Hunter Regional Pest Animal Committee Chair, Art Brown said the economic impact of wild rabbits, carp, pigs, foxes, dogs, deer, goats and introduced birds has been estimated at $170 million in NSW.

“The Hunter Regional Strategic Pest Animal Management Plan sets the strategic direction for pest animal management in the region and guides resourcing and investment dedicated to coordinated pest animal management,” he said.

“Pest animals pose significant threats to threatened species and ecological communities, with feral pigs alone impacting on 361 species and ecological communities listed as nationally threatened.”

The draft plan has been developed collaboratively with the Hunter Regional Pest Animal Committee and Hunter Local Land Services.

Mr Brown said the plan prioritises pest animals in our region, based on the level of impact and outlines how government agencies, community groups and individual landholders share responsibility and can work together to prevent, eradicate, contain and manage the impacts of pest animals.

“The management of pest animals in the Hunter and Manning Great Lakes is a complex and challenging situation which cannot be ignored. We can only win the fight against pest animals by working in partnership,” he said.

“The consultation period is an opportunity for stakeholders, organisations and interested community members to provide feedback on the management of pest animals in our region and across the state.”

Information sessions are being held across the region to explain how the plan was developed, what it means for the region and how to provide input into the final plan.

Gloucester: 19 March, 5.30-7.30 pm – Gloucester Anglican Hall

Scone: 20 March, 5.30-7.30 pm – St Lukes Hall 

Tocal: 21 March, 5.30-7.30 pm – Tocal Agricultural College

For more information, download a copy of the Hunter plan and have your say: https://hunter.lls.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/801609/H-draft-pest-plan.pdf

The plan will be on public exhibition until Friday 20 April 2018.