Fencing saving lambs

THOUSANDS of kilometres of fencing built to protect sheep from wild dog attacks in western Queensland has seen the region’s lamb production jump 70 per cent in two years.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said an increase in the region’s lambing rates from 20 per cent to 90 per cent was a direct result of her government’s investment in fencing.

“This funding will result in an additional head of 213,000 sheep in the state flock, generating 45 fulltime jobs worth $2.5 million per year,” she said.

The Longreach Regional Council received a one-off $18 million loan from the state government as part of its $31.2 million commitment to fight the scourge of wild dogs, with another $13.2 million in grants for other regions.

The Premier said 300 western Queensland properties were now protected.