PLANS to form a South Australian Wild Dog Advisory Group are underway, triggered by the need to combat the high dog numbers that are hurting pastoral livestock industries in the state.
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A spokesperson from the SA Arid Lands Natural Resources Management board said the group would identify and oversee delivery of priority actions in the state and national wild dog action plans.
The proposal for the broad-based group was put forth at a forum held earlier this month at Port Augusta by Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation Ian Hunter.
The spokesperson said the terms of reference for the group were being finalised, and the first meeting was intended to take place before Christmas.
The forum was organised by the board together with Biosecurity SA, and attended by about 50 representatives from the pastoral sheep and cattle industries, NRM boards and government agencies.
It was timed to coincide with the release of the draft National Wild Dog Action Plan for public comment early last month.
Biosecurity SA sought input on a draft State Wild Dog Strategic Plan, which it is currently being developed.
Manager Dr John Virtue asked participants at the forum to give their opinion on draft plans for four SA management zones: north of the dog fence, south of the fence, the fence and baited buffer zone, and whole-of-state governance issues.
It was recognised that many properties no longer ran sheep inside the dog fence, resulting in a lack of incentive for high level controls.
Suggestions included enabling greater flexibility in bait production, and achieving greater compliance on properties to participate in control activities.
* Full report in Stock Journal, October 17 issue, 2013.
