Hunters in north east Victoria are reaping the benefits of the Victorian Coalition Government’s fox and wild dog bounty, which has easily outdone the former Labor government’s Fox Stop program.
Member for Benalla, Bill Sykes said 1148 fox scalps had been collected throughout north east Victoria since the bounty began in October last year.
This includes 458 at the Benalla Collection Centre, 144 at Mansfield, 165 at Ovens and 381 at Wodonga.
Wild dog scalps so far collected at Mansfield are 28, Ovens 13 and Wodonga 37.
“Foxes and wild dogs can devastate wild life populations, flocks and in some cases wild dogs attack young cattle,” Dr Sykes said.
“I have had my own sheep and lambs attacked by foxes and dogs – it is absolutely heart wrenching to see the mutilated and dead stock after the foxes or dogs have had a ‘night out’.
“The response to the Coalition’s decision to reinstate a true and proper fox and wild dog bounty has been overwhelming.
“Total collections across Victoria are nearing 30,000, which speaks volumes about how badly this bounty was needed.”
Dr Sykes said Labor had all but ignored the pleas of farmers and landholders who were fighting a losing battle against rising fox and wild dog numbers.
“The bounty is not a total solution, but it’s playing an important part in our efforts to reduce the impact of foxes and wild dogs on food and fibre producers throughout the north east,” Dr Sykes said.
“Not surprisingly I have received extremely positive feedback from local hunters who had been calling for an end to the previous ad hoc and inconsistent fox control programs.”
The Coalition’s $4 million bounty has already seen 27,824 fox scalps and wild dog skins handed in across Victoria, compared to just 20,034 foxes killed over the life of Fox Stop.
“We are delivering on our key election commitment to reinstate a true fox and wild dog bounty by offering Victorian farmers and hunters $10 for each fox and $50 for each wild dog,” Dr Sykes concluded.
The next collections are: Ovens - 5338 Great Alpine Road 24 April 1.30pm to 3.30pm, Wodonga - 14 Moorefield Park Drive 24 April 9am to 11am, Benalla - 89 Sydney Road 26 April 10.30am to 12.30pm, Mansfield -128 Highett Street 26 April 2.30pm to 4.30pm.
For opening times and full details of the terms and conditions for the fox and wild dog bounty, go to www.dpi.vic.gov.au/bounty or contact the DPI Customer Service Centre on 136 186.

Member for Benalla and Parliamentary Secretary for Primary Industries, Bill Sykes said today that the 2012 Victorian Hunting guide is now available online and thousands of copies are being mailed to Victoria’s 40,000 licensed hunters over the coming week, just in time for the start of the upcoming duck season.
“Victoria and many parts of the Benalla Electorate offer a diverse range of hunting opportunities from deer hunting in the alpine regions to duck hunting on selected wetlands. The Alpine National Park and Lake Eildon National Park, for example, allow hunting but subject to various conditions.
“The Victorian Government is committed to providing even better opportunities for licensed hunters to enjoy their recreation and to promote the growth of hunting businesses in regional areas across the state.
“The Coalition is encouraging more people to interact with the natural environment and to take advantage of the outstanding opportunities for hunting, fishing and other outdoor activities that we have to offer.
“However it is important that we work closely with the hunting community to achieve these outcomes, based on the sustainable management of our game species,” Dr Sykes said.
Minister for Agriculture and Food Security, Peter Walsh said, “The Victorian Coalition Government produces the Hunting Guide each year to provide the hunting community with important information on game hunting laws, including open season dates and bag limits, hunter ethics and firearm safety.
“The free guide is an important link between the industry, hunting organisations and the government. It also provides information about the newly created Game Victoria, which is the body responsible for managing game hunting in the state.
“I urge all new and experienced hunters to familiarise themselves with the rules and regulations for the coming hunting seasons,” Mr Walsh said.
Dr Sykes concluded that it is important to ensure the sustainability and safety of game hunting in Victoria, but there are heavy financial penalties for those who do the wrong thing, as well as the possibility of losing game and firearms licenses and firearms.
The Hunting Guide will be sent free of charge to all licensed game hunters while a further 10,000 copies will be available at Department of Primary Industries (DPI) regional offices and an online version is available at www.dpi.vic.gov.au/game-hunting.
The 2012 duck season opens on 17 March and finishes on 11 June.
For further information on game hunting in Victoria contact the DPI customers service centre on 13 61 86

The Victorian Coalition Government is giving doggers greater arsenal in the fight to control wild dogs by reintroducing Lane’s leg-hold traps.

Agriculture and Food Security Minister Peter Walsh said Department of Primary Industries (DPI) doggers would be able to use modified Lane’s traps from 1 January next year.

Mr Walsh said Lane’s traps were banned by the Brumby Labor Government in December
2008.

“Wild dogs cost Victorian farmers $18 million each year in lost livestock,” Mr Walsh said.

“It is vital that we do all we can to reduce the impact of these predators, particularly in Gippsland and the north east where they are the most severe.

“Some farmers have been so devastated by wild dog attacks they have left the farming industry entirely. This cannot continue.

“Wild dogs also change the natural environment by killing vulnerable native fauna like spotted quoll.”

Primary Industries Parliamentary Secretary Bill Sykes said Lane’s traps that are not used by DPI doggers would be modified to meet regulations and offered to landowners as part of an exchange program to remove old, rusty traps.

“The modified traps will be shortened and will feature pads instead of serrated jaws, to improve trap technology and animal welfare outcomes,” Dr Sykes said.

The Victorian Coalition Government will also maintain 72 hour trap checking to give doggers greater flexibility to bait over a wider area and utilise other strategic control methods.

Mr Walsh said the reintroduction of Lane’s leg-hold traps, coupled with the introduction of the wild dog bounty and an aerial baiting scheme to start next May, showed the Victorian Coalition Government was serious about controlling wild dogs.

“These measures show we are acting on landholders’ concerns about wild dogs, which went
ignored for years under Labor,” Mr Walsh said.

Member for Benalla, Bill Sykes has welcomed a recent announcement by the Deputy Premier Peter Ryan on the formation of a Livestock and Farm Crime Specialists Group within Victoria Police.
“Livestock theft and other farm related crimes such as machinery and equipment theft are significant issues and causes real financial hardship and distress to honest, hard working farming families.
“Many farmers in this electorate have livestock with impressive bloodlines, which can only be achieved through years of diligent management. The theft of livestock in these situations can be devastating to the ongoing quality of stud herds and flocks and the farm enterprise.
“The Benalla Electorate has a large number absentee landowners and farming families who work away from their properties. This creates opportunities for thieves and often means theft can go without detection for long periods.”
Dr Sykes said with livestock theft and farm crime an increasing problem in regional Victoria the establishment of a specialist group to target the problem is good news for farmers.
Dr Sykes said livestock theft was a unique crime and required good local knowledge and specialist investigative skills and a good partnership between government, police and agricultural groups to catch those responsible.
The initiative includes;
• A statewide network of police investigators undertaking extensive training to form the Livestock and Farm Crime Specialists Group and act as a point of contact by farmers;
• A committee, chaired by Victoria Police, and including representatives from the Victorian Farmers Federation, Department of Primary Industries, the Municipal Association of Victoria, the Stock Agents Association of Victoria and other agencies, will meet regularly to discuss emerging trends and issues relating to livestock theft and farm related crime;
• An online intranet ‘investigation hub’ will be launched and sit within the Victoria Police website; and
• The Victoria Police Crime Department will conduct a six monthly Livestock and Agricultural conference to be conducted by the Victoria Police Crime Department to look at current trends and how they relate to specific regions.

Euroa and Myrtleford Agricultural and Pastoral Societies are two of 55 Agricultural Societies across Victoria who have received funding from the Department of Primary Industries Agricultural and Pastoral Grants Program to support their local shows.
The Euroa Agricultural Society has been granted $5,416 to upgrade the power supply and lighting at the showground.
Neville Mawson, President of the Euroa Agricultural Society said the fund would be a tremendous help.
“We will use the funding to provide power to the sheep pavilion and lighting in the cattle pavilion as well as upgrading the infrastructure where the power is housed. These upgrades will enable us to provide top quality power to user groups and the show society.”
$4,381 has been granted to the Myrtleford and District Agricultural Society to purchase a PA system for the showground.
President of the Myrtleford and District Agricultural Society Basil Kneebone said, “This funding is good news and means everything because we can now communicate with visitors and exhibitors at the show without having to hire a PA system each year. The PA system will also be able to be used at other events held at the grounds.”
Dr Sykes said, “I am very pleased that we have been able to support both Euroa and Myrtleford Agricultural Societies so that they can continue their valuable work and contribution to their local communities.”
Dr Sykes said that projects such as these are important as they contribute to ensuring the ongoing viability of local shows.
“Our local Agricultural Shows are an integral part of many of our rural communities and it is important that we, as the Victorian Government, do what we can to support their activities.
“Both Euroa and Myrtleford will hold their annual show on October 22 and I am looking forward to attending both as well as officiating at the Friday night opening of the Euroa Show on Friday 14 October.”
Dr Sykes said he was also proud to support the Benalla Spring Show as a gold sponsor which celebrates its 129th show this year on Friday 14 and Saturday 15 October.
“I also hope to be able to attend the Alexandra Show on Saturday 12 November and the Mansfield Show on Saturday 19 November.”

Young farmers committed to a career in agriculture can now apply for Victorian Coalition Government grants of up to $10,000 to enhance the productivity and sustainability of their businesses, Member for Benalla, Bill Sykes said today.

He said the Victorian Coalition Government had allocated $1.2 million to the First Farm Grant Program which would continue for one year or until the funds were allocated.

“The First Farm grants are part of the Victorian Coalition Government’s comprehensive assistance package designed to support young people pursuing a career in food and fibre production,” Dr Sykes
said.

“The program was due to expire under the Labor Government, but the Coalition Government allocated additional funds to reinstate the grants.

“Food and fibre production underpins the well-being of rural communities and is crucial in ensuring Victoria’s economy grows strongly and is competitive in the future.

In this year’s budget the Coalition Government announced a range of initiatives to encourage more young people to take up a career in agriculture.

“Farmers continue the long process of recovering from drought, fires and flood and these grants are an important part of that recovery,” Dr Sykes said.

“Farmers who were under 35 on July 1 are eligible to apply for the grants, and I would encourage them to do so.”

Dr Sykes said grants include up to $3,000 for business planning and an additional grant for development activities, totalling a combined value of up to $10,000,” he said.

“This will allow young farmers to improve their management skills as well as prepare for future challenges, while also providing capital investment for their enterprise.”

Young farmers who were on the waiting list for the First Farm grant last year will need to apply again as some of the eligibility criteria have changed to provide greater consistency across the government’s range of initiatives for young farmers.

The First Farm Grant Program will be delivered through DPI and administered by the Rural Finance Corporation. The program began on 1 July 2011 and will conclude on 30 June 2012. Selection criteria and other information can be viewed on the DPI and Rural Finance websites.

The Victorian Government has launched an online engagement forum to encourage more people to have their say on the Murray-Darling Basin Plan.

The forum gives people an immediate opportunity to be involved in the development of the plan, not just its implementation.

The Minister for Water Peter Walsh was in Bendigo on Thursday to address Goulburn-Murray Water’s customer committees, and said it was vital people had their say on the draft plan when it was released next month.

Member for Benalla, Bill Sykes said the online forum gives Victoria’s Basin communities an excellent opportunity to share their views, including those in North East Victoria.

“A YouTube channel has been established for all Victorians to have their say on the Basin Plan which will feed into the work of Victoria’s Basin Plan Advisory Group,” Dr Sykes said.

“The online forum gives community members across the State, not just those in the advisory group, the opportunity to participate in the debate.

“The equitable management of water is critical to the future of North East Victoria.

“Past experiences with constraints on the construction of farm dams, the decommissioning of Lake Mokoan and the North-South Pipeline highlight the impact of poor policy.

“It may be a case of ‘speak up now or forever hold your peace’.

“As well as being part of the discussion, people can also upload their own videos to share what they think of the Basin Plan and how it will impact on their lives, businesses and futures.”

Victoria’s Basin Plan Advisory Group online forum is at www.youtube.com/BasinadvisoryGroup

Victoria's Basin Plan Advisory Group was appointed by the Minister for Water Peter Walsh and is supported by a secretariat at the Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE).

The regional advisory group is established as a non-consensus discussion group so that participants can receive timely and factual information about the Basin Plan and to provide views and advice to the Victorian Government on issues relating to the plan.

The Baillieu-Ryan Government will provide $3,750 towards the replacement of the poultry display pens at the Benalla Showgrounds which were severely damaged in the September 2010 floods.
Member for Benalla, Bill Sykes said, “The funding will enable the replacement and repair of about 250 poultry display pens that were either damaged or destroyed when the flood waters inundated the Benalla Showgrounds on 4 September last year.”
The Benalla Poultry Club holds at least four shows and sales throughout the year with more than 550 birds on display at any one event.
Due to Benalla’s central location for North East Victoria and Southern NSW, Benalla has presented state and national shows over many years and these events have generated economic activity for the Benalla Agricultural and Pastoral Society and Benalla’s small business sector.
“The project will provide a modern facility that ensures displayed birds are well cared for and will enable events to again be held at the Benalla Showgrounds,” Dr Sykes said.
“The poultry display pens are also used during Benalla’s annual Showday with the poultry displays and competitions an important part of this popular local event.”
The project will cost $5,000 with the balance to be provided in-kind by the Benalla Agricultural and Pastoral Society.
Volunteers from the club will donate their labour to repair the extensively damaged cages, with a professional to undertake the replacement work.
The work is expected to be completed by the end of April.
Funding for the project is provided through the Flood Recovery Community Infrastructure Fund which forms part of the $10.4 million interim flood package.
The $10.4 million interim flood package was designed to help Victoria’s businesses, community infrastructure and tourism industry recover from the recent floods, with targeted grants to help communities bounce back.

Owners of local vineyards and orchards hit by hail storms a couple of weeks ago are counting the cost of the damage.
Local orchardists, Nightingale Brothers are amongst those who sustained severe damage to their orchard.
The problem is two fold – one is the loss of income associated with the loss of apples; the second is the need for ongoing expensive inputs to keep trees healthy and to be productive for the next season.
Historically Governments have been reluctant to provide financial assistance to people affected by hail storms on the basis that the risk can be insured against.
However local orchardists and vineyard owners have told local Member of Parliament, Bill Sykes that the cost of insurance is very high and with the decade of tough times most people have not been able to afford the cost of hail insurance.
Dr Sykes said, “The losses associated with the recent hailstorm are arguably a continuation of the last ten years of exceptional circumstances.
“I will therefore support any submissions by local grape growers and orchardists for government assistance.
“I have already spoken to staff at Regional Development Victoria who are keen to provide affected businesses with general support, something which I encourage them to take up.”
Dr Sykes concluded, “It is essential that Government support the local horticultural industry which is a critical part of our local economy.”

Footnote: Based on an industry survey, losses in the King Valley amount to approximately $3million – affecting 12 growers and 336 hectares of grapes.

Victoria’s locust plague looks to be spreading ahead of schedule and Nationals Member for Benalla, Bill Sykes said in Parliament this week that a change in leadership was needed against the war on locusts.
“The Brumby Government spin machine is in full flight generating a wave of self indulgent propaganda to boost the political fortunes of Field Marshall Brumby and Sergeant Helper as they lead the so called war on locusts,” Dr Sykes said.
“My office has been contacted by several concerned landholders who have expressed their displeasure with the amount of money being spent on advertising by the Brumby Government in relation to locusts.
“The Brumby Government must use Victorian taxpayers’ money more wisely and be more targeted in its public awareness activities and to focus on reducing locust numbers and minimising the damage which they will cause.”
Dr Sykes said, “Landholders are also critical of the fact that the State Government has placed on them the onus to monitor locust hatchings on private land and to spray locusts after they hatch.
“This is a very big job for farmers to do and I hope they are able to meet the challenge in addition to the daily work that needs to be done on farming properties.”
Dr Sykes said that in spite of the State Government’s disorganised and incompetent approach to the handling of the locust threat, he encouraged landholders to remain vigilant and to ensure they are ready to fight locusts.
Dr Sykes urged people finding large densities in town areas to advise the DPI Locust Hotline Number 1300 135 559.
As of today the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) ‘locust location map’ shows locust egg beds between Nagambie and Shepparton and hoppers outside Violet Town, Benalla, Nagambie and Alexandra and near Delatite (outside Mansfield). The map is based on voluntary notifications by the public and has not necessarily been verified by the DPI.
“It is important that farmers and other landholders monitor their properties, report hatchings or other activity to DPI and be prepared to spray so that no one is caught by surprise.”
Media enquiries Bill Sykes MP 0427 624 989