Landholders in the area are seeking clarification from South East Local Land Services after it made public it would no longer have any direct involvement in the trapping, baiting or control of wild dogs in the region.
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It’s understood financial support provided by LLS for these services to affected farmers will also cease.
On Friday, SE LLS released a statement to that effect, however on Monday retracted the statement, saying it would have an approved statement for the Bombala Times shortly.
In the meantime, landholders are up in arms and have organised a public meeting for this Friday, July 20, from 10am to noon at the Numeralla Hall that will give them the opportunity to confront SE LLS to express their concerns about the proposed changes.
Landholder Mick McGrath said the changes will affect them forever and have a much broader application than just wild dogs.
“There has been no prior warning or consultation leading up to this announcement,” he said.
“It also should be noted that changes by the LLS will also affect how all landowners are 'expected' to deal with 11 other priority pests such as rabbits, pigs, foxes, deer and goats.
“Local community management groups are to be set up to specify what pest animal control work will be done and it seems clearly the intention that the farmer will be expected to carry out and fund this work,” he said.
SE LLS stated in a FAQ sheet that over the next six months it will be transitioning its strategic and reactive dog trapping and baiting service back to National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) so that its resources can be directed towards a more strategic approach, providing monitoring, investigation and evaluation services, training, advice and support, while investigating new technologies and techniques for pest animal control.
“If this change is proceeded with, the LLS is putting at risk sheep and other livestock unnecessarily,” Mr McGrath said.
