By Jeremy Sollars
ROD Towner has called it a day after 26 years with the Darling Downs Moreton Rabbit Board.
The former Lockyer Shire councillor was chairman of the board for 13 years between 2000 and 2013 and was most recently Deputy Chairman.
A special presentation was held at the board’s headquarters on Wood Street this week to acknowledge Mr Towner’s many years of service and his contribution to controlling one the great scourges of Australian agriculture.
“We could be absolutely decimated without the (rabbit) fence,” he told the Free Times.
“The Darling Downs and Lockyer Valley has some of the most valuable farming land in the whole of Australia.
“The board has been extremely fortunate to have had the services of our many dedicated workers to maintain the fence.
“It can be very lonely work at times and our people do a marvellous job.”
Mr Towner said continuous education of landowners was critical to keeping the rabbit problem under control and warned people against capturing baby rabbits and releasing them.
He said he was hopeful that Lockyer Valley councillor Janice Holstein would step up and replace him on the board.
Environmental damage from rabbits costs the Australian economy more than $600 million every year.
The maximum penalty for keeping, selling or releasing rabbits is $44,000.
For more information about the Darling Downs Moreton Rabbit Board visit www.ddmrb.org.au.
