- More than 1,500 kilometres of cluster fencing is on target for completion by December 2024 through the Queensland Feral Pest Initiative
- The cluster fences have been constructed in prime sheep grazing country to protect against wild dogs
- Miles Government's record investment in agriculture and fisheries under threat from David Crisafulli's cuts agenda
The Miles Government's support for land managers in their efforts to protect livestock in western Queensland will deliver more than 1,500 kilometres of cluster fencing by the end of the year.
Round 5 of the Queensland Feral Pest Initiative has helped to protect prime grazing country from wild dogs and feral pests.
Five western Queensland regional councils, the Remote Area Planning Development Board (RAPAD) and land managers have been working together to construct the fencing in areas of high wild dog density.
The cluster fences are expected to deliver substantial economic and environmental benefits, helping western Queensland's livestock industry to control feral pest populations and boost regional employment.
As put by Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries and Minister for Rural Communities Mark Furner:
"Through the Queensland Feral Pest Initiative, the Miles Government has now committed almost $30 million to regional communities across the state for the construction of cluster fencing in areas with high wild dog populations. "A recent milestone includes the completion of a 115.5 km fence in prime sheep grazing country north-east of Cunnamulla, covering 80,000 hectares of grazing land.
"A further 29,500 hectares across both the Murweh and Paroo Shire Councils is also protected with the completion of 95km of predator-proof fencing.
"It is clear the Miles Government's significant investment in initiatives like the Queensland Feral Pest Initiative is under threat from David Crisafulli and the LNP's cuts agenda.
"When last in government David Crisafulli sat around the cabinet table and helped cut more than 600 jobs from the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries and slashed 26 per cent of jobs on Queensland's biosecurity front line."
As put by Murweh Shire Mayor Shaun Radnedge: "Having the opportunity to assist in the vital pest management in our region in this way will ensure the impact of feral animals will be greatly reduced in this part of southwest Queensland." As put by Nardoo cluster members Simon and Caroline Booth:
"We are feeling positive about rangeland grazing within Paroo Shire now that the Nardoo fence is complete and group members are actively removing feral pests contained within the cluster," they said.
"We have fenced in a few dogs during the construction phase and being sheep producers, we are keen to clean up the remaining pests and get more lambs on the ground."
