Coonamble Shire Mayor Ahmed Karanouh says that it’s time the state and national governments got involved in the fight against mice.

“We’d like it to be called what it is - a plague - not just a ‘mouse problem’,” Mayor Karanouh said.

“I don’t think the state or federal government know there’s a mice plague on or what it will cost the economy.”

“We need the government to put some money up to combat them,” he said.

“I think they did that during the last major plague in 1984.”

According to Mayor Karanouh an estimated $30million in livestock fodder has potentially been lost across the Coonamble district which he describes as the ‘epicentre’ of the plague.

“I know one farmer has lost 2500 large bales of hay,” he said.

“On our drive around the district last week we saw mountains of hay collapsed on the ground in a pile of dust - and anything that isn’t destroyed cannot be fed to stock anyway because of the health risks.”

“Imagine going from a record harvest to nothing just as our shire is coming out of the drought,” said Mayor Karanouh. 

“The cost to the local economy and the lost revenue for the government would be enormous.”

“It is in their interests to help us,” he said.

Mayor Karanouh says he has written to the Hon Mark Coulton, Member for Parkes, and asked him to take it up with the Minister for Agriculture David Littleproud.

He has also written to Member for Barwon Roy Butler and to neighbouring Mayors and Shires asking them to throw their support behind the push for financial relief.

“Farmers are buying all the poison, and hiring aircraft, it is costing tens of thousands of dollars,” Mayor Karanouh said.

He also acknowledged the impact on families and businesses, saying that people are under strain trying to protect themselves and their assets.

The Coonamble District Chamber of Commerce also discussed the problem at their February meeting and agreed to throw their support behind the Mayor’s push for subsidised baits or a government-led mouse eradication program.

“I have had people come to me who are breaking down and writing to council asking what is being done,” Mayor Karanouh said.

“There’s nothing Council can do apart from working on their behalf with other levels of government.”

“I should be getting a response later this week or early next week,” Mayor Karanouh said.