Authorities enter new era in pest animal and insect control

Frontline pest animal and insect services remain a key focus of the 14 new Livestock Health and Pest Authorities which replaced Rural Lands Protection Boards (RLPBs) on 1 January this year.

Livestock Health and Pest Authority State Management Council Pest Animal Manager, Tim Seears, said the extensive reform process the organisation had undergone was designed to provide more efficient and cost effective services to ratepayers.

“Along with animal health services, pest management has long been a vital biosecurity role of RLPBs and continues to be a core function of the new Livestock Health and Pest Authorities.

“Pest animals and insects can cause serious economic losses to agricultural production, pose a risk of exotic disease, threaten the survival of many native species and cause environmental degradation.

“Services carried out by rangers and support staff to manage these impacts include help and advice in controlling pests, property inspections to develop suitable control plans, the provision of baits and chemical, and the coordination of group control programs.

“Last year RLPBs carried out more than 1200 programs across the state on both private and public land to control locusts, wild dogs, rabbits, foxes and feral pigs.

“2009 is also set to be a busy year for the new Livestock Health and Pest Authorities with a general rise in rabbit and feral pig numbers and an increase in wild dog activity as a result of better conditions and more feed across the northern part of the state,” Tim Seears said.

Locusts also remain a serious threat with a second wave of hatchings occurring in recent weeks across NSW including areas around Parkes and Forbes as well as in the Riverina south of Jerilderie and Deniliquin.

Local Livestock Health and Pest Authorities are the primary contact for reporting locust activity, providing chemical and assisting with control methods.

“It is vital that landholders remain vigilant and continue to report all locust activity, no matter how small, to their local authority,” Tim Seears said.

Landholders also reminded that it is a requirement under the Rural Lands Protection Act to control all declared pest species, including rabbits, wild dogs, feral pigs and plague locusts on their land.

Foxes and mice are classed as nuisance animals and while there is no obligation for a landholder to control them, local Livestock Health and Pest Authorities are on hand to help control all pest animals and insects.

All former RLPB offices remain open as offices of the local livestock health and pest authorities and all contact details and address details remain the same.

For further information visit www.rlpb.org.au or contact your local Livestock Health and Pest Authority (formerly your local RLPB).