Susanna Freymark
Kyogle councillor Tom Cooper is suspicious about the lack of community consultation on the state’s cattle tick program.
“I smell a rat,” Mr Cooper said.
The cattle tick program has been running for more than 100 years in the Northern Rivers.
Mr Cooper said it was especially important to this region because this was an environment where ticks thrive.
Cattle producer Bruce Lyle said the community sentiment is that the cattle tick program needs to remain in the full control of the DPI.
“Rather than being handed back as a producer responsibility,” he said.
The DPI said there were currently about 450 cattle properties known to be infested with cattle ticks that are undergoing treatment and placed under an individual biosecurity direction.
These farms are located across eight local government areas and mainly located in north eastern NSW.
The Department of Primary Industries is running an online survey for feedback until November 27. The survey takes 10—15 minutes to complete. You can fill it out here.
State MPJanelle Saffin is encouraging farmers and others with an interest in the state’s cattle tick program to give their feedback to the new biosecurity commissioner Dr Katherine Clift.
Ms Saffin met with Ms Clift and discussed the issue.
“I thank the Minister for Agriculture Tara Moriarty for making this the first key job Dr Clift has been tasked with, to determine the most effective approach for the future management of cattle tick in NSW,” Ms Saffin said.
To support the discussion there are community workshops in Murwillumbah, Lismore and Kyogle.
The Kyogle session is on November 12 at the Kyogle Golf Club, 9.30am—noon. It is free and you can register here.
Farmers are urged to go to the session and give their feedback on how best to deal with ticks.