The Carroll Labor Government is stepping up deer control across Victoria – protecting wildlife, native forests, farmland and communities from the impacts of the invasive species.
An additional $1.7 million will target deer in key areas, including $1 million across Melbourne’s eastern fringe and $500,000 for sambar and hog deer control at Wilsons Promontory.
In the Dandenong Ranges National Park, targeted control will protect the park’s temperate rainforest and reduce deer moving into surrounding urban areas and private property.
Control operations will also take place across the Yarra Ranges, Knox and Cardinia local government areas.
DEECA, Parks Victoria, councils and other land managers will deliver the operations, which will be designed to maximise benefits for biodiversity, forests and productive agricultural land, while ensuring public safety.
Operations will target areas where deer are causing the greatest damage to native vegetation, forests and productive agricultural land, with public safety a priority.
At Wilsons Promontory, deer control will complement work already underway by Parks Victoria to establish a predator and herbivore exclusion fence.
The operation will reduce deer numbers inside the Prom, while the fence will help protect it from deer re-invasion once complete.
A further $200,000 will support the Arthur Rylah Institute to update Victoria’s deer population estimate. This new estimate will help target future control where it will have the greatest impact.
The additional $1.7 million investment builds on $4.4 million in ongoing annual funding to deliver the Victorian Deer Control Strategy.
Deer are unprotected on private land in Victoria, except hog deer, allowing landholders to control them without authorisation.
As stated by Minister for Environment Jaclyn Symes
“Deer damage forests, farms and native habitat – we’re stepping up control where they’re doing the most harm.”
“Whether it’s controlling deer at Wilsons Prom, protecting the Dandenong Ranges or getting better data on where they are – we’re taking practical action to reduce their impact across the state.”
As stated by Member for Monbulk Daniela De Martino
“This funding is a welcome recognition of the unique challenges we face in the hills and will help tackle a problem that affects our environment, growers, road users and the broader community.”
