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Parliamentary Questions


Question Without Notice No. 717 asked in the Legislative Council on 29 August 2018 by Hon Diane Evers

Parliament: 40 Session: 1

WILD DOGS — PASTORAL LEASES

717. Hon DIANE EVERS to the Minister for Environment:

(1) Will the minister please advise what action is taken with wild dogs when a pastoral lease is relinquished?

(2) I refer to the Kadji Kadji pastoral lease purchased in 2003, the Lochada pastoral lease purchased in 2000 and the Barnong pastoral lease purchased in 2007. With regard to each of those pastoral leases that were purchased under the Gascoyne–Murchison strategy by the state and commonwealth governments in the years indicated, what action was taken and when was it taken, by the department—that is, the Department of Conservation and Land Management, the Department of Environment, the Department of Parks and Wildlife and now the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions—in relation to the management of wild dogs?

(3) In relation to (2), what was the outcome of the actions taken?

(4) Does the government routinely close water supplies on relinquished or purchased pastoral lands?

(5) If yes to (4), what steps does the government take to mitigate the impact on native animals?

Hon STEPHEN DAWSON replied:

I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question.

(1) The Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions undertakes strategic, coordinated wild dog control on former pastoral lands under its management in partnership with recognised biosecurity groups. DBCA attends recognised biosecurity group meetings to ensure that strategic wild dog control priorities, including DBCA control activities, are discussed and agreed upon. DBCA distributes wild dog baits as part of community wild dog control programs coordinated by RBGs. DBCA also undertakes reactive baiting throughout the year in response to evidence of increased wild dog activity and DBCA staff are trained and authorised to shoot wild dogs on sight. DBCA facilitates access to former pastoral lands by licensed pest management technicians employed by RBGs to carry out wild dog baiting, trapping and shooting.

(2) Since the acquisition of Kadji Kadji, Lochada and Barnong, DBCA has established partnerships with the Central Wheatbelt Biosecurity Association and the Meekatharra Rangelands Biosecurity Association. These partnerships are formalised in a memorandum of understanding established with each biosecurity association. The MOUs provide the framework of agreement for coordinated wild dog control, including on these former pastoral stations. DBCA distributes wild dog baits on these lands twice a year as part of a broader community baiting strategy coordinated by the respective biosecurity associations. DBCA also carries out reactive baiting throughout the year in response to evidence of increased wild dog activity. An average of 9 300 baits are distributed across these areas annually.

(3) Strategic wild dog control priorities undertaken in association with groups such as the Meekatharra Rangelands Biosecurity Association and the Central Wheatbelt Biosecurity Association deliver stronger wild dog management.

(4) In the years following acquisition of pastoral lands, DBCA progressively initiated the closure of some artificial waters on those lands, where these waters were not required for ongoing pest animal control, fire management or other purposes. No active water point closure program is currently in place.

(5) Generally, water points have been progressively closed over several years, typically during mild winter conditions or during periods of widespread surface water availability. This encourages more water-reliant animals to disperse across the landscape as windmills are decommissioned, wells covered and dams either closed or filled in.