As Agriculture Minister Leanne Donaldson inspected cluster fencing projects at Longreach on Wednesday and repeated her conviction that fencing strategies will help revive the central west’s sheep industry, an announcement on the allocation of the $5m for more fencing announced by the Premier in May is still being waited for.
Ms Donaldson was accompanied on her fence visit by Wild Dog Fencing Commissioner Vaughan Johnson, who, along with fellow commissioner Mark O’Brien, started work last month with the Queensland Feral Pest Initiative oversight group.
According to a spokesman for the minister, they have been actively meeting members of the Remote Area Planning and Development Board, gathering information on how the money can be spent to maximum advantage.
RAPAD is responsible for rolling out the current allocation of state and federal funding in the central west for the Queensland Feral Pest Initiative.
“The oversight group met in July to discuss the roll out of future funding support for the construction of wild dog fencing,” the spokesman said. “While the details of the new program have not been finalised by the oversight group, this additional investment will continue to provide much needed support to graziers and the local community.”
Speaking in Longreach, Ms Donaldson said she was focused on how to maximise the benefits of the latest $5 million allocated by the Premier to wild dog eradication.
“I don’t think there is now any doubt in this part of Queensland that cluster fencing is the best way to protect livestock from feral pests.
“Today I have been speaking with property owners who have installed cluster fencing.
“They made it very clear that landholders are now convinced that the strategy will quickly bring positive gains for the sheep industry.
“I’ve been told that where fences have been constructed, lambing rates increased by 70 per cent almost immediately.
“It has been enlightening travelling with Vaughan Johnson and hearing his thoughts about the best types of fence to ensure wild dogs can be kept out.
“Vaughan, his fellow Wild Dog Fencing Commissioner Mark O’Brien, and I are very clearly focused on ensuring that the $5 million allocation is spent wisely, to ensure the biggest bang for the buck.”
The issue is also being discussed today at the QDOG meeting in Charleville.
Ms Donaldson was due to participate by teleconference for a part of the meeting, to discuss the rollout of the program.
“While I want to see the funding allocated and more cluster fences under construction as quickly as possible it is very important that the right decisions are made to benefit the industry.”