A 48 per cent reduction in feral pigs trapped and euthanised is being claimed by the Department of Defence as a “hit” in the fight to reduce the spread of Panama TR4 in the Tully region.
It’s the latest salvo in a battle begun by Queensland’s opposition agriculture spokesman, Dale Last, when he called on the state government to “urgently assist with existing eradication measures and take a lead role in coordination”.
Mr Last said he had been directly approached by banana growers in his Burdekin electorate in the wake of the latest case of TR4 being confirmed, concerned with the numbers of feral pigs in the region, given their ability to spread the soil-borne disease.
Agriculture Minister, Bill Byrne, himself a a former Army Lieutenant Colonel, returned fire, urging growers to make use of category D weapons to contain numbers.
He also moved the focus onto the federal government, saying it must be recognised that a major influence in the area was a population of feral pigs at the Department of Defence’s Tully Training Area.
“I am very concerned about the large number of feral pigs known to inhabit the training area,” he said.
“In the weeks after the initial detection in March 2015 I wrote to the Minister for Defence raising the issue and the significant risk posed in terms of disease spread.
“I sought urgent assurances that the Department of Defence had allocated appropriate funds and resources to pig control on its property.
“Perhaps Mr Last would like to ask his federal counterparts what they are doing to eliminate the feral pig population on Commonwealth land.”
While Mr Last said he had written to federal agriculture and defence department ministers and was awaiting a response, a defence spokesman told the Queensland Country Life they recognised the impacts feral and abundant native species have on training areas and agricultural communities that adjoin land managed by the department.
“Defence has had feral pig trapping programs in operation at the Tully Training Area since the early 1990s,” he said.
“In 2016, Defence invested over $250,000 to deliver its Feral Pig Management Program, which included the monitoring, trapping and humane euthanising of feral pigs within the TAA.
“Noting the biosecurity risks associated with the panama disease, Defence approved a continuation of the TTA Feral Pig Management Program in 2017, and has carried out regular reviews to ensure it is effective.
“The initial six month reporting period in 2017 detailed a 48 per cent reduction in pigs trapped and euthanised in comparison to the same period in 2016.
“Defence remains committed to minimising the impact feral pigs have on the TAA and the adjoining agricultural community.
“Defence will continue to monitor the effectiveness of its management programs.”
Sally Gall
Based at Blackall, CW Qld, where I've raised a family, run Merino sheep and beef cattle, and helped develop a region - its history, tourism, education and communications. Get in touch at 0427 575 955 if you've got a story idea for me.
Based at Blackall, CW Qld, where I've raised a family, run Merino sheep and beef cattle, and helped develop a region - its history, tourism, education and communications. Get in touch at 0427 575 955 if you've got a story idea for me.
