Broken Hill’s RLPB OJD initiative makes finals for prestigious national award
The flockowners of Broken Hills Rural Lands Protection Board have been selected as one of three finalists in the Australian Farm Biosecurity Award for their work to keep Ovine Johnes Disease (OJD) out of the region.
The award is one of five Australian Rural and Outback Awards to be announced in Canberra on 19 September.
Regional Veterinary Officer Industry & Investment NSW, Greg Curran, said 128 flockowners in the Broken Hill RLPB area decided to prevent entry of OJD in 1997.
"Flockowners believed that they had little or no OJD, and by working together, could prove this to the market, and prevent entry," Mr Curran said.
"Broken Hill flockowners were ahead of their time, they wanted to demonstrate their disease risk status, become a protected zone, and develop and implement what would later be recognised as a full biosecurity plan."
To do this a series of initiatives were developed including the establishment of the Broken Hill OJD Committee; promotion of awareness of OJD risk and how to prevent it in 1997; and a census of all introductions of sheep from 1988 to 1997.
The OJD Committee applied to become a Protected Area in 1998.
In 2002, the Rural Lands Protection Board introduced Stock Register booklet to record stock movements, as well as other property information, in 2002.
Flockowners continued to report all introductions of stock, for risk assessment.
No OJD has been found in the area in the 12-year program.
Mr Curran said these initiatives culminated with Ministerial approval of Broken Hills application to become an OJD Exclusion Area in 2004.
"The benefits of achieving this exclusion zone is that the area now has a hardearned reputation for being disease-free or very low risk; we have the respect of others in the sheep industry; peace of mind in being biosecure; and the satisfaction of having done a job well done," he said.
"The work was very much a community effort and reflects the values and commitment of those living in the Western Division.
"The efforts of two people stand out - the strong, effective leadership and advocacy of Keith Allison, and the working relationships and communication skills of Broken Hill Boards executive officer, Ruth Holmes.
"Their efforts, and those of Broken Hills flockowners, stock agents, and Department of Industry & Investment veterinarians, delivered this remarkable and groundbreaking disease prevention program."
Broken Hill is now part of Western Livestock Health and Pest Authority.
Photo available from sarahc@sf.nsw.gov.au
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Media contact: Sarah Chester on (02) 6036 2110 or 0417 207 669.