Deer control to protect parks

New deer control programs have been announced by the State Government, aiming to reduce their environmental impacts on agriculture, biodiversity, and the community.

Member for Macedon, Mary-Anne Thomas said $6.5 million has been allocated to support 26 projects to reduce the impact of deer on significant ecological values, water supplies, national parks, and Aboriginal cultural heritage.

“We’re taking action to safely control Victoria’s deer population and reduce the significant negative impacts they have on our catchments, biodiversity and communities,” Ms Thomas said.

“These deer control projects will help communities, councils and Victorian Government agencies to reduce the impacts of the state’s estimated one million deer.”

Funded programs include on-ground and aerial control operations, allowing for native habitat restoration in regional parklands including Lerderderg State Park, the Macedon Ranges, and the Grampians National Park.

The projects will be delivered by Parks Victoria and the Department of Environment, Land Water and Planning (DELWP), along with partner agencies such as Melbourne Water and local governments.

The projects are part of the Victorian Government’s Victorian Deer Control Strategy which was released in October 2020 with an initial $1 million allocation to implement actions in Peri-Urban Melbourne, and a subsequent budget allocation of $18.25 million to deliver critical deer control across Victoria.

Earlier this year, the Victorian Government released the first of its region-specific deer plans, the Peri-urban Deer Control Plan 2021-26. Deer control plans for Victoria’s east and west are being developed in partnership with Traditional Owner, conservation, industry, hunting and community representatives, and are expected to be released in the months ahead.

Mary-Anne Thomas said the new investment in deer control “will help to deliver on the goals of Biodiversity 2037, our plan to stop the decline of native plants and animals, and improve the state’s natural environment”.