By Jenel Hunt
Councillor Ross Bartley has called for an increased emphasis to be placed on the control of feral pigs in the Southern Downs region.
Referring to the most recent Pest Management Advisory Committee meeting and its report that one member group on the Granite Belt was applying for a grant for two pig traps, he described two traps as ‘a drop in the ocean’.
“I know it’s a State Government matter, but I’m receiving complaints upon complaints,” he said.
“We’ve rarely seen pigs east of Warwick or in Allora, but we’re seeing them now.
“I’m getting reports of mobs of 30 crossing the road in broad daylight.”
Costly damage was being done to crops and he believed the Pest Management Advisory Committee needed to place more emphasis on the control of pigs.
The Pest Management Advisory Committee is made up of representatives from the council, national parks, state government and local stakeholder groups.
“While we’re conscious of the dog issue and the damage that dogs do, I think the pig issue and the disease they carry – the biosecurity risk – needs further control,” Cr Bartley said.
“Maybe we need to look at aerial shooting – I know there have been aerial shoots done at Glengallon.”
Cr Cynthia McDonald agreed, saying the animals were in plague proportions at her property despite shooting, trapping and baiting carried out to reduce the problem.
“We do need to do something as a council, given that agriculture is one of our larger portfolios,” she said.
“The concern I have is of major landholders versus smaller landholders. For those on more of a hobby block, it being able to aerial shoot becomes an issue.”
Cr Carla Pidgeon said a co-ordinated effort was needed rather than isolated attempts at fixing the problem and that river systems were a major consideration.
“It needs to be investigated and a proper plan put forward,” she said.
But SDRC CEO Dave Burges said the council was currently not in a position to apply for a grant similar to the one being discussed.
“We have looked into this but because we’re not part of a ROC [Regional Organisation of Councils] we could not apply.”
He said the SDRC was within a very select group of councils that were not part of a ROC and was disadvantaged because of that.
ROCs are, broadly, collaborative partnerships between neighbouring councils.
The Pest Management Advisory Committee was advised that the pig traps came with a three-year program to teach users all aspects of the trap and at the end of the period the users retained the traps. A beneficial effect could be seen on surrounding properties for up to 10 years, the meeting heard. A Granite Belt group has applied for funding to purchase two traps.
