Dingo fence may have damaged Aboriginals' bond with dogs

A BUTCHULLA elder fears the construction of a fence around K’Gari campground may have damaged the relationship between the indigenous people and the dingoes.

A BUTCHULLA elder fears the construction of a fence around K'Gari campground may have damaged the relationship between the indigenous people and the dingoes.

But she says building it was the right choice.

The controversial fence around Fraser Island's K'Gari campground has just been completed and Butchulla elder Aunty Frances Gala, who is president of the K'gari Corporation, said it hadn't been an easy decision to approve the building of the fence.

The Butchulla elders were involved in the decision-making process when the $250,000 project was announced.

Aunty Frances said at no time was there pressure from the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service on her or other elders to make the decision.

She said the fact that tourists did sometimes get bitten by dingoes at the campsite was what made up their minds.

The elders knew more people would get hurt and more dingoes would be destroyed if the situation stayed the same.

"It's hard because of our feelings for the dingoes."

She said while the Butchulla had sacrificed their close contact with the dingoes, they would still get contact with them through the fence.

"It wasn't a decision we made overnight. We didn't want to lock the dingoes out."

There were also additional concerns not only about locking the dingoes out but about locking the Butchulla people in.

But in the end Aunty Frances said it was the right decision.

"We don't want to see people getting hurt.

"It came to a point where something had to be done."