Benambra
Benambra

The Weekly Times has reported that there is a new wild dog action plan for the High Country. Wild dogs are a major problem in farming areas adjacent to the mountains, and there have been considerable lobby efforts to get additional government support to tackle the problem.

Long term president of the Bairnsdale VFF, Rob Grant, who passed away in October, had long called for additional resources from the government. Rob pointed out that this is not just a problem for sheep farmers, citing many known attacks on calves as well.

Agriculture Minister Peter Walsh had previously promised to implement an aerial baiting program, establish a $4 million fox and wild dog bounty and reinvigorate the wild dog management committees.

Minister for Agriculture and Food Security Peter Walsh yesterday released the new Victorian Wild Dog Action Plan with set operational targets and local area work plans.
The Victoria Government will launch a new wild dog control action plan control in Omeo today.

A forum, organised by the Victorian wild dog control advisory committee and the Department of Environment and Primary Industries, was held at the Omeo Hall yesterday.
The plan aims to increase the effectiveness of our trapping program and increase the number of baits laid by 10 per cent to almost 20,000 in the coming year.

Local area work plans will be developed using local knowledge for each of the 15 wild dog management zones in East Gippsland and northeast Victoria,  Mr Walsh said.

The action plan also includes commitments to improve access to fresh 1080 bait products in areas affected by wild dogs and examine ways of removing legislative and red tape frustrating the management of wild dogs.