THE push to declare deer a pest in NSW growing into a juggernaut.
Farmers and conservationists joining forces to end the decades-old game species declaration and remove restrictions that prevent effective control of the damaging feral species.
The CWA of NSW, RSPCA, the Greens, dozens of local councils, farmer and conservation groups and the federal government’s Environment Department want NSW government to declare deer and pest to help increase control measures.
“It has strongly been the position of the Association that deer are a significant pest animal threat and that their pest status should be formalised by the government,” NSW Farmers told the Commission.
Deer are most prevalent along the south and north coasts and tablelands. They compete with stock for pasture, with the commission reporting costs up to $20,000 a year for individual landholders.
Government is currently sitting on the final report and is expected to make a determination on the issue in coming weeks.
Deer are the biggest feral threat to NSW said Invasive Species Council chief executive Andrew Cox.
“We have a chance for government to act now to keep many areas of the state deer-free. But its important they act now.”
Mr Cox reiterated the Commission’s draft report which said deer numbers are increasing and spreading rapidly and a pest declaration would free-up agencies like Local Land Services to perform the regional control programs that target other pests.
“Pressure from hunters aren’t stopping that spread. There are no natural predators and no coordinated controls,” he said.
Deer damage the native habitat by removing the understory with aggressive browsing, erode soils around waterways with their small hard hooves.They also carry livestock disease and are a significant biosecurity hazard.
A pest declaration would free government’s hand to investigate new controls such as poison baits.
NSW Shooters, Fishers and Farmers party, which holds a balance of power in the Upper House will provide significant opposition to a pest declaration.
MP Robert Brown slammed the report and said it is “riddled with factual errors, misinformation, and untruths”.
"The draft report by the NSW Natural Resources Commission was conducted by a 'gun for hire' by the Baird Government.”
"Removing deer's game status will not improve the effectiveness of control measures, rather it will hinder them.
Feral impacts go south on coast
DEER are a diabolical problem according to the Far South Coast Farmers Network.
Like many areas up and down the coast and tablelands, a combination of deer farm escapees and growing wild populations are wreaking havoc with pasture, fences and fruit trees from Bega to below Eden and beyond.
Beef producer Clare McMahon, “The Rosary”, Kyah runs 50 breeders on her 120 hectare beef enterprise has to contend deer, which lurk during hte day nearby forests, will graze in mobs of up to 90 head on her property – depleting her Lucerne and rye grass.
“Closer to where the deer farms were down the valley from me the problem is 10 times worse,” she said – adding that mobs up to 300 are not uncommon.
Further north, past Bega, beef and lamb producer Wayne Schaefer said “there is no way I can keep up with deer numbers on my property” – ruing the recenlty planted permanant pasture that was “hit hard” by deer just as it was establishing.
