Welcome
… I've been interested in the idea of cross-boundary farming for some time and have tried to move traditional landcare groups I've worked with in the past into areas that would enable this to develop (eg. joint fertilizer buys, shared equipment, etc.). Generally I'd say that people weren't/aren't adverse to the idea in principle but it takes a driving organizational force to keep the wheels on - even in those things that individuals have something clearly to gain (usually financially) by acting in concert rather than going it alone.
I gathered from David's [Brunckhorst] experience that a change in personal circumstances upset the group social dynamics leading to the cooperative collapse which has been my observation on several occasions involving family partnerships. I do know of a couple successful "body corporate" types of property management (which have lasted 14 years) that amalgamated several small properties into a functioning economic unit. However these have required members to continue inject funds to employ a manager. Also I have worked in the NT with corporate & individual cattle companies which have some interesting management structures that could be useful to cross-boundary farming.
Royce Sample, Adjunct Research Fellow, ILWS CSU Thurgoona. Email: rsample@csu.edu.au
According to the Minutes of the Wagga Wagga City Council, October 2007, Councillor K. Wales had attended the forum and suggested that cross boundary farming may be an appropriate venture for the land holders on the East Bomen Road and may reduce noxious weeds.
Councillor Wales also suggested that the introduction of community title could be considered in the Local Environmental Plan Review in order to provide the community the opportunity to jointly purchase community land. These individuals could be joint shareholders in ventures from environmental initiatives to farming.