Hunting & Conservation Activities
News
Significant win for public and hunters against VEAC
As you know there has been a significant public outcry against the creation of the new Red River Gum national parks. The proposed format under the current managerial approach to National Parks would have spelled the end of a significant number of activities allowed in the park. Hunting would have been banned, resulting in a significant loss in terms of areas available for hunting.
The Implementation of the proposals put forward by VEAC would have resulted in another mismanaged, locked away area of public land, with long term environmental negative consequences, and at significant cost to the community, in terms of lost economic, recreational, and cultural values.
SSAA Vic has recognised the threat to our member's rights early, and has actively lobbied against the implementation of the VEAC proposals. The fight was escalated to a higher level when other community groups started to become aware of the repercussions of implementing the VEAC proposals. This culminated with the establishment of RRGEA, an association of broad community interests groups opposed to VEAC. RRGEA has spent in excess of $110,000 in the critical fight against VEAC proposals. Approximately $40,000 was spent on the comprehensive study and consequently alternative Community Plan for Multiple Use of the public lands in the VEAC investigated area. Although significant in terms of dollars cost, the funds spent allowed for, and ensured a positive outcome for our members and community at large.
We were aware that the government's intention was to declare the Parks, however we believed that we could influence the outcome, and maintain some forms of hunting in the respective areas.
As expected the government has declared that they will create four new National Parks:
Lower Goulburn River, Warby-Ovens, Gunbower, and Barmah
Significantly for Duck hunters, the proposal to create Leaghur-Kooranghie National Park in the Avoca and Loddon River floodplains south and west of Kerang, has been scrapped.
For the first time, concerted lobbing has resulted in influencing the government in creating Parks for the community, and not for the benefit of estate acquisition for government departments. Therefore, with the exception of stock grazing and commercial timber harvesting, all other activities currently allowed in the respective areas will continue, largely unchanged, after the tenure change takes effect.
Furthermore, we are pleased to report to our members that we were successful in influencing the outcome regarding hunting in the Parks.
The Media release from the office of Premier of Victoria states among other recreational activities permitted in the Park:
"Allowing recreational shooters to continue to help authorities control feral animals with strict safeguards"
Although there are some conditions attached, we believe that is a small price to pay to obtain, for first time, the right to hunt pest animals in a National Park. This represents a major victory for our members, in recognition of the important environmental role our sport plays in conserving the unique Australian habitats.
Colin Wood
CPM Manager
(Visit http://www.premier.vic.gov.au/ for complete media release relating to the creation of the new National Parks)
Avian Influenza (Bird Flu)
What recreational shooters need to know!
What is avian influenza or bird flu?
Avian influenza (AI) is a highly contagious viral infection of birds. Some avian influenza viruses, called 'highly pathogenic avian influenza' (HPAI) viruses, can cause sudden, high mortality (up to 100%) in domestic fowl (chickens) and turkeys.
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Duck shooters have a significant role in recognising bird flu and reporting it
Avian Influenza or bird flu is one of the biggest agricultural and human health threats Australia faces. As recently seen throughout Asia and Eastern Europe, the H5N1 strain of the disease is of major concern.
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Letter from the Australian Chief Veterinary Officer/Special Adviser regarding reporting bird flu
I am writing to seek your help in ensuring that Australian recreational (duck) shooters are aware of the avian influenza (bird flu) disease, its possible spread through Australian waterfowl and its effects on human health.
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