Roaming pigs are wreaking havoc in a north-west Tasmanian farming community, prompting “heated” disputes between neighbours, and costing ratepayers tens of thousands of dollars.
A population of pigs now numbering more than 150 has been roaming Gunns Plains on the Central Coast in north-west Tasmania since about 2000.
The Central Coast Council has been pushing for law changes that it says will enable better management of the problem, but has so far been unable to convince the state government.
The “roaming” pigs are not legally considered to be feral. (Supplied: Tiana Pirtle)
Central Coast Mayor Cheryl Fuller said the pigs had not only caused significant damage to roads and property, they have also attacked people and their pets.
“Pigs can be very unkind,” Cr Fuller told ABC Radio Mornings.
“These pigs will destroy fences, they will eat crops.”
Cheryl Fuller says councils need to be given more powers to deal with nuisance pigs. (ABC Northern Tasmania: Rick Eaves)
She said the situation could cause significant angst among residents, particularly if animals that technically belong to someone else are being shot.
“It can be very inflammatory when somebody else’s animal destroys your property,” Cr Fuller said.
“It became very, very heated.”
Cheryl Fuller says pigs will destroy fences and eat crops. (Supplied: Tiana Pirtle)
If a pig is feral in Tasmania, is it actually a pest?
Cr Fuller said the council did not consider them feral, but it was concerned they could become pests if inadequately managed.
Tasmania’s Environment and Resources Department said feral pigs in the state were only found on Flinders Island and were being managed.
“Any pigs at large on mainland Tasmania are considered to be domestic stock,” the department’s website says.
Dr Tiana Pirtle from the Invasive Species Council told ABC Radio Mornings feral pigs were one of Australia’s most destructive pests.
“Pigs are really destructive to the environment and agriculture,” Dr Pirtle said.
“They thrash waterways and wetlands, destroy crops and infrastructure and kill native plants and animals.
“They also attack people and are a danger on the road.”
Fears population could explode if left unchecked
Dr Pirtle said if left unchecked, the state’s roaming domestic pig population could grow by 85 per cent per year, and could become a feral population of 30,000 animals over the next decade.
“It doesn’t take long for these populations to explode,” she said.
“It really is a matter of urgency to get on top of these roaming pigs now, before it becomes a huge problem and nearly impossible [to reverse].”
Dr Pirtle said she had also heard reports of other populations north-east of Waratah, and a small population near Hobart.
Council spends $95k on controlling pigs
This week, the Local Government Association of Tasmania (LGAT) passed a motion, brought by the Central Coast Council, pushing for law changes to enable better management of the environmental and economic risks posed by wild and nuisance pigs.
Cr Fuller said the Local Government Act currently only allowed councils to fine the owners of roaming pigs — which only worked in limited circumstances — and order that animals be brought under control.
The Central Coast Council says it has limited powers when it comes to dealing with wild pigs. (Supplied: Tiana Pirtle)
She said her council’s attempts to remedy the Gunns Plains situation, including security fencing and containment of the pigs, would cost ratepayers at least $53,500.
The total cost was $95,000, but the council can attempt to recoup the rest from the landowner via a payment, or as a debt against their property.
A debt against the property would be paid to the council if and when the property was sold. Cr Fuller said that could take “decades”.
She said LGAT would try to engage with the Natural Resources and Environment Department and push for changes to the Animal Welfare Act, the Local Government Act, and other laws.
“You’d think on an island we could get really good at managing feral populations,” Cr Fuller said.
Tasmanian councils are calling on the state government to strengthen laws around wild pig management. (Supplied: Tiana Pirtle)
“We have the opportunity to contain them, we just need the state government to work with us.”
She said the council “was not precious” about the solutions needed, but that the state government needed to give councils more power if it wanted them to do the work.
Primary Industries Minister Jane Howlett said the government was aware of the Gunns Plains “wild and nuisance pigs”.
And although she said the environment department was not considering changes to the Animal Welfare Act, she did not answer questions about potential changes to other laws.
