PASTORALISTS, industry group Livestock SA and Orroroo sheep producer Geoff Power have been the key figureheads in SA livestock industry attempts to slow the southward incursion of wild dogs over the past decade.
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After years of lobbying both state and federal governments for funding, the livestock industry landed a major coup in June this year when funding to replace 1600 kilometres of SA's dilapidated dog fence was confirmed.
Construction is expected to begin in March 2020, but the project was one long in the making.
Then the president of WoolProducers Australia, Geoff Power said in May 2012 that Australia must adopt a national approach to wild dog controls.
A professional dog trapper was engaged for properties south of the dog fence in the SA Arid Lands region in March 2015, but problems persisted and in July 2016 pastoralists, including Christobel Treloar from Mooleulooloo Stattion, were calling for more assistance as wild dog populations moved south.
Calls were made to reinstate professional dog trappers in November 2016 after the state government released a wild dog action plan, which drew criticism for not containing anything new.
Far north east SA pastoralist Greg Treloar said he had never seen so many wild dogs, after losing more than 400 sheep on his station, Billeroo West, in 2018. His comments were soon followed by the contracting of seven dog trappers by the state government.
After funding was confirmed to rebuild the dog fence, in July Geoff Power was appointed chairman of the SA Dog Fence Board, which will oversee the rebuild.
