Landholders work together to control grazing pressure and pest animals
By Western Local Land Services
Pest animals in the Gilgunnia, New South Wales area have been left on the outer by landholders involved in the Gilgunnia Cluster Fencing Project.
This project, which resulted in a total pest exclusion fence of 210 km being erected around the perimeter of 22 properties enclosing approximately 177,000 hectares, has created a solid barrier to pest animal species in the Gilgunnia area in the Western region of NSW.
This has allowed landholders the opportunity to gain control over grazing pressure and will result in better outcomes for on-going pest animal and weed control activities.
Landholder Dean Hague inspects his section of the fence. Photo: Western Local Land Services.
Improved management of total grazing pressure (TGP), which is the combined grazing pressure exerted by all grazing animals (domestic, native and feral) on the vegetation, soil and water resources, is key to ensuring grazing does not exceed stocking capacity.
Along with TGP, pest animals such as wild dogs, pigs and kangaroos, are a constant issue for landholders in the Western region.
Managing pest animals consumes a large amount of resources, time and finances from landholders, not to mention the stress and frustration it imparts on them.
By working collaboratively through this project, 22 landholders in the Western region have given themselves the best opportunity to manage these issues.
While this project has only been recently completed, landholders have already reported significant reductions of pest animals along their section, with one remarking it has stopped several hundred pigs from entering their property every evening.
This project was funded under the Australian Government’s 2016 Pest and Weed Drought Funding program.
For more information about cluster fencing, contact Western Local Land Services Senior Land Services Office – Native Vegetation, Brian Dohnt on (02) 6836 1575.
