A RENEWED threat to the south-west region’s sheep and cattle industry from recommendations in a Victorian Government environmental report have been condemned by the Southern Grampians Shire Council amid calls by stakeholders for the local community to rally in opposition.

After last year’s attempt to reintroduce dingoes to the Grampians / Gariwerd National Park failed, those celebrating the outcome have found it frustrating to now fight a similar battle again, but were this time even more alarmed as the scope of the reintroduction proposal covers any park or reserve in the state.

At the recent shire council meeting, councillor, Albert Calvano moved a motion identifying recommendation 8 and 28 of the 2021 Ecosystem Decline Inquiry Report and asking for a letter be written by the council to the premier, Daniel Andrews; agriculture minister, Mary Anne Thomas; energy, environment and climate change minister, Lily D’Ambrosio and other government and shadow ministers to voice their concerns.

“This report recommends the reintroduction of dingoes/wild dog hybrids into any park/reserve in Victoria, and to make them protected and to cease lethal control – that means no poisoning and no shooting,” Cr Calvano said at the meeting.

“These recommendations, if accepted by Victorian MPs, would cause devastation to farmers and livestock and wool industry and the people they employ.

“Ceasing lethal control of pests would mean that pest numbers would increase rapidly and lead to more livestock and native animals being mauled or killed.

“Agriculture is our number one industry in our shire and I see no benefit in introducing a species such as dingoes/hybrid wild dogs that threatens this industry and their livelihood.”

The tabled motion commended the State Government “for the work undertaken with regard to the Inquiry into Ecosystem Decline in Victoria” but pointed out “the introduction of dingoes into this landscape without adequate fencing and control mechanisms … pose a significant risk to the local economy and community.”

Speaking with The Spectator, Cr Calvano backed up his position at the meeting and claimed that the negative effects of such a decision could be felt by other businesses and individuals not directly involved and hoped others would voice their opposition to the State Government.

“(The industry) supports other industries,” he said.

“It’s our duty as a community … it impacts others, we don’t want our number one industry threatened by anyone.”

Victoria Valley sheep farmers, John and Rhonda Crawford have been concerned the fight to be free from dingoes wasn’t over and hoped the community wasn’t jaded by their requests to repeat the same outcome.

“What we’re finding is that people have signed our first petition and then think, ‘that’s the end of it’, but it’s not,” Ms Crawford said.

“John and I can’t ring every farmer in the Western District.

“It isn’t off the agenda … this is their way of getting it through.”

Ms Crawford was happy to see the shire council again publicly opposing the reintroduction.

“This motion was passed unanimously,” she said.

“This time they’re going to write to the premier. They are putting their neck out, they are sticking up for us.”

Ms Crawford said “we’ve had farmers from all around the south-west ringing up” including people from the Glenelg and Moyne Shires; the issue was a concern for many.

“You would hardly find a farmer in the shire that would want (dingoes) reintroduced,” she said.

The dingo petition is available in the following places for people to sign in Hamilton - at the saleyards, Quinn’s Sportspower, Robinson’s Sport Scene, Hamilton Vetcare, and Elders.

It will also be at Cavendish Bridge Café, at Kelly’s Mitre 10 in Penshurst, and in Dunkeld at the Post Office, General Store and Kelly’s Mitre 10.

Out to the west, it will be at Casterton Farm Supplies, Heywood Hardware, Nelson Kiosk and in Dartmoor at the General Store and Op Shop.