09/07/2025
Sustainable land management at Pine Ridge
Norm Arkell runs beef cattle and Boer goats on his 420ha property in Mendooran near Dubbo, in Central NSW. The property has been in his family since 1978. The family run a diversified operation with just over half the property managed under a Private Native Forestry plan (PNF plan) and the remainder grazed for beef cattle and Boer goats. Source: Timberbiz
In the past, drought reduced the carrying capacity of Pine Ridge and the family were hand-feeding their stock for more than two years.
With the help of Local Land Services, Norm implemented a PNF plan to manage his private native forest. He was able to develop an additional income stream that helped pay for improved watering systems and fodder for his livestock, while improving forest health and reducing overcrowding.
To increase the productivity of Pine Ridge in a sustainable manner so the property is better prepared for dry times.
During a past drought event, the productivity at Pine Ridge was significantly affected, requiring de-stocking of their cattle and goats. Dams on the property were running low and the Arkells were handfeeding their remaining stock for two years.
The ongoing drought affected the health of the private native forest area which was exacerbated by overcrowding due to an absence of forest management. Competition for nutrient and water resources meant trees were of poorer quality for timber production.
Some species were struggling from the continuing conditions, including a species of She-oaks (Allocasurina) used as a feed source for a colony of vulnerable Glossy-black-cockatoos known to frequent the property.
Local Land Services supported Pine Ridge to gain approval for and utilise harvesting on the private native forest which covers almost half of their property. The PNF plan on Pine Ridge operates under the Cypress and Western Hardwood PNF Code. The timber, mainly Ironbark, is harvested for fencing, decking and firewood.
Through this process, good forest management was put into place, in part due to the strong relationship developed between the Arkells and harvesting contractor, Dan Clissold of Pilliga Natural Timbers.
Harvesting is done sustainably with the aim of improving the forest’s long-term quality and health. At each event:
* a low-intensity approach ensures a profitable amount of timber is removed but not overharvested
* younger or smaller trees are identified and retained for future harvests
* the thinning effect of the harvesting provides light and space for trees to grow to a viable size
* existing and potential habitat trees are marked and conserved.
Using a PNF plan at Pine Ridge improved:
* income streams and cash flow for Pine Ridge
* ongoing timber and jobs for Pilliga Natural Timbers
* health and growth of protected She-oaks at Pine Ridge.
The income stream from the forest harvesting is very important to the overall viability of the property, helping fund fodder and extra water troughs during drought and other farm improvements in good years. The low-intensity approach to harvesting ensures harvesting and the income it provides is long-term.
Sustainable management of the private native forest will produce a regular harvesting event every 20-30 years. This provides an ongoing timber source for Tamworth-based company, Pilliga Natural Timbers and jobs for several of its employees during a two-to-three-week harvest period on Pine Ridge.
A section of the private native forest was excluded from harvesting because it had a high concentration of She-oaks (Allocasurina) which are a key feed source for Glossy-black Cockatoos. All She-oaks within the harvesting area were also retained as a requirement of the PNF Code. These She-oaks have been impacted by drought and overcrowding of the forest, however harvesting adjacent to these trees will not only encourage germination of new seedlings but will also promote the health and growth of the existing trees, providing ongoing food resources for the cockatoos.
The Arkells have worked with Local Land Services to help reverse some of the historical impacts of overgrazing including poor soil fertility and high acidity levels and have attended courses on livestock management methods like cell grazing. Further work supported by Local Land Services includes:
managing and integrating their forest and farming resources to become more profitable and sustainable
succession planning and transferring ownership of PNF plan from one generation to the next.
Norm Arkell, together with his wife and two sons, operates a diversified enterprise. Just over half of Pine Ridge is managed under a Private Native Forestry ...
