Hon. Robin Chapple questions the Minister for Lands regarding feral goat populations and land degradation at Quobba Station, revisiting a 2010 inquiry. The Minister maintains the 2010 assessment that drought, not overgrazing, is the primary cause of destruction.

AnsweredQoN 433Legislative Council
Asked
10 April 2014
Portfolio
Lands

QuestionView source ↗

QUOBBA
STATION — FERAL GOAT S
433. Hon ROBIN CHAPPLE to the
parliamentary secretary representing the Minister for Lands:
I refer to question
on notice 2675 asked in the Legislative Council on Thursday, 16 September 2010.
(1) What is the
current density of the goat population in the vicinity of Quobba station?
(2) In 2010, the minister said that the
destruction in the Red Bluff area was caused by the effects of drought, rather
than overgrazing. Does the minister still believe this is a true and accurate
assessment today?
(3) If yes to (2),
why?
(4) If no to (2),
why not?

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the
honourable member for some notice of this question.
(1) The most recent information, as at June
2013, indicates that 883 goats were removed from Quobba station. This equates
to an average density of approximately 1.2 goats removed per square kilometre.
(2) Yes.
(3) No more recent information regarding
rangeland conditions on Quobba station has become available since 2010.
(4) Not applicable.

Explore WA Government Data

Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.

Explore more