Innovative Aboriginal involvement in a trial pastoral lease assessment in 2006 enabled effective assessment of the impact of pastoralism on Aboriginal values, in parallel with a scientific assessment of lease condition as required by the Pastoral Board of South Australia. Aboriginal assessors used novel indicators about the health of plants, animals and the landscape important to Aboriginal traditional owners. Important native vegetation was identified to be in good condition, with more work required to better protect important rockholes. This knowledge is essential to Aboriginal native title groups as they enter a new era of partnerships with pastoral lessees in caring for country within ILUAs

The assessment was documented in February 2007 as a Report to the Aboriginal Legal Rights Movement - Native Title Unit in SA. This Report was unable to be made public at the time because it was associated with confidential negotiations for an Indigenous Land Use Agreement (ILUA). This ILUA has now been successfully concluded with 24 pastoral lessees signing agreements with the Gawler Ranges Native Title Management Group.