Author
Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning
Summary
The strategy has been developed under both Protecting Victoria’s Environment – Biodiversity 2037 (Biodiversity 2037) and the Sustainable Hunting Action Plan 2016–2020. It responds to the recommendations of a Parliamentary Inquiry and is consistent with Victoria’s Invasive Plants and Animals Policy Framework.
The strategy has been developed by the Victorian Government in response to the rapid increase in wild deer numbers across the state. The strategy recognises that deer pose a significant risk to biodiversity, water quality, public safety, agricultural assets and Aboriginal cultural heritage values. These impacts are increasing, coinciding with an increase in deer distribution and abundance in Victoria.
This strategy recognises that the large numbers of deer and their wide distribution across Victoria, mean that decisions will need to be made to determine where deer control can be most effective in protecting the most important values. The strategy sets out a Deer Control Framework for determining the most important areas for investment in deer control.
The Victorian Government will work with land managers and the community to develop Regional Deer Control Plans. These plans will set priority locations for deer control or other management measures to address current and potential impacts on values.
The strategy describes the process of how the government will work with the community and experts to set deer control priorities. The detail about where the control will take place, in what form and over what time scale will be described in the Regional Plans.
The strategy has been developed under both Protecting Victoria’s Environment – Biodiversity 2037 (Biodiversity 2037) and the Sustainable Hunting Action Plan 2016–2020. It responds to the recommendations of a Parliamentary Inquiry and is consistent with Victoria’s Invasive Plants and Animals Policy Framework.
