Three pastoral groups will share in $250,000 of additional funds provided by the McGowan Government to assist feral animal management and control endeavours to protect the condition of the rangelands, livestock and pastoralist’s enterprises.
There have been elevated numbers of large feral herbivores, such as camels, in the rangelands in recent months, as a result of above average temperatures and below average rainfall.
The State Government recognises the increased pressure this has placed on rangelands management and allocated up to $50,000 in Dry Conditions Response Grants for each Recognised Biosecurity Group (RGB) to boost control measures.
All three applicants were successful, including the Pilbara Regional Biosecurity Group, Meekatharra Rangelands Biosecurity Association and Goldfields-Nullarbor Rangelands Biosecurity Association.
The RGBs will use the funds to undertake complementary control measures to the RGBs’ existing strategic biosecurity responses.
As stated by Agriculture and Food Minister Alannah MacTiernan:
“The State Government has moved quickly to provide pastoralists with the extra support they require to expand their control endeavours.
“It has been a challenging season for many pastoralists, with dry conditions being experienced across the region, prompting these pests to advance on pastoral properties, threatening feed availability, land degradation and damaging watering points and fences.
“These grants will enable pastoralists to take evasive action to protect their land, their livestock and their businesses from the potentially devastating impact of these feral animals.
“We are aware that there is interest emerging in harvesting camel meat and this may present a different opportunity in future years.”
