Pastoralists call for more money for Dog Fence

He wants to see the state’s sheep flock grow and prosper, but he says it will take a “coordinated approach” to overcome the threat.

Last week, the state government annouced funding to employ two full-time trappers from July 1, honouring the Liberals’ promise made more than a year ago in opposition.

It has also thrown in an additional $200,000 for a ‘one-off’ aerial baiting program.

Landholders inside the Dog Fence from Coober Pedy to the SA-NSW border will be given 100,000 manufactured and fresh baits, in addition to the 180,000 baits supplied through the Biteback program.

Mr Whetstone says the baiting program will be one of the largest in the state’s history and will not only target wild dogs, but also foxes and feral cats in pastoral areas.

“Large numbers of dogs have been getting through (the fence) for the last two years if not three to four and it has been good breeding seasons,” he said.

“We are only holding dogs at the status quo, so we have to have an all-out assault to make sure we reduce numbers and help the farming industry, which is so valuable to our economy,” he said.

Mr Whetstone says the proposed Landscape SA legislation – replacing the Natural Resources Management Act 2004 – will ensure all producers, including those with organic status, undertake wild dog control.

He will be guided by the SA Wild Dog Advisory Group, the Dog Fence board and Livestock SA as to how the equivalent of two full-time trappers were best used, either more trappers on a seasonal basis or two full-time throughout the year.

Mr Whetstone says he recognised “urgent action” was needed, despite the government previously indicating to Stock Journal its hands were tied until the September budget.

“We are talking about people’s livelihoods – they lay awake at night wondering how many dogs are on their properties and how many sheep they are taking,” he said. “If we didn’t address the issue until September we would be into lambing again.”

He also hoped to inspect sections of the fence soon to assess its state.

Opposition agriculture spokesperson Eddie Hughes has backed the government’s response.

Producers are grateful for the funding, but many are also calling for more money to be spent on the 2225-kilometre Dog Fence.

More than a million dollars is spent on maintenance of the fence each year, but many sections are close to 100 years old.

This includes 40km that forms the northern boundary of Billeroo West Station, in the far north-east of the state.

“The guys on the fence do a great job considering the wire is old and brittle, but as soon as the emus and kangaroos come through it just opens up and the dogs come through,” station owner Greg Treloar said.

“I have never seen so many dogs.”

In the past year, more than 400 sheep have been killed by wild dogs on the station or have to be put down after being mauled.

“With the aid of two trappers we have shot and trapped 59 dogs since January and baiting has killed quite a few more,” he said

"The baiting program is good but we really need to keep the dogs out and keep the pressure on them before we get to the stages where they ruin our sheep industry like they have in other states."

Orroroo farmer Geoff Power says the government funding is very welcome and has come just in time, warning SA is at the point Qld was 25 years ago with wild dogs.

“Qld is fighting back but its flock has been decimated and in WA there are only a couple of hundred thousand sheep left in the pastoral areas, with most on the Nullabor Plain,” he said.

“They (dogs) are heading further south. In the past month there has been one shot at Caltowie, and a couple at Quorn and Orroroo, and they are coming further down the Eyre Peninsula.

“We have a sustainable sheep and cattle industry in the north of this state and we need to keep it that way.”

About a month ago, Mr Power was a guest of the Dog Fence board and inspected about 350km of fence, and although it was well-maintained, pressure from kangaroos and emus ploughing into the older sections of the fence was creating problems. 

“There is a definite need for accelerating funding for capital works along the fence to ensure the sustainability of the livestock industries,” he said.