Cattle stations suffer millions in losses as Barkly bushfire rages

Pastoralists and BushfiresNT are battling outdated technology as they try to fight a ‘monster’ Barkly blaze causing millions of dollars in damage. Read what they’re up against.

The Barkly’s pastoral community has been rocked by the “monster fire” sweeping through the district, with at least six cattle stations suffering potentially millions of dollars in losses to infrastructure and assets so far.

NT Cattlemen’s Association chief executive Will Evans said a lack of effective communication meant it could be some time before the true cost of the fire was known, but it had so far burned through more than 10,000 sqkm of prime pastoral land, with farmers and Bushfires NT still battling to contain the spread.

A key concern for the industry is the failure of successive commonwealth governments to deliver the long-awaited Doppler weather radar, which was first promised to the region in 2019 but is still not completed.

The NT Cattlemen's Association’s Will Evans says pastoralists are stuck with 1950s technology.

The main Barkly fire, which is burning on a 140km front, is being powered by variable winds and strong fuel loads.

“It just keeps jumping containment lines,” Mr Evans said.

“We’ve been able to get in some breaks that have been effective, but if the wind keeps changing and the gusts keep coming, this is one we’re going to struggle with for a while to come.”

The pastoral losses following an above average wet season are “heartbreaking” for cattle producers for whom the grasslands are their most important assets.

Affected stations include Rockhampton Downs, Banka Banka and Tennant Creek.

“We need the good years to carry us through the hard ones,” Mr Evans said.

“Pasture growth like we’ve seen this year can set us up next season to come and sometimes even the season after.

“I know some people can’t get excited about grass growing but for us, grasslands are our number one asset.

“We simply can’t exist as an industry if we can’t protect it.”

First promised in 2019, the Doppler weather radar has suffered numerous delays with Barkly residents told the radar would be operational by mid-2023, which it isn’t.

Livestock pastures have been damaged in the Barkly blaze.

“How helpful would it be to be able to predict the weather during an emergency declared fire situation,” he said.

A response has been sought from the commonwealth and NT governments about when the weather radar will be operating.

Meanwhile, Mr Evans said the NTCA was currently in close contact with members who were out fighting fires, but communications were challenged by outdated or non-existent infrastructure, which was as “enormous hurdle” to being able to support pastoralists that need assistance.

“The biggest challenge is being able to communicate with those people on the ground,” he said.

“This fire has a 140km front, it’s burnt out an area four times the size of the ACT and we’re still using technology from the 1950s to stay in contact with those out there fighting this thing.”

Mr Evans said without effective communication channels, the cost of the current fire remained unknown but was expected to include millions of dollars in losses to infrastructure and assets.

“We simply don’t know yet,” he said.

“We’ll be working with the members and will have boots on the ground immediately following this thing being brought under control.

“That’s a problem for tomorrow. Right now, my thoughts are with those on the ground.”