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Gearing up for the new strain of the bunny bugs

20 Dec 2016

All three levels of government are waging a war against rabbits in the Kerang landscape, preparing the groundwork to bring in the big guns.   

With support from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Programme, the Victorian Government and the Gannawarra Shire, the North Central Catchment Management Authority (CMA) has been hard at work in recent years supporting landholders and protecting significant natural assets.   

“Working with governments, we have protected threatened environmentally sensitive areas at places like Lake Kelly and Lake William, and supported Landcare members with supplies to bait their own properties,” North Central CMA Project Manager Adrian Martins said.   

“We also spend a lot of time on education and making information available. That continued in November when we hosted Dr Tarnya Cox of the NSW Invasive CRC and John Matthews of Agriculture Victoria for our Rabbit Buster Roadshow forums.  

“The work of all these agencies is leading up to the release of the new calicivirus strain RHDV1 K5, which Dr Cox is leading nationally.”   

Gannawarra Shire is working on the ground to bait and destroy rabbit harbour along roadsides and on council land.   

Council’s Director of Infrastructure and Development Geoff Rollinson said partnering with other local agencies and communities is important for the success of the project.   

“A number of works have occurred across the municipality in partnership with Parks Victoria and the North Central CMA, including two kilometres of rabbit and weed works along Reaper Lane near Johnson Swamp, prickly pear treatment along Rifle Butt Road and boxthorn treatment in the Lake Meran area,” he said.   

“Council has successfully negotiated with the relevant agencies to see significant complementary rabbit works carried out near Foster’s Swamp and adjacent to the Wandella Forest and along Hayman Lane near Cemetery Swamp.”   

Agriculture Victoria has developed a nationally accredited Established Invasive Animal Management training program and has been training agency staff across Victoria in best practice rabbit management.   

Agriculture Victoria has also been working with community members and the North Central CMA to deliver field demonstration days to build community knowledge and capacity to manage rabbits in preparation of the release of RHDV1 K5.   

“The new calicivirus is not a silver bullet. Land managers need to remain vigilant and follow up with conventional rabbit control to maximise the benefits of the release,” Mr Matthews said.                         

Parks Victoria has been controlling rabbits in parks and reserves near the Kerang township over the past two years with funding from the Good Neighbour program.  

“We’re helping neighbours with properties adjacent to crown land to reduce rabbits,” Parks Victoria Ranger and Cohuna Team Leader Murray Thorson said.  

“We’ve found a coordinated program between private and public land is the most successful approach. We try to work with neighbours and other agencies as best we can for a landscape scale approach to tackling the problem.”   

Mr Martins said working alongside local landholders and other community members is a key cog in any rabbit eradication program.   

“Programs like these are a local step to helping build agricultural sustainability and productivity across Australia,” he said.   

“Not only do they benefit the environment, but they can play their part in making a big difference to the economy of the region and the country.”   

These projects are supported through funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Programme and the Victorian Government.



For further information please contact: 

Communications Officer, North Central CMA
PO Box 18, Huntly VIC 3551

t: 03 5448 7124
e: info@nccma.vic.gov.au

 

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