New South Wales launches coordinated feral pig control program in Walgett

The New South Wales government launched a feral pig control program this month across 600,000 hectares in the Walgett Shire to combat a population boom of invasive pests.

Agriculture Minister Tara Moriarty announced the initiative to coordinate the efforts of 120 landholders and state government land managers. The program targets five priority management areas where feral pigs have caused significant damage to crops, waterholes, and livestock.

Participants will use a combination of baiting, trapping, ground shooting, and aerial culling to reduce the number of animals. The government committed $60 million to pest animal management over three years to address the issue, which costs Australian agriculture more than $190 million annually. While the program emphasizes cooperation between neighbors, the government maintains the right to issue penalties under the Biosecurity Act 2015.

These fines can reach $220,000 for individuals and $440,000 for corporations if landholders refuse to meet their obligations. Peter Dawson of North West Local Land Services and John Whittall of the National Parks and Wildlife Service explained that the coordinated approach aims to be more efficient than independent actions. Because the animals move across property lines and reproduce quickly, the project seeks to unify the management of both private and public lands, including National Parks and Crown Lands.