Fence off dam
and watercourse.
August 2020
August 2021
$3,500
$3,000
ACTION PLAN

20. THANK YOU
Andy Cole
Land Management Advisory Service
M: 0437 299 268
1 December 2016