MINISTER for Primary Industries, Katrina Hodgkinson, has announced a major on-ground offensive against wild dog predation across NSW this spring.
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Ms Hodgkinson said Local Land Services is partnering with other NSW Government agencies, industry bodies and local wild dog control groups to:
* target more than 1000 properties, involving 62 wild dog control groups;
* lay more than 240,000 baits;
* lay more than 4400 kilometres of aerial baits and cover about 765,000 hectares with ground baits; and
* conduct landholder education workshops, trapping schools, 1080 training courses and public meetings across the State.
“The NSW Government recognises that wild dogs are a major issue for many livestock producers across the State, which is why Local Land Services is putting in place this comprehensive program to support landholders,” Ms Hodgkinson said.
“The most effective campaigns are well-coordinated, landscape-wide and use as many available tools and techniques as possible.
“In the Western, South East, North Coast and Northern Tablelands Local Land Services regions, 4440km of aerial bait lines will be laid.
“In the Central West, Greater Sydney and Riverina and Hunter Local Land Services regions, control measures are being undertaken across 7650 km2.
“Local Land Services is using a wide range of practical initiatives to support landholders, including coordination of control, training in control and monitoring techniques, and planning activities to improve ground baiting, aerial baiting and trapping effectiveness and efficiency.
“Perhaps the most pleasing part about this campaign is the high number of different land managers that are participating in control programs.
“Wild dogs and other pests do not respect lines on maps, so it is imperative that a true cross-regional and tenure-neutral approach is taken to control.”
Ms Hodgkinson said the on-ground offensive is complemented by ongoing research and development undertaken by the Department of Primary Industries (DPI).
“For example, as a result of DPI research in the Northern Tablelands and North Coast Local Land Services regions, a research permit has been granted by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority to increase the aerial baiting rate for wild dogs from 10 to 40 baits per kilometre in specified research areas,” Ms Hodgkinson said.
“DPI is making an application for a permanent increase in the aerial baiting rate, covering eastern NSW.
“Local Land Services has also sought and received approval to undertake fixed-wing aerial baiting in the vast Western region, where wild dog problems have reappeared for the first time in generations.
“Aerial baiting with a fixed wing aircraft enables coordinated wild dog control in remote western NSW where it would otherwise be impossible to deal with this emerging problem for livestock producers.
“Local Land Services will continue to work with DPI researchers using GPS tracking and camera trap studies to better understand wild dog movements and improve placement of baits and traps.”
Partner organisations include NSW DPI, wild dog control groups, National Parks and Wildlife Service, Australian Wool Innovation, NSW Farmers, Invasive Animals CRC, Forestry Corporation of NSW, Hume Forests and NSW Crown Lands.
Commonwealth funding of $2.4 million is supporting pest management programs in a number of Local Land Services regions, including Central Tablelands, Central West, Hunter, North Coast, Northern Tablelands, North West and Western.