As part of a united front against wild dogs, the Newman Government is providing Agforce with $175,000 to ramp up its wild dog education and control programs in pastoral areas.
Member for Burnett, Stephen Bennett said the Newman Government’s efforts over the past year to tackle the wild dog problem were starting to pay off, but still required a long-term, concerted effort by government, industry and landowners.
The funding will be used for:
- continued support of local community groups engaged in wild dog control
- help local Councils set up regional Pest Animal Advisory Committees
- help coordinate wild dog control activities on large tracts of land held by CSG/resource companies
- working with Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service to co-ordinate wild dog control with neighbours
- educating newcomers on rural, lifestyle blocks about the problems pest animals cause
- using geographic information system (GIS) technology and applications to help producers, industry and other stakeholders to be more aware of wild dog behaviour
“The Newman Government, along with the Commonwealth, Australian Wool Innovation (AWI), regional NRM groups and Agforce, have made a concentrated push to coordinate funding and management programs, but it’s clear there is a long way to go and more investment is needed,” Mr Bennett said.
“We need to build on our existing partnerships to maintain a consistent effort by all parties in all areas where wild dogs continue to be such a destructive pest.
“There is now a coordinated wild dog control effort happening in an area of more than one million hectares in southern Queensland alone. That’s why we are providing $175,000 to Agforce to continue with a series of initiatives to keep up the pressure on wild dogs.”
Mr Bennett said this funding boost coincided with the start of AgForce’s Wild Dog Week that includes a wild dog road show across Queensland for landholders and other affected stakeholders.
For more information about Agforce’s Wild Dog Week program visit www.agforceqld.org.au or call 3236 3100.