A key milestone in the south west Queensland cluster fencing rollout was recently achieved, with South West NRM chairman Mark O’Brien signing off on the last cluster contract in the latest round.
“Executing these contracts is an important part of the delivery process, as it ensures the commitment of collaboration on pest management continues at the cluster level for the next 20 years. Now that clusters are contracted, we are proud to publicly announce the groups and their location,” Mr O’Brien said.
The 15 new Collaborative Area Management clusters are the Araluen Trinidad, Augathella, Bollon, Bollon South, Clifton, Coban, Cogoon, Eromanga West, Grass Hut Channels, Neabul Wallum, Nebine, Noorama, Ward River, Wellwater, and Western Langlo CAMs.
Fifteen per cent are located in Balonne shire, 10 per cent in the Barcoo shire, 25 per cent in the Maranoa shire, 22 per cent in the Murweh shire, 13 per cent in the Paroo shire, and 25 per cent in the Quilpie shire.
The shires of Barcoo, Murweh, Paroo, and Quilpie are identified as priority one investment areas for the Queensland Feral Pest Initiative and the Australian government Pest Animals and Weeds guidelines.
Collectively, the new clusters will see 1908 kilometres of high integrity exclusion fencing provide wild dog and invasive animal protection to 1,885,690 hectares of pastoral land.
The project will work with 96 landholders across 116 rural properties to implement best practice grazing and pest management strategies.
South West NRM will provide $4.72 million in funding to the cluster groups, with landholders contributing approximately $9.6 million or 67 per cent of the total project cost.
The group partnered with the Remote Area Planning and Development Board in the central west to jointly fund the Clifton cluster, and with the Maranoa Regional Council to jointly fund the Neabul Wallum cluster.
It’s expected establishing the new clusters could increase stocking rates as much as 42 per cent.
“If the new clusters stocked just 50 per cent sheep, it’s expected the economic benefits to the region would exceed $6.9 million annually through increased employment and community investment,” SW NRM project officer Jon Grant said.
“This represents a 146 per cent return on investment annually from the Queensland and Australian governments’ funding contributions, and excludes any additional benefits brought on from increased taxation, and the benefit in reducing the number of properties reliant on drought assistance – a significant cost to the taxpayer.”
Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries, Leanne Donaldson said the benefits of cluster fencing had already started to positively affect the sheep industry.
“Producers were thinking it may take a few years to see the full benefits of fencing, but some areas already fenced have started showing significant improvement almost from day one. I am looking forward to seeing the continued success of this great initiative,” she said.
The total perimeter of all 15 clusters is more than 3,600 kilometres.
Through the strategic use of the Wild Dog Barrier Fence and existing cluster and individual exclusion fences, the cost of establishing the new clusters has been reduced by 47 per cent.
Jon said it was hoped increased awareness of project benefits could be coupled with additional government assistance to create the ideology of a honeycomb effect in the region.
Early start
Although the final contract with landholders has just recently been executed, some clusters that signed very quickly have already received materials and started the process of building their fence.
Adma Sargood of the Wellwater cluster, located west of Morven, said it was fantastic to be able to receive materials quickly and begin building the fence.
“This funding and the ability to be part of a cluster is a lifeline for us and our fight against wild dogs. In the past 16 months, we have trapped 177 wild dogs at a cost of $27,200 before we even start counting livestock losses.
“We expect that our cluster fence will be completed by Christmas, if not sooner”.