The Environment Minister could make more friends in regional Queensland by focusing on a strategic solution to pest management.
Amid the vegetation management debate, Dr Steven Miles halted a project on Pelorus Island (ironically approved by his own department) to prevent wild dogs controlling wild goats.
There was an element of hilarity in the controversial debate. The irony was not lost on many of us living with the perils of wild dogs on our sheep properties and the impact the loss of the sheep industry has had on our local economic development.
I agree with Peter Lucas, Wild dog committee chair, and hope the good Minister takes the same aim at wild dogs in state-owned national parks. In fact, the Minister should be reminded the little Bilby is an endangered species copping a caning from wild dogs.
If we control the dog problem better in national parks, they probably wouldn’t kill as many bilbies or as many sheep. It is one of the reasons we support Dr Ben Allan from USQ and his model of five pests out, five endangered species in and five million sheep for Queensland.
It is the inconsistency of wild dog control which is failing our areas. You can throw as much money as you like at dog fences and baiting programs but if it is not coordinated, then you are wasting your time.
South West RED is committed to reinvigorating the sheep industry in our six council areas and beyond. We know with this once great industry comes local jobs and money to our towns.
We are excited at last the state and federal governments are acknowledging the need to support cluster fencing but stress the importance of real leadership when it comes to coordination and implementation.
Minister Miles could be this leader; the one to plead with his colleagues to strategically approach wild dog management. He has acknowledged they are a threat to endangered species.
And he now has the opportunity to back up his words with actions – Minister Miles may just save the Bilby and reinvigorate the much needed sheep industry at the same time.
Who knows, stranger things have happened.
- Cr Lindsay Godfrey, Paroo Shire Mayor
