Potential Carrying Capacity review

Reason for the review

Maintaining pastoral lands for the future requires up-to-date information on the distribution and pastoral potential of the various Rangeland Vegetation Groups (RVGs), their pastoral potential and the potential carrying capacity (PCC) of pastoral leases across WA. Current estimates of PCC and the pastoral potentials that underlie them have become dated and inconsistently determined over time.

The Valuer-General of WA is required to reassess pastoral lease rentals in 2029, and to do so needs updated estimates of lease PCC. The department’s Rangelands Science team is supporting the WA Government to undertake this work as part of a multi-year review.

Previous reviews and estimates

Lease PCC was reassessed for leases in the Kimberley, Pilbara and parts of the Gascoyne by Spektrum Consulting in 2017. For the remainder of the Southern Rangelands, PCC is based on mapping and pastoral potential estimates that were made during rangeland surveys conducted from the 1960s to 2024.

Contemporary modelling approach

This PCC review will, for the first time in WA, use a contemporary modelling approach to map the major RVGs as they currently occur across the pastoral estate, then use extensive consultation to determine updated pastoral potentials for mapped RVGs. Watch the mapping video below to find out more.

Mapped RVGs and updated pastoral potentials will form the basis for reassessing station-level PCC, which will be expressed using the scientifically defensible and nationally applied Animal Equivalent standard.