Cr Kathy Duff - Natural Resources Portfolio Report - 19 April 2017

Wild Dog and Feral Pig Baiting Program

Council in conjunction with Bio-security Queensland are participating in a coordinated Wild Dog & Feral Pig Baiting Program. Failure to control wild dogs and feral pigs can result in livestock losses, attacks on domestic pets and the loss of native fauna. Baiting stations will be held throughout the South Burnett between 8-12th May 2017.  For information and to register interest landholders are asked to contact Council’s Stock Route & Pest Officer, Kerry Hayes on 41899100. All participants must register their intention to conduct baiting no later than Friday 28 April. Owners of domestic and working dogs are advised to restrain and/or muzzle their dogs during the baiting program to minimise the risk of dogs wandering and coming into contact with poison baits.

Prescribed Burn Notification

Council will be conducting prescribed burn operations on Council Reserves between April and August of this year.  The identified reserves are Booie, Blackbutt Tip, Maidenwell, Boardman, Boondooma Dam, Proston Town Common, Staines Road Benarkin, Wondai East, Goodger Wetland, Nanango Tip, Kingaroy Night Soil Depot, Malar, Nanango Fauna Sanctuary, Old Esk Road Quarry, Tingoora and Gordonbrook Dam.

Dam Report

Boondooma Dam levels have improved from the previous 33% up to the current level of 54%. The Easter weekend was popular with 1057 visitors. This is not a record but is still a good number considering Easter fell on the last weekend of the school holidays which usually brings the numbers back.

Bjelke Petersen levels have improved from 22% up to 24%. The bulk of the rain didn’t fall in the catchment area and so the levels are still not ideal. There were 753 visitors over the Easter weekend which is again a good number but certainly not record numbers.

Airports

The Kingaroy Airport was closed after Cyclone Debbie due to some surface damage. It was only closed for one day and the repairs are complete.  The terminal repainting both internally and externally has now also been completed as part of the Capital Works program.