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Ad guru forms cattle alliance

Kimberley pastoralists Haydn Sale and Robin Yeeda. Picture: Krisma May/DAFWA.

Advertising guru Harold Mitchell and his business partners have joined forces with the Ngunjiwirri Aboriginal Corporation as part of moves to double their Kimberley cattle herd over the next five years.

Mr Mitchell, Doug Flynn and Haydn Sale aim to grow their herd to 80,000 head on pastoral operations now covering more than 1.3 million hectares.

Their expansion reflects a surge of confidence in the northern cattle industry with live export prices at record highs of $2.70/kg.

NAC, which owns and runs 360,000ha Lamboo Station near Halls Creek, will lease more than two-thirds of the property to the trio's operating company.

It is the latest in a series of innovative deals the owners of Yougawalla, Margaret River and Bulka Stations have struck with Aboriginal organisations.

Their company, Yougawalla Services, also leases parts of Louisa Downs, Bohemia Downs and Carranya under a model that includes employment, cash payments and investment in water infrastructure and fencing in return for grazing access.

Mr Sale said the deals were helping the Aboriginal stations overcome a lack of scale and become more profitable at a time when higher cattle prices were driving investment.

"We are getting quoted prices of $2.70/kg for the live export trade to Indonesia and that is a $1/kg better than we were hoping to get a couple of years ago, even $1.50 more in some cases. That is huge," he said. "The Kimberley has vast areas that aren't being used, but the dollars per head haven't been there to invest. Now business is looking up, I'm sure people will be looking to develop land and run more cattle."

Lamboo Station manager Robin Yeeda said the sublease would boost income and lead to major infrastructure improvements. "This means we will be able to grow our operation, providing employment and training, and a better future for our people," Mr Yeeda said.

The deal is supported by the Indigenous Landholder Service, a partnership between the Department of Agriculture and Food WA and the Indigenous Land Corporation.

Yougawalla is preparing for a flying start to live exports from Broome after a solid wet season in the north. The first live export ship is due in port this month.