Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2018C00160:reg:2008:p12
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2018C00160
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 2008 (pt 12/19)
Character Range: 37640–41487

and standard operating procedures for humane management of goats, in conjunction with the national feral livestock code of practice.

4.6                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         Medium priority, long term
Promote commercial use approaches that complement conservation objectives.

4.7                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         High priority, medium term
Investigate the potential to integrate a range of conventional control techniques to eradicate isolated or island populations of unmanaged goats.

    Objective 5

Increase awareness of all stakeholders of the objectives and actions of the TAP, and of the need to control unmanaged goats

Key actions for Objective 5 focus on ensuring that the TAP actions, and the need to manage goats, are communicated to interested parties by preparing and distributing extension materials. Working with primary producers of goats will be important to minimise the risk of recruitment of their goat stock into unmanaged populations, particularly outside the rangelands, and to finding approaches that take into account their economic interests in goat harvesting.

The promotion of extension materials as noted in Action 5.1 will help develop knowledge and understanding of the 18 actions listed in Objectives 1–4 of the TAP, of the techniques used in controlling unmanaged goats, and why competition by feral goats is listed as a key threatening process. Action 5.2 is to monitor the economic costs of control activities and compare these to the environmental benefits gained through control of unmanaged goats, using information from the actions under Objectives 2 and 3.

Performance indicators

   Widespread use of current 'best practice' techniques in control of unmanaged goats.
   Greater awareness in the rural community about issues surrounding unmanaged goats.
  • Increased awareness of the TAP actions and objectives.

Action                                                                                                                                                  Priority and timeframe

5.1 Promote:                                                                                                                                            High priority, short term

• broad understanding of the threat to biodiversity posed by unmanaged goats and support for their control

• basic protocols for effective control of unmanaged goats in conservation areas and farmlands including, for example, with primary producers of goats

• the importance of competition and land degradation by unmanaged goats as a key threatening process

• understanding and adoption of the actions to be undertaken under this plan

• the use of humane and cost-effective goat control methods, and

• the involvement of the community in controlling unmanaged goats.

5.2 Compare the economic costs and environmental benefits of control activities.                                                                        Medium priority, medium term

3. Duration, cost, implementation and evaluation of the plan

3.1  Duration and cost of the plan

This plan reflects the fact that the threat abatement process is likely to be ongoing, as unmanaged goats are established in Australia. In most cases, the ongoing costs of controlling unmanaged goats will be high. Current options for control in mainland areas are mustering, trapping and aerial shooting. All of these are expensive,