North Queensland gets funding boost to take on feral pig menace

Pest control in North Queensland is set to ramp up with the state government rolling out $117m for land, water, and biodiversity programs across the state. Find out more.

NQ Dry Tropics CEO Scott Crawford and Minister for Natural Resources Dale Last. Picture: Natasha Emeck

Pest control in North Queensland is set to ramp up with the state government rolling out $117.84m for land, water, and biodiversity programs across the state.

The funding, delivered in partnership with Natural Resource Management (NRM) Regions Queensland, will roll out over the next four years and is expected to deliver significant benefits to North Queensland. Around $11mhas already been earmarked for the region.

Scott Crawford, CEO of Townsville-based NQ Dry Tropics, says the funding will help tackle invasive species, improve land management, and restore crucial habitats.

“We hope to use our share of the funding on a variety of activities such as supporting Indigenous Land and Sea Rangers, controlling invasive species, improve grazing land management and restoring high-priority habitats,” Mr Crawford said.

“We have strong networks on-the-ground and use the best available science to manage our land, water and biodiversity assets across the state.”

He said tens of millions of dollars are spent on managing pests and weeds in the region every year.

“There’s quite a number of weed species in this part of the world that are problematic, and we’re and we’re seeing expansions of those all the time,” he said.

“In terms of animal species, pigs are a very topical one.”

NQ Dry Tropics CEO Scott Crawford said feral pigs remain a major pest problem in NQ.

This $117m investment marks a dramatic increase in funding for the group, with NRM CEO Chris Norman describing it as a “fourfold increase” over previous commitments.

Minister for Natural Resources Dale Last highlighted the importance of the partnership with NRM Regions Queensland.

“Regional Natural Resource Management organisations have a proven track record to deliver practical, on-the-ground solutions for managing our land, soil, water, and biodiversity,” Minister Last said.

“Landowners know all too well that Queensland is a land of extreme droughts, floods and increasing threats, and the Crisafulli Government is committed to protecting our natural assets for generations to come.

“I’m excited about the opportunity to partner with NRM Regions Queensland on this strategic investment which will support landholders in regional Queensland.”

Originally published as North Queensland gets funding boost to take on feral pig menace