Information on the Darling Downs-Moreton
Rabbit Board
The Darling Downs-Moreton Rabbit Board maintains 555 km of Rabbit-proof
fence, which runs from Mt Gipps (near Rathdowney) to Goombi (between Chinchilla
and Miles), where it joins up with the Wild Dog Barrier Fence. Travel along the rabbit-proof fence is not
permitted without prior authority from the Darling Downs-Moreton Rabbit Board
and each individual landholder.
The Board’s role is to maintain the fence in
rabbit-proof
condition and to monitor compliance with the Land Protection
(Pest and Stock Route Management) Act 2002. The board provides
technical and other advice to
landholders in the board operational area to assist with rabbit eradication.
The board area is made up of 8
local authorities, and covers approximately 28,000 square kilometres.
The board currently
employs
16 staff and maintains 8 houses along the fence for the patrolmen and their families. Although most of
the patrols are now done by motor vehicle or quad bike, some patrols
must still be done on foot, due to the rugged nature of the terrain.
When the fence was first constructed in 1893, the cost
to erect the fence was
approximately $113.00 per mile. The last additional section of
fence to be erected in 1997,
north from
Goombi to link with the Wild Dog Barrier Fence (approx. 24 kilometres) cost approximately
$6500.00 per kilometre. This
cost has increased significantly over the ensuing years. The most recent
cost estimate for rabbit-proof fencing is approximately $16,000.00 to
$17,000.00 per km, depending upon terrain and soil type.
In most cases the Rabbit-proof fence is 1220 mm high, and the foot-netting, where
possible, is buried 200 mm into the ground.
In a number of areas the rabbit fence
also acts
as a wild-dog fence, with 184 km of the
rabbit fence being top-netted to a height of 1800
mm. It has been estimated that Rabbits cost the Australian rural industry
in excess of $ 600 million per year.
A study undertaken by Mr. John Robertshaw in 1994
(Department of Natural
Resources and Water (NR&W)) on the value of the Rabbit Board to the rural communities, came to
the conclusion that the Darling Downs-Moreton Rabbit Board saved the 19 shires
and cities it protects approximately
$ 30 million per year. These savings were
achieved through better stocking rates, more wool production per head of sheep,
less accidents due to absence of rabbit burrows, a more productive small crops
industry and less land degradation.
The 8 local authority areas protected by the Darling Downs-Moreton
Rabbit Board pay an annual precept to DPI&F for this service.
Land Protection Officers (from Biosecurity Queensland -
DPI&F) assist
landholders with rabbit control in regions that fall outside
the board operational area.
Methods to Eradicate Rabbits include the following:
