NEARLY 7km of fencing will be erected on K’gari (Fraser Island) to reduce interactions between visitors and dingoes on the World Heritage site.
Member for Hervey Bay Adrian Tantari announced at the weekend that the Queensland Government would spend $2-million on a dingo-proof fence on the island.
The fencing will act as a barrier at Orchid Beach.
The move comes after several separate attacks on the island in recent months.
Mr Tantari thanked Minister for Environment Meaghan Scanlon “for acting quickly and decisively.”
The Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service on K’gari (Fraser Island) announced a new safety blitz on the world heritage-listed island. The move follows several aggressive incidents involving dingoes on K’gari. While fencing, ranger patrols and education programs will be beefed up, officials also said there is a need for visitors to K’gari to play their part in preventing similar incidents. Click here to read how you can be dingo-safe when visiting the world’s largest sand island.
Mr Tantari and Fraser Coast Mayor George Seymour had both advocated for intervention to reduce interactions between native dingoes around built-up areas on K’gari.
“This excellent outcome is what can be achieved when the Queensland Government and Fraser Coast Regional Council work together to secure safe outcomes for the community and K’gari,” Mr Tantari explained.
Ms Scanlon said the fencing would help keep visitors, Orchid Beach locals and the native dingo population safe.
“Rangers believe [some dingoes] no longer show apprehension when approaching humans because they have been deliberately fed or eaten food scraps,” Ms Scanlon said.
The Butchulla Aboriginal Corporation is hopeful the new interpretive centre located on K’gari (Fraser Island) will help preserve and pass on cultural knowledge to future Butchulla generations as well as visitors to the island. The K’gari World Heritage Discovery Centre was officially opened in March, 2021. The facility is geared towards increasing visitor understanding, appreciation and conservation of K’gari. BAC Chairperson Veronica Bird said visitors must understand the significance of the island to the Butchulla people.
The new fencing at Orchid Beach will add to the 24 already enclosed campsites and townships on the island.
“The fence will act as an important reminder for people to be mindful that they’re visiting an area native to dingoes and to be dingo-safe every time they visit,” Mr Tantari said.
Department of Environment officials will now work with representatives of the Butchulla community to design and align the fence.
The Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service on K’gari (Fraser Island) has launched a new safety blitz on the World Heritage-listed island following a period of increased dingo and human interactions. New dingo deterrent fences, ranger patrols and a community education push all form part of the strategy. People to understand that feeding dingoes is not only extremely dangerous, but also detrimental to the animals. The Butchulla Aboriginal Corporation believes people’s actions must be managed on the island, opposed to strategies trying to control native species.
People can be slapped with spot fines of up to $2,135 if found to be feeding or deliberately disturbing dingoes.
