Work starts on review of Council’s new Pest Animal Management Plan

Published on 01 August 2024

Rabbits, foxes, feral cats, wild dogs…control of feral animals is challenging for many property owners in the Byron Shire including Council.

Council has started work on the review of the Pest Animal Management Plan, and the first step in the project is to find out how prevalent pest animals (including cane toads and Indian myna birds) are in the shire and if people are doing anything to control them.

Claudia Caliari, Biodiversity Projects Officer, said all land managers, including Council, have a legal obligation to control pest animals on their land.

“The reviewed Pest Animal Management Plan will reflect the most recent scientific findings as well as input from traditional custodians and broader community views, forming an updated framework for the management of pest animals on Council-managed land,” Ms Caliari said.

“Importantly, it will also provide information about how we can support and work with private landowners because pest animals don’t respect property boundaries and evidence or signs of the presence of pest animals might not be visible to all.

“Pest management is a shared responsibility.” she said

“One of the most contentious areas of pest management surrounds the use of 1080 poison.

“Council does not use 1080 baits for pest management. 

“The information from the survey will be presented to a consultant who will use it to draft the new Pest Animal Management Plan that will be put on exhibition for public comment in early 2025,” Ms Caliari said.

The survey closes on 26 August 2024.

Staff will be at the Mullumbimby Farmers Market on 2 August.

People can do the pest animal management survey or get more information by going to the Your Say section of Council’s website.