Sporting Shooters Association of Australia (NSW) executive director Diana Melham says Premier O’Farrell’s decision to allow trained and licensed conservation hunters to control feral animals makes sense.
“Feral animals cause tens of millions of dollars of destruction each year devouring native flora and fauna, polluting sources of water, destroying fences and posing a real danger to users of national parks.”
“Australia-wide, feral pigs alone cause more than $100m damage each and every year, and that doesn’t take into account the destruction caused by feral goats, cats, dogs, rabbits and foxes,” said Ms Melham.
Ms Melham said that examples of the destruction caused by feral animals were evident across the State.
“SSAA NSW owns a property called Tilterweira in the far-west of the state, three hours from Bourke along the Paroo River. Tilterweira borders Nocoleche Nature Reserve which has been listed by the premier as one of the areas where conservation hunters will be permitted under strict conditions.”
Ms Melham said that the nature reserve is battling a much higher than average number of feral goats, feral pigs and feral dogs because of summer rains.
“These feral animals are a nightmare for rural communities because they cause significant damage to native vegetation and wildlife.”
“Conservation hunting is the most effective method of controlling feral animals.”
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