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Pest Control by licensed Individuals on National Parks The NSW Government announced on 30 May 2012 a new program of pest control by individuals licensed under the Game and Feral Animal Control Act (GFAC Program). This is to help control pest animals in selected national parks, nature reserves and state conservation areas, once those areas are so declared by the Minister for the Environment. http://www.premier.nsw.gov.au/si ... es/120530-GFACA.pdf The program will be carefully managed with the paramount objective of ensuring safety of visitors, staff and others in or near national parks. When will this start? The new arrangements have not yet commenced and will not do so for several months. New legislation is due to commence on 27 December 2012. The program is expected to begin in early 2013, once the management and access arrangements have been approved by the Minister for the Environment and the areas are so declared. Until then, any shooting by members of the public in any national parks and reserves is illegal and subject to penalties. Which parks will be included in the new program? The government has announced that 34 national parks, 30 nature reserves and 14 state conservation areas will be immediately assessed for incorporation into the program. This assessment process has not yet been completed. The shooting of pest animals will not be permitted in or near metropolitan areas, or in any wilderness or world heritage area. See Schedule 3A of the Game and Feral Animal Control Amendment Bill 2012 for those metropolitan parks and reserves near Sydney that cannot be declared. Other exclusion zones will apply to those parks that are declared to ensure staff, park visitor, volunteer and neighbour safety and to protect special park values. The Government has stated that it does not envisage that more reserves will be added to this list at this stage. What controls will be in place? Safety is the primary driver of the controls for the program. The nature of these controls are currently being carefully considered, covering when, where and how operations can occur safely. Game Council is working with the NPWS as well as health and safety experts, pest specialists and unions to develop the program in detail, for Ministerial approval. Will native species be included in the program? No. Legislation still prohibits shooting of native animals and this will remain the case into the future. Heavy penalties apply. Separate, existing approvals will continue to be available from NPWS for damage mitigation where native species are causing impacts. What pest animals will be controlled in the program? Animals that are currently controlled as part of NPWS pest control programs in national parks include foxes, goats, pigs, deer, rabbits, hares and wild dogs, as well as various non-native birds. The priority species and sites for pest control on parks and reserves are identified in NPWS regional pest management strategies which are available at http://www.environment.nsw.gov.a ... nPestManagement.htm Click here to read more about species that may be hunted under the Game and Feral Animal Control Act 2002. Is it an effective form of pest animal control? Pest animals are a very real problem across all land tenures which is why we work with so many different agencies and neighbours to tackle the problem. No single approach is the answer. When planned and implemented to complement our existing pest control programs, this program can contribute to the overall effort in controlling pest animals. Will NPWS stop existing pest animal control efforts to make way for the GFAC Program? No. NPWS undertakes a comprehensive pest animal control programs with more than 650 targeted control activities each year. This includes baiting, aerial shooting, mustering, fencing, trapping, ground shooting and more. These programs will continue. Does this happen in other jurisdictions? Yes, various similar programs are carried out in Victoria and South Australia. We are looking closely at how these schemes operate, and at the experience of licensed hunting in NSW State forests to inform how this program should best operate. Will hunting dogs be allowed? No. Dogs will not be allowed into parks as part of the program. How will I know where this program is operating? The Minister will give at least 30 days notice before the program commences in a specific park. As details of the program are finalised, and during its operation, Game Council NSW and NPWS will be providing information to the public about where and how the program will operate. Our website will also indicate which parks are included in the program. How can I participate in this program in National Parks? The program is expected to begin in early 2013. Until then you cannot shoot in national parks and reserves. Details of how the program will operate are still being developed. Game Council NSW and NPWS websites will provide details on how people can participate before the program begins. Until then, hunting opportunities continue to be available in around two million hectares of NSW State forest. These opportunities will continue to be available after the National Parks program begins. |
