Cape cull plan on agenda

TOM VOLLING FERAL cattle culls across Cape York will be a hot issue when graziers meet next week.

Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service Senior Ranger Jack Hargreaves, who looks after the cattle management program, will address cattlemen about their rights at workshops at Cooktown, Laura and Coen next week.

AgForce North President Russell Lethbridge, who runs Werrington Station near Einasleigh, said the peninsula was a “hot spot” for feral cattle.

“There are a lot of questions as to how they are dealing with neighbours’ cattle and things like that,” he said.

“They are talking about shooting them out and people need to know their rights.”

QPWS has been removing cattle from national parks since the 1970s.

The traditional removal method — mustering of cattle from parks — was not successful in reducing numbers.

The first Cape York culling program was held at Cape Melville National Park in 2010.

A QPWS spokesman said lethal control was the “final option” to remove cattle.

“The cattle culling program has been underway since 2010. In that time, many thousands of cattle have been humanely destroyed,” she said.

“Feral cattle and other feral animals are known to have significant impacts on the natural and cultural values of national parks on Cape York Peninsula. Cattle are also known to cause significant damage to sensitive wetlands and waterways.”

The department says the cattle can impact water quality and impact the health and resilience of the Great Barrier Reef.

Another issue is when beasts from cattle stations wander on to neighbouring national parks.