Pest program strengthens community cooperation

The Tablelands Livestock Health and Pest Authority and Hawkesbury-Nepean Catchment Management Authority have completed another successful collaborative project aimed at reducing feral pig and wild dog populations in the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area.

Grant Eccles, Tablelands LHPA ranger, said the project involved ongoing control activities to mitigate biodiversity threats to native flora and fauna and also reduce threats to livestock managed by private landholders within the region.

"We are very pleased with the results of the project – the two rounds of control activities yielded 23 wild dogs, 27 feral pigs and a number of foxes and feral cats," Mr Eccles said.

"Another important outcome of project has been the recruitment of community support and cooperation in relation to controlling pests.

"Many landholders are now continuing on with control activities in their own time and with the assistance of the LHPA rangers."

John Sendall of Perry’s Yard participated in the project and was particularly pleased with the result.

"As a livestock producer in the Taralga/Bannaby area, the recent project in the control of wild dogs, funded by the Hawkesbury-Nepean CMA in conjunction with the LHPA, has had a significant impact in reducing the numbers of these predators," said Mr Sendall.

"This program is fully supported by district landholders as this has assisted their control measures. They would be very keen to participate in any future projects, especially targeting wild dogs, to continue this program."

The project was jointly funded by the LHPA and the Hawkesbury-Nepean CMA with funds of $20,000 from the Australian Government’s Caring for our Country program.

For more information on group pest programs contact your local LHPA ranger.

Media contact: Kylie Dunn 6391 3720 / 0428 465 378