A total of 16 clusters have been approved under phase two of the South West NRM’s Collaborative Area Management program, protecting more than two million hectares from wild dogs and invasive animals.
Chairman Mark O’Brien said it could bring 600,000 sheep back to the region, on the most pessimistic scenario of restocking with 50 per cent sheep.
The clusters are a part of the Queensland Feral Pest Initiative, a joint federal-state funding agreement, $6m of which was awarded to SW NRM.
Groups in the Balonne shire will fence 275,485ha, while it’s proposed there will be 189,709ha behind wire in the Barcoo shire, 412,211ha in the Murweh shire, 408,817ha in the Paroo shire and 482,385ha in the Quilpie shire.
They are matched by 17 clusters just announced in the state’s central west.
South West NRM chair Mark O’Brien said the level of quality and detail in this round of applications had been at an incredibly high standard, making the assessment panel’s task of reviewing the clusters a complex job.
“Combined with the other projects funded under the Queensland Feral Pest Initiative, these clusters are going to be a game-changer for the primary production industry, local communities, tourism and small business,” he said.
South West NRM’s Collaborative Area Management project manager, Jon Grant said the 16 approved clusters demonstrated very strong economic integrity and value-for-money – double the amount they had originally anticipated.
“Cluster applications were assessed on a number of selection criteria, with approved clusters covering both reactive (existing wild dog zones) and proactive (sheep production areas) environments to ensure the region has the best opportunity for reducing wild dogs and recovering a sheep industry,” he said.
South West NRM has partnered with the Remote Area Planning and Development Board and the Maranoa Regional Council to jointly fund two clusters.
“Partnering with both RAPAD and the Maranoa Regional Council on these clusters has made strong business sense, and allows all clusters in the region to be managed under the same legal framework and process, developed by South West NRM over the past four years,” Mr Grant said.
“It is very important to keep consistency in managing these clusters to ensure we deliver the same high standard of outcomes.”
Approved clusters have now been instructed to form their legal entity, normally an incorporated association, to manage and govern the cluster group and maintain the exclusion fence for the next 20 years.
Once legal entities are formed and contracts have been signed, a location map of the clusters will be made public.
Sally Gall
Based at Blackall, CW Qld, where I've raised a family, run Merino sheep and beef cattle, and helped develop a region - its history, tourism, education and communications. Get in touch at 0427 575 955 if you've got a story idea for me.
Based at Blackall, CW Qld, where I've raised a family, run Merino sheep and beef cattle, and helped develop a region - its history, tourism, education and communications. Get in touch at 0427 575 955 if you've got a story idea for me.
