War declared on wild dogs

LOCAL councils could share in $50,000 of funding to eradicate wild dogs under a proposal by the Northern Rivers Regional Organisation of Councils (NOROC).

LOCAL councils could share in $50,000 of funding to eradicate wild dogs under a proposal by the Northern Rivers Regional Organisation of Councils (NOROC).

The proposal is on the agenda for Friday's NOROC general meeting as part of an ongoing initiative of resource sharing among local councils and is one of seven new resource-sharing initiatives.

The Wild Dog Eradication Program has been suggested by Brent McAllister of Lismore City Council as a pilot program that would treat both the cause of the problem, irresponsible dog owners, as well as the symptom, wild dogs.

If approved by NOROC, $50,000 would be spent on educating dog owners, identifying and monitoring wild dog "hot spots" and the establishment of local control groups to link up with trappers and the Livestock Health and Pest Authority (LPHA).

The program would commence in the Lismore and Byron local government areas and if successful could be further developed and rolled out regionally.

Wild dogs are an increasing problem for NOROC councils, the report notes, with the LPHA, formerly the Rural Lands Protection Board, unable to deal with the problem.

Originally published as War declared on wild dogs