Mr WOOD - 2007-02-20
The caretaker at the Buffalo Creek boat ramp and car park informed your department about a pack of up to nine dogs roaming around the park and surrounding area. Recently, a pair of German naturalists studying in the area was frightened by these dogs. The caretaker believes this pack of dogs could attack people using the park, especially young children. What is the government doing to rid the park of these dogs, considering that the Parks and Wildlife Service is the only entity with the power to lay baits?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nelson for his question. Since this has come to my attention, I have asked the rangers and the department to have a look at this issue; whether those wild dogs are dingos breeding within the park or if they are dogs that have been abandoned. You have answered in part where you said it is a pack of nine dogs. The department is investigating this issue at the moment.
My information from the department at lunchtime today is that some of the dogs have gone from the reserve. That has been reported to Darwin City Council. Once they are off the reserve they become the responsibility of that council. We are working with Darwin City Council and the rangers at the Casuarina Coastal Reserve and around the Buffalo Creek ramp area to check for those dogs.
Mr Wood: In Defence land too.
Ms SCRYMGOUR: Sorry?
Mr Wood: Defence land, too.
Ms SCRYMGOUR: Yes, we are working with those rangers and with Darwin City Council to try to address that. I will update the member for Nelson when I get more information from those rangers if the dogs come back. My understanding is that they have gone off the reserve, but I will keep you updated.
Whilst we are on Buffalo Creek, Madam Speaker, things are much more improved since the Medlicotts have now settled in and are caretaking there. I thank them; they have done a fantastic job. The Buffalo Creek ramp has been problematic in the past, and issues have settled down, so I thank them. They alerted the department immediately when that became an issue.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nelson for his question. Since this has come to my attention, I have asked the rangers and the department to have a look at this issue; whether those wild dogs are dingos breeding within the park or if they are dogs that have been abandoned. You have answered in part where you said it is a pack of nine dogs. The department is investigating this issue at the moment.
My information from the department at lunchtime today is that some of the dogs have gone from the reserve. That has been reported to Darwin City Council. Once they are off the reserve they become the responsibility of that council. We are working with Darwin City Council and the rangers at the Casuarina Coastal Reserve and around the Buffalo Creek ramp area to check for those dogs.
Mr Wood: In Defence land too.
Ms SCRYMGOUR: Sorry?
Mr Wood: Defence land, too.
Ms SCRYMGOUR: Yes, we are working with those rangers and with Darwin City Council to try to address that. I will update the member for Nelson when I get more information from those rangers if the dogs come back. My understanding is that they have gone off the reserve, but I will keep you updated.
Whilst we are on Buffalo Creek, Madam Speaker, things are much more improved since the Medlicotts have now settled in and are caretaking there. I thank them; they have done a fantastic job. The Buffalo Creek ramp has been problematic in the past, and issues have settled down, so I thank them. They alerted the department immediately when that became an issue.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016