Speaking to State Parliament Ms McLeish said “deer numbers have escalated in the electorate of Eildon. My constituents are looking for action from the government to tackle this problem.”
Deer management is one of the biggest issues in my electorate with people raising it with me all the time.
“I hear of damage to crops, vineyards and orchards. Other prevention strategies are expensive and extra wire fencing or electrification costs a lot” Ms McLeish said.
Ms McLeish said other concerns raised with her included the number of collisions with deer especially dangerous when people drive at night and on windy roads. Complaints of illegal hunting, shots being fired too close to houses, spotlights being shone into houses, signs being shot and carcasses left headless on the edges of town.
“The illegal activity of some hunters is damaging to the hunters who do the right thing – and there are many of those” Ms McLeish said.
The release of this strategy is well behind schedule. An advisory group was established in March last year and targeted stakeholder workshops occurred in April with a public consultation process in October. Almost one year on the strategy hasn’t been released.
Speaking in Parliament Ms McLeish said her constituents are looking for solutions. She commended the Dixons Creek Landcare group for its recent initiative, bringing people implementing deer management strategies in other areas together with local landholders to look for local solutions.
“We need a solution to the deer problem now” Ms McLeish concluded.
Under Parliamentary rules the Minister has 30 days to respond to Ms McLeish’s request.
