Members of the Queensland Parliament Agricultural and Environment committee were in Longreach this week to inspect cluster fencing on surrounding properties, hosted by the Member for Gregory, Lachlan Millar.
According to Mr Millar, the two-day trip highlighted the critical importance of fencing to protect the valuable wool industry from wild dogs and other feral pests.
Mr Millar said the trip was important because it showed decision-makers why erecting fencing is so important to the central west.
"This was an opportunity for the committee, headed by the Member for Gladstone, Glen Butcher and deputy chair and Member for Gympie, Tony Perrett, who reports directly to the Queensland Minister for Agriculture, to get on-the-ground evidence that if we are to re-establish a wool industry in this state we need to invest in infrastructure that will protect our livestock from wild dogs.
'The central west once boasted over six million sheep and more than eight shearing contracting teams in Muttaburra alone.
"Now we have around 600,000 sheep in the region and only two shearing contractors. We need to make sure we continue invest in fencing through RAPAD and support the Longreach council’s initiative of providing low interest loans to graziers wanting invest in cluster fencing," Mr Millar said.
The committee members met with graziers and local groups such as the Remote Area Planning and Development board, wild dog committees and the Longreach Regional Council, and travelled to Boyd and Katie Webb’s property, Weewondilla to inspect their new six-foot cluster fence with apron.
Mr Millar was keen to get the $5 million announced by the state government in May for cluster fencing flowing through, saying it could be used by RAPAD, considering that the scheme was oversubscribed in the first round.
"We also need to make sure the state government supports the Longreach council’s initiative of providing low interest loans for cluster fencing.
“It needs to access finance from Queensland Treasury Corporation, and we need to clear any government red tape blockages and make sure it happens.”