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ACROSS the Central Tablelands it seems that the arrival of winter also brought an ever increasing impact of feral and pest animals with accounts of wild dog attacks in the Mudgee and Rylstone region seeming to be on the rise.
With accounts of wild dog attacks in the Mudgee and Rylstone region seeming to be on the rise, and new incursions developing further east across the Central Tablelands towards Lithgow, stakeholders in the area have met to discuss an action plan to take the bite out of the wild dog threat.
A workshop chaired by NSW Farmers Association’s David Clarke has been held in Rylstone.
Attended by representatives of local farmers, Central Tablelands LLS, National Parks, NSW Farmers and the Rylstone Wild Dog Association, the workshop had a strong mix of those with a vested interest in taking this issue on.
The Central Tablelands LLS, NSW Farmers and National Parks have been working to develop partnerships with landholders in the region to implement control programs over the past months, building on established ground work.
There is an essential need for higher level strategic meetings such as this to develop community and region wide strategies.
“Wild dog attacks are an issue that we take very seriously and recognise that it is a significant issue for landholders in our region,” General Manager of the Central Tablelands LLS Peter Sparkes said.
“Our biosecurity officers have been working with a number of landholders throughout the Rylstone and Kandos region, including a recent large scale baiting program beginning mid-May which involved the laying of 7000 ground baits by land managers and the aerial placement of 6500 baits in remote locations by LLS Officers,” Mr Sparkes said.
“Given the losses suffered and the obvious stress placed on affected producers by wild dog attacks, it is obvious that all stakeholders need to work together on this issue,” Mitchell Clapham from the NSW Farmers Association said.
“The work done to date by LLS Officers and National Parks in working with producers was widely recognised and appreciated.
“Our overriding concern is the expanding area of wild dog attacks.
“The continuing subdivision of land across the region, into lifestyle blocks, and the move of some producers out of sheep production is compounding the problem for those left in the industry.
“How to effectively resource the expanding problem is a major issue that has to be confronted, along with involving landowners with wild dog habitat that may not see themselves as being important in the response.”
David Clarke did recognise the hard work already under way to address wild dogs.
“The proactive programs of local National Parks management and work of locally based wild dog control associations and steering committees is recognised as being very important,” he said.
“LLS has a key coordinating and support role.
“We believe there is scope for improved public funding through the LLS model from State and Federal governments.
“The outcome of this meeting has been the identification of a level playing field for all interested parties to work together with landholders to address wild dogs on the ground.
“This work gives us the ability to begin the implementation of further strategies that will be put in place over the coming weeks,”
Mr Sparkes said. Key landholders in the Mudgee region have met to finalise a strategic baiting program for the coming months.
Working with landholders to develop plans that suit their needs was the first goal of this workshop.
The Central Tablelands LLS will be facilitating a regional meeting in Bathurst on June 18 to bring together interested parties and dog action groups from across the entire region to develop a strategy for the future direction of dog control groups and to discuss funding on a regional scale.
This regional approach will bolster dog control activities in all affected areas of the Central Tablelands.
Collection of quality data on wild dog attacks is very important.
Landholders from across the Central Tablelands LLS region experiencing problems with wild dogs and other pest animals are encouraged to get in touch with their local LLS office.
Local Land Services biosecurity staff can assist in the development of action plans as well as put you in touch with other landholders in your area.
Working as a community is one of the most effective ways to control pest animals like dogs.
Central Tablelands LLS biosecurity Officers can be contacted by calling 1300 795 299.