The NSW Government is ramping up efforts to tackle rising feral pig populations across the state, providing an $8 million boost to help fund a new coordinated control program.
The program will be delivered by the Department of Regional NSW through Local Land Services, implementing the latest technologies and control methods to reduce feral pig populations. The program will include:
- Landscape scale aerial shooting and ground control activities
- Building landholder capacity and capability to control feral pigs through training and extension
- Establishing a NSW State Feral Pig Coordinator to oversee the delivery of control activities and landholder support.
Consecutive favourable seasonal conditions with flooding and wet weather have created ideal conditions for pigs to breed and this has led to the growth and expansion of feral pig populations. Over the past 12 months, Local Land Services has culled more than 97,000 feral pigs. Minister for Agriculture Tara Moriarty said this new program will build off the work undertaken by Local Land Services over the last year.
“The impact of pest animals, particularly feral pigs is enormous, whether it’s damaging native flora and fauna and attacking native species or destroying pasture, crops and fences.”
“On top of aerial shooting operations, this new program will also deliver practical training for landholders to help control feral pigs on their properties and provide subsided feral pig bait, to promote an integrated approach to control,” she said.
“We all have a role to play in tackling the threat of biosecurity in this state, so the more landholders we have taking part in coordinated control programs, the more effective they are.”
Under the Biosecurity Act 2015, all landholders have a responsibility to manage pest animals on their land. Local Land Services plays a leading role in the coordination of wide-scale, cross-tenure pest animal control operations that help reduce pest animal populations and can support landholders to meet their general biosecurity duty.
NSW Farmers President Xavier Martin says farmers are ready to work with authorities on this problem.
“We thank the government for listening to us and securing this funding to start to ramp up efforts in controlling these incredibly destructive animals.”
“We know feral pigs destroy crops, tear out fences and ruin paddocks, kill livestock and native animals, and pose a threat to people – they’re a menace and they need to be brought under control.”
“While Local Land Services has culled more than 97,000 feral pigs, we know from our members that there are millions more out there, and until we get on top of that breeding population we will continue to have problems.”
“As landholders we stand ready to work with the government and LLS to tackle this problem.”
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