Wild dog fence extension welcome in the west

NSW Farmers congratulates the NSW Government on its commitment to doubling the length of the NSW Border Wild Dog Fence and recognising the devastating impact livestock losses from wild dog attacks have on primary producers. 

The 742 km fence extension means the infrastructure will soon stretch from the Murray River in the south,  north to Camerons corner and east to Mungundi, making it the longest dog fence in the world. 

NSW Farmers Western Division Council chair Greg Rogers said the exclusion fence extension will be vital for wild dog management and will bring critical jobs to western NSW, which has a long road to economic recovery after years of drought and now Covid-19.

“For graziers, every ewe, ram or lamb lost due to a wild dog attack is devastating,” Mr Rogers said. 

“At a broader level, wild dog attacks cause an estimated loss of $22 million to the local and state economies.”

“The NSW Farmers Western Division Council advocated tirelessly for the exclusion fencing to be extended, and this was a policy priority leading up to the 2019 state election.”

“It is pleasing to see the $37.5 million investment made in the extension project. It will benefit local job markets, initially through a surge in design, planning and construction jobs, and then through ongoing roles tied to infrastructure maintenance – which is needed in the harsh conditions of western NSW.”

Mr Rogers said for the exclusion fencing to be fully effective, a multi-pronged strategy that includes identifying and eradicating wild dogs already in NSW must be followed.

“As part of our wild dog exclusion strategy, NSW Farmers has worked to ensure tracking and tagging also play a role in minimising the wild dog population.”

“We have a dedicated Wild Dog Coordinator, Bruce Duncan, who helps carry out this function. We have worked to ensure his vital position is maintained.”

“Understanding the behaviours of wild dogs in western NSW through tracking and tagging will not only help identify where the attack risk is highest, it will build important data to help long term management and eradication across the state.”

Date:  Wednesday, 16 September 2020
Media Contact:  Michael Burt  | 0428 228 988 | [email protected]