Current projects
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| Locust nymphs emerge from an egg bed. |
Plague locust action plan
RLPB staff are working closely with the NSW Department of Primary Industries (NSW DPI) to develop an action plan to tackle spring 2008 hatchings of plague locusts.
The aim any control campaign will be to contain the outbreak at the nymphal stage using ground control to prevent the locusts from migrating, breeding and laying more eggs.
Under the Rural Lands Protection Act 1998, landholders are required to report the presence of plague locusts on their land to their local RLPB. They are also required to use insecticide to control locust nymphs when the nymphs band together. Insecticide is provided free of charge from local RLPBs provided locust activity meets certain criteria.
Rural Lands Protection Boards work together with NSW Department of Primary Industries (NSW DPI), the NSW Farmers’ Association, the Australian Plague Locust Commission (APLC) and NSW landholders to control locusts in NSW.
Monitoring
RLPB staff are collating locust reports from landholders, carrying out on-ground inspections and mapping locust activity. Known eggbed sites can then be monitored into the spring when hatching is expected. APLC staff are also conducting surveys.
Role of landholders
Landholders have a responsibility under the Rural Lands Protection Act 1998 to report the presence of plague locusts to their Rural Lands Protection Board and to control locusts/nymphs on their land, using insecticide provided from the RLPB. The stocks of insecticide are funded from the Pest Insect Levy paid by all RLPB ratepayers in NSW.
It is vital that landholders cooperate and:
- Report all infestations to their local Rural Lands Protection Board.
- Control locust bands on their land by treating them with insecticide.
Control methods
Ground control by landholders when the nymph form of the locusts band together provides the most effective opportunity to control locusts.
To report locust activity contact your local RLPB.
Current situation
For more information about the current situation in NSW visit NSW DPI's web site.
Trial to see foxes declared pests
In the north of NSW, the RLPB is spearheading a trial aimed at having foxes declared as pests.
State Council of Rural Lands Protection Boards and the Northern New England RLPB have been working with a number of agencies to get trial off the ground and bring greater consistency to fox control and eradication programs.
A pest control order for foxes has been declared in the D division of the Board district west of Glen Innes for a trial period of three years under the Rural Lands Protection Act.
More information is available in this media release.
Cooperative wild dog and fox control program
The Yass RLPB, in the south-east of NSW, is a key player in an innovative approach to wild dog/fox management that has been adopted as a model for wild dog/fox control across the state.
The Brindabella and Wee Jasper Valleys cooperative wild dog and fox control program covers approxiamtely 150 000ha of land at the northern end of the Australian Alps and in its first four years of operation resulted in attacks on stock decreasing by 75 per cent.
Other partners are NPWS and Forests NSW.
Read more about Yass RLPB's involvement in the cooperative wild dog and fox control program (NPWS website).
Pest research
Pest animal survey 2004-06
RLPB rangers were key collaborators in the Pest Animal Survey 2004-06 (West and Saunders), which reports the extent, impact and control of pest animals in NSW.
To read more about the survey or to download the survey see the following website: www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/pests-weeds/vertebrate-pests/general/pest-animal-survey