A local veterinarian has waited more than two years for action on the use of an agricultural poison after her six-year-old son found their pet dog dead on the Monjingup horse property where they live.
“It was my son that found the 1080 bait that got vomited up,” Dr Stephaney Hewlett said.
“This year we have had two other dogs die suspiciously.”
Esperance Shire Councillors have expressed considerable frustration at the length of time it has taken for a State Government Department to answer a request to review use of 1080 baiting.
In August 2022 Council accepted a petition from Dr Hewlett to stop the use of 1080 baits in what was then the Monjingup Special Rural Zone.
At the time Council resolved to ask its CEO to make a submission to the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development to “request consideration of appropriate changes in the Code of Practice for 1080” that finds a balance between agricultural use and neighbouring intense land use.
At the same time Council voted to lay the matter on the table for six months until the outcomes of this review and also an incident report by the Department of Health were released.
“We are at the stage where it has been quite emotionally exhausting,” Dr Hewlett said.
Shire chief executive Shane Burge said there was “still no response” from DPIRD.
Shire president Ron Chambers made the point that regulating the use of 1080 was a matter of State Government jurisdiction, not the Shire’s role.
Cr Wes Graham then moved to ask the CEO to make a formal submission to DPIRD on the Shire’s behalf, which Cr Shayne Flanagan seconded and all councillors passed.
The chemical sodium fluoroacetate, known by the brand name 1080, has been used since the 1950s to control rabbits, more recently foxes and wild dogs.
Photo: Rhyshuw1
