More wallabies to be culled at airstrip
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Wallabies to be culled more often at Tindal (www.sxc.hu: Dennis Bale)
The Federal Government says it's hopeful an order to the Defence Force to better manage wallabies on the Tindal airstrip near Katherine could see aeroplane medical services returned.
There have been no fixed wing aeromedical services from Katherine for more than a year after a plane hit wallabies on the runway.
Helicopter services are being provided, but the Mayor of Katherine Anne Shepherd says they aren't as fast as planes.
A fence to keep hundreds of wallabies off the airstrip won't be finished until April.
The Parliamentary Secretary for Defence Mike Kelly today directed the RAAF to start culling and moving the wallabies on a daily basis to try to make it safe for planes.
The Mayor of Katherine Anne Shepherd says the airforce should have been doing that before.
"I am very pleased to hear that there's going to be a more concerted effort to remove the wallabies. Obviously Pearl Aviation are not prepared to come back unless it's safe, unless it's guaranteed to be safe. I am a little surprised, but I guess they have their reasons, and I'm certainly not privy to that, but yes, I have been surprised that there hasn't been a more concentrated effort to remove the wallabies."
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