On Friday (July 20 2018) at Numeralla Hall about 100 farmers and families from Braidwood and Monaro met to express their outrage with the announcement of changes to South East Local Land Services policy on wild dog control.
The proposed changes were instigated without consultation or engagement with the community and, as exposed at the meeting, without ratification of the elected Board, who represent farmers.
The Local Land Services announcement identified the key drivers for the change:
- The introduction of the NSW Biosecurity Act 2015 and its regulatory obligations under the Act
- A directive from the Department of Industry that services like this must be done on a cost recovery basis and must not negatively impact the private market
- The launch of the South East Regional Pest Animal Management Plan (RSPAMP) and its function under the plan as a strategic lead rather than an operator.
Currently there are six full time Pest Animal Controllers (PACs). They used to be known as ‘doggers’. These highly regarded and skilled people would still be retained but under a different arrangement if the proposal was to be implemented. Instead of carrying out on the ground dog control on both private and public land they would be monitoring and investigating, providing training and support under the RSPAMP, providing expert advice for on ground pest control services and supporting NPWS and land managers in the transition.
If that sounds ‘airy fairy’ it gets worse. These ‘farmers’ friends’ would actually be tasked with monitoring farmers’ dog control and deciding if the farmer is doing enough to meet their obligations under the new Biosecurity Act and how to penalise the farmer if their efforts are found wanting.
Source: John Barilaro Facebook Page:
Today (July 20 2018) I have announced that Local Land Services will not be scaling down their dog trapping operations across the south east region. In fact, they will be ramping them up.
Over the past 7 years, I have spoken on the issue of wild dogs to farmers, land owners and wild dog management groups. I have even spent a day out in the Badja with a trapper.
Local land holders will see a significant increase of wild dog controllers on the ground, with proactive trapping targeted at the areas where wild dog problems are the worst.
OUR PLAN:
- Undertake a new nil-tenure approach in line with community expectations
- Employ a new wild dog coordinator-general who will have the authority to direct any government agency on wild dog management.
- Retain the 6 LLS pest animal controllers
- Contract additional wild dog controllers through NPWS
- Employ a new trapper under NSW Government funding from the Minister for Lands and Forestry
- LLS will then report to myself and the Minister for Primary Industries every month until we are confident things are working as they should.
Wild dogs are a problem that I am taking seriously and I am proud to be fighting for our farmers on this issue.
Wild dogs do extensive damage in Australia including in the bush areas of interest to members of Access for All.
Here are a few links to good articles about them:
The following excellent website also deals with other species of pests (carp, rabbits, wild pigs, feral cats etc)
http://www.pestsmart.org.au/