2015-11-10 Infrastructure & Services Committee Agenda

INFRASTRUCTURE & SERVICES COMMITTEE MEETING REPORT                           10 NOVEMBER 2015


The effectiveness of the temporary service level change will be assessed during and at the end
of the program by evidence of the number of dogs trapped.

4.   Control Methods and Effectiveness

In terms of effectiveness of controlling wild dogs the follow comments are made:

   Baiting is the most effective control method using either 1080 or strychnine. 1080 will be
     used by Council staff in the more remote areas where these baits have previously been
     used. (Note – Gympie Regional Council reportedly distribute about 2.5 tonne of 1080
     baited meat per year, but have also engaged contract dog catchers to trap dogs to assist in
     dog control).
   The next most effective method is foot trapping, preferably using soft jaw traps. This is the
     proposed control method to be employed by contract dog control contractors referred to in
     this report.
   The least effective method is cage trapping due to the need to pre-feed animals to prevent
     cage shyness and obtain effective use of cages. They can be useful close to urban areas
     where there is a risk of foot trapping domestic dogs.

5.   Research

Gympie Regional Council are part-way through setting up a similar program to that proposed in
this report. They have established a preferred supplier arrangement and have four different
contract trapping businesses on their panel (8 tendered initially and four were short listed). Their
prices range from $440/day to $650/day which includes the supply of all trapping gear and a
vehicle etc.

Gympie Regional Council advise that Noosa Council can make use of their contract documents
and engage their preferred suppliers in accordance with inter-local government procurement
requirements. This would be relatively easy through minor amendments to their contract. Council
would need to ensure the contractors are approved by Weapons Licensing to destroy feral
trapped animals within our Shire.

Our pest management staff are also communicating with the Sunshine Coast Council (SCRC)
who are currently using sniffer dogs to seek out fox dens to facilitate fumigation of dens and
destruction of foxes and their pups. It is proposed to undertake some trials in Noosa using the
dogs to determine the effectiveness of sniffer dogs in our area. If successful the proposal is to
consider a budget request in 2016/17 to engage SCRC staff to undertake some work for Noosa.

6.   Constraints

Gympie Regional Council has experienced delays in starting their program due to the restrictions
on firearms use in areas closer to town. They have requested that all of their contractors have an
additional “999 condition” added to their personal firearms licences that approves them to use
firearms on public land and also on smaller acreage blocks that are identified as non-rural under
their town planning scheme.

To facilitate this process they have provided a detailed letter to each of the contractors outlining
the requirements of the work for submission to Weapons Licencing. They are currently still
waiting on approvals from weapons licencing that were submitted several months ago. Similar
delays with Weapons Licensing could be expected if Noosa Council proceeds with an external
trapping program.




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