FARMERS whose properties neighbour wild dog conservation zones are calling for greater protection from the destructive canines, saying the same dogs who feast on their livestock sleep soundly in a protected habitat at night.
Under the Local Land Services Act 2013, wild dogs must be killed on all land in NSW excluding certain publicly owned areas set aside for the conservation of dingoes. These areas are classified as ‘Schedule Two’ land.
The bulk of public land in the New England area is listed as ‘Schedule Two’ and farmers there are taking a hit.
Dorrigo farmer James Robertson, “Fishington”, has lost 1400 sheep across four years to wild dogs living in the Dorrigo National Park. Nearby, his friend Gary Elks, “Hazelbrook”, whose property also backs onto National Park, is in the process of destocking his sheep flock due to hefty losses from wild dogs.
“I would say the majority of people who live on the edge of Schedule Two land in this area are losing stock or are at least capturing images of dogs on their land with cameras,” Mr Robertson said.
Under the act, government is obliged to control dog numbers on ‘Schedule Two’ land (particularly on its outer edges) but farmers say current efforts aren’t enough.
Mr Robertson said wild dog numbers inside ‘Schedule Two’ land needed “thinning out” urgently.
“They eat all the wildlife inside their boundary and that’s when they cross it.”
Mr Elks said “the deeper” government-employed pest controllers take their baiting and trapping operations into conservation zones, “the better”.
Wild dog trapper and former National Parks and Wildlife Service pest management officer Stuart Boyd-Law, Glen Innes, agreed with Mr Elks, but said a “horses for courses” approach should be used.
“In some cases baiting the perimetre of ‘Schedule Two’ land will be enough,” he said.
Mr Boyd-Law admitted wild dog control on public land lacked consistency. Indeed, David Waters, who farms sheep near the Guy Fawkes River Nature Reserve, said control efforts by government was “terrific”.
Meanwhile, the future of ‘Schedule Two’ conservation areas is up in the air. The Department of Primary Industries is still consulting with stakeholders to determine how wild dogs will be treated under the NSW Biosecurity Act 2015. When the bill comes into effect, pest control obligations set out under the the current act will be replaced.
In its draft report on pest animal management the Natural Resource Commission recommended government include ‘Schedule Two’ provisions in the act to continue to protect the dingo.
Public feedback on the report is due on May 25.