The McGowan Government will invest $750,000 to maintain on-ground control measures that help to protect WA’s $1.6 billion sheep industry from the threat of wild dogs.
The $750,000 investment will continue the services of eight full-time-equivalent licenced pest management technicians for another year to control wild dogs inside the State Barrier Fence and adjacent buffer zone.
The technicians, or doggers, are employed by six Recognised Biosecurity Groups (RBG) to manage the impact of wild dogs on government land through baiting and trapping.
The efforts of the RBGs, doggers and individual land managers serve to protect the profitability and wellbeing of the State’s 14.5 million head sheep flock.
Their activities form part of an integrated pest control program under the WA Wild Dog Action Plan.
As stated by Agriculture and Food Minister Alannah MacTiernan:
“Extending this funding will mean the good work done by the doggers and Recognised Biosecurity Groups to protect the State’s sheep industry can continue.
“The State Government has invested extensively in protecting livestock from wild dogs, including a $5.8 million four-year program to replace, repair and maintain the State Barrier Fence and access tracks, and $6.9 million to construct the Esperance Extension of the State Barrier Fence.
“The McGowan Government is looking to continue its strategic State-wide management approach to wild dogs, with work underway on a new action plan extending to 2024.”
