NILLUMBIK SHIRE COUNCIL, VIC. — Nillumbik residents are being asked to keep dogs on leashes and adhere to detour signage at local reserves as the council’s Rabbit Control Program commences.
Wild rabbits are an environmental pest and are prevalent throughout the Shire, causing a major threat to biodiversity and agricultural production.
Nillumbik Council uses a non-chemical, non-poison approach by employing a specialist contractor who employs ferreting, netting, and warren-closure techniques.
The program runs from June to August at bushland reserves across Nillumbik. Reserves are selected based on factors including public usage, protection of biodiversity assets, rabbit numbers and prior investment in rabbit control. Council also selects reserves where it can achieve a coordinated approach with large adjoining areas owned privately or by other public land managers.
The list of reserves to be treated is:
- Mine Road Reserve, Nutfield – complete
- Gumtree Reserve, Research – complete
- Heard Avenue Reserve, Plenty – complete
- Browns Lane Reserve, Plenty – complete
- Bulwidj Reserve, Plenty – complete
- Bunjil Reserve, Plenty – complete
- Memorial Drive Reserve East, Plenty – complete
- The Chase Reserve, North Warrandyte – complete
- The Eyrie Reserve, Eltham – complete
- Meruka Reserve, Eltham – complete
- Wimbi Reserve, Panton Hill – complete
- Scenic Crescent Reserve, Eltham North – complete
- Dry Creek Drainage Reserve (Rotin Court), Plenty – complete
- Proctor Street Reserve, St Andrews – complete
- Kalbar Environmental Reserve, Eltham – 10 July
- Eastern Etham Copper Butterfly Reserve, Eltham – 10 July
- Quarry Reserve, Eltham – 13 to 15 July
- Swipers Gully Reserve, Research – 13 to 15 July
- Yirrip Reserve, Panton Hill – 16 to 17 July
- Lenister Reserve, Eltham – 20 to 23 July
- Eltham Lower Park, Eltham – 20 to 23 July
- Griffith Park, Eltham – 27 to 28 July
- Eltham North Reserve (Laurel Hill Drive), Eltham North – 29 to 31 July
- Yirrip Reserve, Panton Hill – 16 to 17 July
- Griffith Park, Eltham – 27 to 28 July
Works will continue in August at the following locations:
- Murrays Wetland, Eltham – 3 to 5 August
- Challenger Street Reserve, Diamond Creek – 6 to 10 August
- Nillumbik Park (Gipson Street Reserve), Diamond Creek – 11 to 12 August
- Dianella Drive Reserve (Rangeview Road), Diamond Creek – 13 August
- Ben Frilay Reserve (Riparian Area), Hurstbridge – 17 August
- The Island, Hurstbridge – 18 August
- Arthurs Creek Road Reserve, Hurstbridge – 19 August
- Christian Road Reserve (South), Cottles Bridge – 20 to 21 August
- Fergusons Paddock, Hurstbridge – 26 to 28 August
It is illegal to interfere with the operations of any pest control program, and fines may be issued.
For further information, visit the Pest animals page or contact the Environmental Works team by emailing nillumbik@nillumbik.vic.gov.au or call 9433 3111.
