Saltbush Lamb - Uniquely Australian, Locally Grown
Who could have predicted 18 years ago, when Dirranbandi grazier Duncan Banks secured a small amount of seed capital to cover the deposit of Saltbush seedlings through a regional NRM group (now Southern Queensland Landscapes), that the decision would result in strong local demand for his uniquely Australian brand of lamb and lend itself to the establishment of a local boutique abattoir in St George.
Declining wheat yields and the need to find a new income source for the family property of 50-years, ‘Dunwold’, has seen more than 1,000 hectares fenced into 25ha paddocks and over a million Saltbush planted along the Castlereagh Highway since 2003.
“Saltbush has enabled us to triple traditional stocking rates of sheep on our natural grasslands and provide us with continuity of feed,” Duncan Banks said.
“We try to graze a Saltbush paddock reasonably hard and then we rest it for 6 months, so a paddock only gets grazed twice a year,” Duncan said.
“It’s not a complete feeding system; they still need the grass and a little supplement to put fat on them but Saltbush allows us to have a continuous supply of lambs all year round,” he said.
“Plus the Saltbush has reintroduced biodiversity to our property; we now see plains turkeys which can scare the living daylights out of your horse on occasion and squadrons of zebra finches; and the budgies have come back this year too - these are important to the whole system.”
While Duncan hasn’t crunched the numbers on it he says his lambs can put on up to 2kg a week.
“We’ve had lambs on the Saltbush with medic growing put on some mad numbers and you wouldn’t believe me if I told you we had a mob of drought master steers put on huge weight gains in a month on the Saltbush paddocks - the weight gains are incredible,” Duncan said.
“But you can’t have sheep and cattle feeding on the Saltbush continuously, you’ve got to rest it,” he said.
For 11 years local butcher Paul Arnall of Maranoa Meats in St George has driven past the ‘Dunwold’ paddocks of Saltbush and watched their Merino sheep thrive throughout the seasons.
“One day I just decided to pull in and see if Duncan and his wife Gerry wanted to supply us with their Saltbush lamb,” Paul Arnall said.
“You see I wanted to provide that paddock to plate experience for our customers and so I recently built with our son our own abattoir in St George; so now we can process livestock not far from where it’s grown, which means the animals don’t get stressed travelling and the meat is tender,” Paul said.
“The nearest abattoir was 115km away in Surat; then 300km to Cunnamulla and 200km to Roma,” he said.
“And there’s a lot of protein and minerals in the Saltbush that is unique and provides a really good flavour to the meat that kind of lingers on your palate. My Mum is the biggest critic and Mum just won’t have anything else now.”
Currently ‘Dunwold’ provides about 15 sheep every 10-days or so to Maranoa Meats in St George.
“Usually we sell our lambs by the truckload. Now we can sell a handful at a time and it’s only a small number but over a year it adds up to a good number of sheep,” Duncan Banks said.
“It’s easy work for us; we run a few sheep in and we’re getting great enjoyment out of everyone eating the same quality of meat we get at home on ‘Dunwold’,” Duncan said.
“Cause once you’ve eaten Saltbush lamb, and especially ‘Dunwold’ Saltbush lamb you won’t want anything else,” he said.
Paul Arnall agrees saying the feedback has been phenomenal.
“We could definitely be doing double to triple what we are currently doing and I do have plans to further develop the business online and commercially into restaurants,” Paul said.
“Saltbush Lamb is a uniquely Australian product with a unique taste that is a really good talking point,” he said.
“People want local, they look for local and so relationships like this are really important to our business and to our community.”
1. What is Natural Capital? Natural capital refers to the natural resources and ecosystems, like soils, native vegetation, water, and biodiversity, that underpin productive farming and provide essential services such as clean water, healthy soils and carbon storage. For Queensland landholders, this means your land’s value now includes the environmental benefits it delivers, not just crops or livestock. While the term Natural Capital has risen to prominence with government, industry and the public in recent years, the sustainable use of our natural capital, its maintenance and improvement have been fundamental to regional NRM organisations since inception. Identifying and assessing our natural assets are foundational to the development of our regional NRM strategies and plans which guide our operations and provide us with the knowledge and expertise to play a key role in Australia’s efforts to manage and enhance our Natural Capital. 2. Why Does Natural Capital Matter in Agriculture? Australian agriculture is experiencing a shift where nature and production are seen as interconnected assets. This approach is being driven by both market demand and new government policies, with natural capital now influencing land values, investments, and farm business resilience. 3. How Can Farmers Monetise Natural Capital? Natural capital markets allow landholders to earn income by improving or protecting their land’s natural assets. The most common ways to participate include: Carbon Credits: Under the Australian Carbon Credit Unit (ACCU) Scheme, farmers can generate credits by adopting practices like reforestation, soil carbon improvement, or avoided clearing. These credits are regulated by the Clean Energy Regulator (CER) and can be sold to the government or private buyers. Biodiversity Certificates: The new federal Nature Repair Market, established by the Nature Repair Act 2023, allows farmers to earn tradable biodiversity certificates for projects that restore or protect native ecosystems. The CER also administers this market, ensuring robust oversight and scientific credibility. Land Restoration Fund (LRF): Queensland’s LRF builds on the federal framework, offering extra incentives for projects that deliver both carbon abatement and environmental co-benefits, such as improved water quality or habitat restoration. The LRF works in tandem with the ACCU Scheme and prioritises projects that support regional sustainability. More Information: π www.environment.nsw.gov.au/topics/natural-capital/explained π www.cer.gov.au/schemes/australian-carbon-credit-unit-scheme π www.qld.gov.au/environment/climate/climate-change/land-restoration-fund π www.nrmrq.org.au/queensland-nature-fund-natural-capital π www.legislation.gov.au/C2023A00121/latest/text
The Board of Southern Queensland Landscapes is pleased to announce Kimberley Swords has been appointed as Chair of the Board of Directors. Kimberley began her working life as a large animal country vet, after student practical experience across Southern Queensland in Goondiwindi and Injune. Kimberley’s strong interest in natural resource management and regional communities has led her to contribute across a wide variety of industries including the public sector, where she rose to the role of Deputy Secretary in the Australian Government and led environmental approvals, heritage and marine. Her extensive leadership experience incorporates many board roles, including as a current serving member of the CS Energy board. “Following an extensive recruitment phase, where the Southern Queensland Landscapes Board were gratified to receive several high-quality applications, we are delighted to announce the subsequent overwhelming member endorsement of Kimberley as Board Chair. The appointment of a new Chair in any organisation represents an opportunity for refreshment and renewal and the Southern Queensland Landscapes Directors and staff are looking forward to working with Kimberley to deliver our Strategic Plan” said acting Southern Queensland Landscapes Chair, Louise Winten. Kimberly looks forward to engaging with stakeholders across Southern Queensland, with her first full board meeting set down for late June in Charleville. “It is an exciting and challenging time for the region, as we lean into the changing climate, different economic opportunities, and the next generation of regional leaders. I look forward to connecting and collaborating across our communities to better understand how Southern Queensland Landscapes can support sustainable environmental outcomes that materially improve the lives of people living and working in Southern Queensland,” she said. The position of Chair became vacant following the retirement of founding Chair, and long term supporter of regional natural resource management, The Honourable Bruce Scott, AM, at the end of February 2025. Bruce made a significant contribution to Southern Queensland Landscapes during his time as Chair and the Board thanks him for dedication, time, energy, and commitment to the organisation. Southern Queensland Landscapes is one of 11 Queensland-based Natural Resource Management (NRM) organisations. Spanning 314,398 square kilometres, the our footprint encompasses the Condamine catchment, Qld Murray Darling Basin and the south-west Mulga Lands. Southern Queensland Landscapes relies on evidence based information, supported by First Nations knowledge, to effectively balance productivity and environmental outcomes that support the regional communities within our landscapes. ο»Ώ
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Southern Queensland Landscapes is seeking an experienced and influential Board Chair to lead a multi-skilled Board in managing natural resources across Southern Queensland. This is a 3-year remunerated role based in Toowoomba, QLD, with the flexibility to manage from anywhere in Southern QLD. The ideal candidate will bring: • Substantial experience leading diverse Boards • Strong relationship-building and leadership skills • Expertise in environmental and agricultural matters This role is an opportunity to shape the future of natural resource management, working closely with land managers, community leaders, and industry professionals. Are you ready to make an enduring impact? For more details and to apply, visit www.windsor-group.com.au/job/board-chair-natural-resources-peak-body or contact Mike Conroy at apply@windsor-group.com.au.
This week marked the final Board meeting for retiring Southern Queensland Landscape Chair, The Hon Bruce Scott AM. The Southern Queensland Landscapes Board hosted a function at Gip’s restaurant in Toowoomba, joined by past Directors, industry stakeholders and the Southern Queensland Landscapes Management team, where Bruce was warmly acknowledged and thanked. Bruce offered special thanks to his dear wife Joan for her support during his period of service to Southern Queensland Landscapes, in particular the warm country hospitality she has offered to many visitors to Roma. Bruce also recognised and thanked Southern Queensland Landscapes Company Secretary Pam Murphy, who has supported Bruce in his service to Southern Queensland Landscapes since the organisation’s inception. ο»Ώ
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