Wild dog exclusion fencing in the Balonne Shire delivering ‘outstanding benefits’ to region

A multimillion-dollar project in regional Queensland is starting to deliver massive benefits for the region. Find out what they are.

Wild dog exclusion fencing in the Balonne Shire is showing great promise of economic benefits for the region.

Five years since the start of a multimillion-dollar investment, a project to make the Balonne Shire wild dog-proof is starting to pay dividends.

The ambitious program started in 2019 and since that time, 66 per cent of the Balonne Shire in South West Queensland has been fenced off, totalling to a $44m investment from the council and federal government protecting a land area of 695,554sq km.

According to an economic report commissioned by the Balonne Shire Council, the fencing is starting to have a tangible economic impact, with measurable reductions in stock losses and improvements in employment.

Prepared by Hall Chadwick, the report said the population of wild dogs in southwestern parts of Queensland has been in part responsible for the decline in sheep grazing in the region.

Instead, graziers have chosen to replace sheep herds with cattle. Due to their less labour-intensive nature, this has coincided with a decrease in agricultural jobs available in the region.

Wild dog exclusion fencing is allowing primary producers to diversify their livestock.

“In the western regions that are more reliant on agriculture, this has caused a flow on effect to declining population,” the report read.

Using data and surveying primary producers in the region, before the fencing initiatives, livestock deaths were causing an estimated $1.56m per year.

“Survey respondents expect livestock deaths due to dog impacts to decrease by approximately 80 per cent within five years,” the report read.

The report also showed the fencing project had an overall positive impact on primary producer’s sentiment, with the survey respondents saying their greatest expectation of change is having “more control over pasture and total grazing pressure.”

Balonne Shire mayor Samantha O’Toole said the exclusion fencing is delivering “outstanding benefits” for the region.

“This has been a collaborative effort with landholders contributing a 50:50 contribution, where Council co-ordinated a special rate for landholder loans from Queensland Treasury Corporation,” Ms O’Toole said.

“We are now seeing the obvious benefits of reduced stock losses and improved stock reproductive rates.

“We are also seeing other benefits from farmers regaining control of their properties and being prepared to invest and diversify.

“For our small shire to see an increase of around 230 jobs from one, mostly grant funded program is a great outcome for locals and landholders alike.

“This new fencing is also giving our landholders the opportunity to explore different types of farming to improve productivity in a variety of conditions, including an unexpected growth in cropping.

“We know that farmers are a resilient bunch, but to see the results of this report identifying a reduction of landholder’s stress levels and an improvement in positivity about their future was great to see.”