Reducing the impacts of wild dogs locally

A number of workshops are being held to give members of the community the opportunity to reduce the impact of wild dogs on private land.

The Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) is hosting 15 Wild Dog Management Zone (WDMZ) community workshops across Gippsland and north east Victoria commencing on 26 February.

DELWP Manager for Statewide Invasive Species Program Peter Austin said: “The workshops are an opportunity for the community to have input into the way dogs are controlled locally.

“Reducing the impact of wild dogs can be achieved by all land managers working together using a combination of trapping, baiting, shooting, exclusion fencing and good animal husbandry.

“The sessions will focus on local Wild Dog Controllers and what activity they have caught on their trail-cameras, as well as sharing their knowledge about current management techniques for wild dog control.

“The workshops will also involve discussions on what has worked well and what needs improving in our Wild Dog Management Zone Work Plans as new plans are developed for the coming year.

“We are looking forward to meeting community members in the coming weeks,” Mr Austin said.

Farmers who are interested can also come along to a workshop to find out more about joining an existing Community Wild Dog Control Group to link up with others in their area and increase the effectiveness of their own wild dog control.

For further information about workshops in the north east contact Tim Enshaw at the Wodonga Office on (02) 6043 7900 and in Gippsland contact Vaughn Kingston at the Bairnsdale office on (03) 5152 0400.

North East Victoria

WDMZ	Date	Venue	Time
Alexandra	Tuesday 26 February	Marysville Community Centre 15 Falls Road Marysville	10.00am – 12.00pm Morning tea
Ovens	Wednesday 27 February	DELWP Office 5338 Great Alpine Road Ovens	10.00am – 12.00pm Morning tea
Mitta Mitta & Sandy Creek	Thursday 28 February	Eskdale Football Ground Eskdale	8.30am – 11.00am BBQ breakfast
Mansfield	Tuesday 5 March	Merrijig Hall 1 Alpha St Merrijig	8.00am – 11.00am BBQ breakfast
Whitfield	Tuesday 5 March	Cheshunt Hall 454 King Valley Rd, Cheshunt	12.30pm – 2.30pm Catered lunch
Burrowye-Walwa-Granya, Corryong & Tallangatta	Wednesday 6 March	Shelley Forest Camp 33 Avondale Rd Koetong	10.00am – 1.00pm Lunch

Gippsland

WDMZ	Date	Venue	Time
Gembrook, Noojee, Erica	Tuesday 26 February	Neerim Junction Hall 2957 Main Neerim Rd Neerim Junction	10.30am – 12.30pm Afternoon tea
Bairnsdale, Glenaladale	Wednesday 27 February	Glenaladale Hall Glenaladale	10.00am – 1.00pm BBQ lunch
Orbost, Cann River	Thursday 28 February	Cann River Hall Tamboon Rd Cann River	10.00am – 1.00pm BBQ lunch
Dargo	Monday 4 March	DELWP Office 146 Lind Ave Dargo	10.00am – 12:00pm Morning tea
Licola, Heyfield, Maffra	Tuesday 5 March	DELWP Office         Corner Licola and Firebrace Roads Heyfield	10.00am – 1.00pm BBQ lunch
Omeo, Benambra	Wednesday 6 March	Benambra Rec Reserve Tip Rd Benambra	10.00am – 1.00pm BBQ lunch
Swifts Creek, Ensay	Wednesday 6 March	337 Baldhills Rd Swifts Creek	6.00pm – 9:00pm BBQ dinner
Buchan, Gelantipy	Thursday 7 March	Karoonda Park 3855 Gelantipy Rd Gelantipy	10.00am – 1:00pm BBQ lunch
Bonang, Bendoc, Tubbut, Deddick	Friday 8 March	Delegate River CFA Shed   Bonang Highway Delegate River	10.00am – 1.00pm BBQ lunch

Paula Hopson
Media and Communications Advisor| Community and Partnerships Program
Forest, Fire and Regions | Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning
71 Hotham Street, Traralgon
M: 0436 402370 | P: 03 5172 2144 | E: paula.hopson@delwp.vic.gov.au