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More Cuts To Pest Animal And Plant ServicesThe Bracks Government continues to cut back on pest plant and animal officers throughout Victoria with catchment officer positions in Kyneton, Heathcote, Inglewood and St Arnaud the latest to be slashed. By Philip Davis - 26th July 2005 - Back to News Shadow Minister for Agriculture Philip Davis said he had been advised more pest plant and animal officers would be cut from country Victoria, leaving only three officers in the north-central region.
"Two catchment officer positions are being axed at St Arnaud and more at Kyneton, Heathcote and Inglewood," Mr Davis said.
"This will leave one officer each at Echuca and Kerang and two officers in Bendigo to service the whole north-central region.
"Landcare groups throughout the north-east region have no doubt the cuts will have a detrimental affect on the number of weeds, rabbits and foxes in the area."
Mr Davis said Landcare groups would be forced to work harder in their districts while the Bracks Government continues to neglect its responsibilities in country Victoria.
He said the axing of the Kyneton, Heathcote, Inglewood and St Arnaud regions added to the positions already being axed from the Ovens, Corryong, Whitfield, Euroa, Beechworth, Seymour, Orbost, Mirboo North and Yarram.
"It seems Labor’s Agriculture Minister Bob Cameron will not be satisfied until he slashes absolutely every agricultural service in country Victoria," Mr Davis said.
"Weeds and pest animals are already major problems and it beggars belief that Bob Cameron has seen fit to turn a blind eye."
Source: http://gippsland.com/ Published by: news@gippsland.com
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