I sent off 5 old fashioned letters with stamps last night. It’s so
depressing to have to fight these ridiculous battles all the time. What
are they thinking!
From:
Sent: Wednesday, February 06, 2013 6:41 PM
To:
Subject: RE: [canberrabirds] hunting in nsw national
parks
Yes
I guess my point is that this kind of introduction (pregnant sows with ears cut
off, nice) does not happen currently in National Parks and reserves because you
aren’t allowed to shoot there so there’s no incentive. It’s widespread in
other areas though as you say (it’s how we got these feral pests in the first
place), and now we are going to extend that incentive and therefore the
feral translocations to National Parks and Nature Reserves! It’s madness.
Mark
– I have acknowledgements but not expecting answers for weeks, which I’ll post
if interesting.
Please
write folks! As I’m told, the only thing that affects modern political
processes is numbers of letters and emails. Content apparently doesn’t
count, just the number. You could try a short one, here’s a suggestion that
might carry more weight given the extent to which politicians seem to listen
hardest to poor arguments and bad spelling… “Deer Minister - Stuff off with yr
stupid plan to huntin in national parks, its daingerus”.
As
added encouragement to write, the addresses of the main players
include:
The
Hon. Robyn Parker MP, Minister for Environment and Heritage
Hon.
B.R. O'Farrell M.P., Premier
The
Hon. George Souris, MP, Minister for Tourism
The
Hon. Katrina Hodgkinson, MP, Minister for Primary Industries
The
Hon. Michael Gallacher, MLC, Minister for Police and Emergency Services (and
Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council, so he possibly brokered the
original deal)
Julian
www.flickr.com/photos/ozjulian/
From: Anthony
Overs [
Sent: Wednesday, 6 February
2013 15:37
To: Julian Robinson
Cc: COG
list
Subject: Re: [canberrabirds] hunting in nsw national
parks
Interesting point raised by
Julian, and I agree, hunters have been known to release animals to keep up
numbers. I was told of a pig hunter that releases pregnant sows into the bush so
that there is a steady supply of animals to shoot. Apparently the sow's ears are
cut off so that she cannot be brought down by
dogs.
Anthony
On 6 February 2013 15:16, Julian Robinson <> wrote:
The
best discussion I’ve found on this subject is this 2009 paper by the Invasive
Species Council. http://www.invasives.org.au/documents/file/reports/Critique_IsHuntingConservation.pdf
It
refers to my own major problem with this outrageous policy (I think much
more serious than gunshot risk to other park users) – the certainty that
shooters will deliberately introduce ‘stock’ (feral animals) into their
favourite hunting patch (National Park or Nature Reserve). The interests
of hunters are absolutely opposed to the desire to eliminate ferals from any
allowable hunting ground. Their interest is to maintain stocks at a
satisfying level, that is, the numbers that ensure they can likely find a target
without too much trouble. That number is in most cases higher than the
number now present.
Successful
policies are those that align personal (selfish) motivations with a desirable
social outcome. This is the opposite and will inevitably make things worse
in areas that currently are not in much trouble.
Take
Mark’s Charcoal Tank as an example. At present you might find some rabbits
and maybe a fox or two. I’m sure there’s a few hunters in West Wyalong
who’d like some more fun than they are getting now, and driving out to Charcoal
Tank to blast a few rabbits doesn’t quite cut it. But if they could get a few
pigs in there, or even some goats, what fun they could have. Worse than
that, after the situation settles down and people forget where the pigs or goats
came from, their regular shooting to “control numbers” will be seen as a
justification for the continuation of this very bad
policy!
My
letter to the NSW ministers is below, encouraging anyone motivated enough to
improve on it and send in similar letters.
--------------------------------------------
I
write about the unsupportable decision to allow shooting in National Parks and
other reserves in NSW. Quite apart from the obvious and well discussed
dangers, there is one very serious issue that I have not yet seen addressed
adequately and that deserves further attention and a reconsideration of the new
legislation.
Irresponsible
game shooters are well known to actively introduce target species to areas in
which they are allowed to shoot. This has been cited often as a reason for
the numbers and extent of deer, pigs and perhaps goats that are now pests in
public and private land throughout eastern Australia.
Some
of the reserves in which shooting is soon to be allowed are quite small and
isolated by surrounding cropland. The temptation to release just a few
piglets, goats or deer in such reserves will be irresistible to a minority of
shooters. What could be more attractive to a not-so-thoughtful shooter
than a local ‘private’ hunting ground? Many of these reserves currently
support few or uninteresting feral species, so that the pressure to augment
feral stocks will be great.
What
is a keen hunter going to do in the unlikely event that his local hunting ground
(National Park or Nature Reserve) appears to be running low on 'stock'?
Where is the vested interest for shooters to actually eliminate any feral
animals at all? On the contrary, there is a considerable motivation to increase
the number of feral animals so that they can be seen to be 'doing more' and
being a more impressive part of the 'solution'. Personal interest is
completely opposed to the professed objectives of the
policy.
Given
we already know that feral translocation by shooters has occurred extensively in
the past and largely if not entirely caused the present problem, any legislation
that encourages such introductions to areas of even higher conservation value is
an appalling, unforgivable change. Together with the certainty that some
native animals will be accidentally shot and the fact that general recreational
hunting has never been shown to control any feral species in any location in
Australia, what is the justification that allows changing the law? We are
faced with a lose-lose and yet one more 'lose' for our limited remaining native
species.
Hunting
can be an enjoyable and satisfying activity for many people, including me.
Unfortunately in the context of Australia’s contemporary highly degraded
ecosystems it has become an unnecessary and destructive luxury that, if allowed
at all, should be limited to dedicated self-funded hunting
reserves.
Has
the government included consideration of the problem of deliberate feral
translocations into national parks and reserves, and if so, what evidence was
used to decide the new laws would not make the situation worse than it is
now?
Sincerely
Julian
Robinson
62/44
Jerrabomberra Av
NARRRABUNDAH
ACT 2604
Australia
02-6239
6226
0419
039 540
From: Graeme
Clifton [
Sent: Monday, 4 February
2013 21:18
To: Denis Wilson
Cc: Daniel Hoops; COG
list
Subject: Re: [canberrabirds] hunting in nsw national
parks
This is
about the craziest idea I have come across in a long while BUT let's have a
reality check. The Coalition doesn't have the numbers in the Legislative
Assembley (UpperHouse) and so has struck a deal with the Shooters Party, ie you
vote with the Government and you can do what you like in National Parks, Nature
Reserves etc.
It could be worse, they could have struck a deal with Fred and
Elaine Nile.
As for shooting stuff, the main targets will be pigs and
goats. It takes a very dedicated and expert hunter to find and shoot deer
unless they are spotlighting.
The NPWS have maintained for a long, long time that shooting is
not an effective way of controlling pigs. They favour poisoning and or
trapping with grain as the bait after free feeding for some time.
Disturbance by shooters scares the pigs from the trapping
site.
As for goats, the shooters will only generally be interested in
trophy Billy's and kids for the camp oven. They will have next to no
impact on the overall population. The best way forward with goat control
is several real good working dogs and temporary yards and a truck to take the
goats to the abattoirs. The economics will be dependant on the
location.
Shooters in National Parks. NO
On
04/02/2013, at 7:29 PM, Denis Wilson <> wrote:
Hi
Daniel
Re shooting in National Parks, my main concern is personal
safety.
Last year there was a tragic accident when a NZ shooter mistook a
school teacher for a deer, and shot and killed her.
Such "accidents" are
not unknown - though usually shooters shoot other members in their own
group.
I live adjacent to the huge Morton National Park (see map
attached).
It had two State Main Roads which run through it , the
Braidwood to Nowra Road (Main Road 92) and Fitzroy Falls to Nowra road. And it
can also be accessed from the Ulladulla side.
And it has numerous other
entry points (especially around Kangaroo Valley).
The media for these
far-spread areas are controlled in Nowra, Goulburn and Bowral.
One
cannot listen to all sources of media in any one point.
How are they going
to get the word out to me that the Park is closed?
There is no way they
can possibly close main roads of economic and strategic significance leading
to and from Canberra to Nowra. So, short of blocking 100 minor roads, how do
they "close" this Park?
NPWS have inadequate staffing to do that at the
best of times - let alone when the NPWS Staff are openly hostile to the idea.
The NSW Game Council, the State Organisation "responsible" for this
Shooting Program has hardly any staff at all. It really exists as a revenue
raiser for NSW as the Licensing body for the Shooters.
Beyond issues of
safety, my personal interest is in rare and endangered Orchids (of which this
Park is well endowed). What chance is that a bunch of ill-informed shooters
will take any notice or concern for tiny Orchids in the leaf litter, when
slipping and sliding down a steep hill-side, in search of their
prey?
They would have no idea of what damage they might be
doing.
Need I really go on?
Incidentally, in the hundreds of
hours I have spent in this Park I have never seen any Deer, nor Goats and only
one suckling Pig which I reported to the nearby farm from which it had escaped
several days before.
This is a vastly different situation from the
large numbers of wild Pigs and Goats in the Far Western region, near Broken
Hill.
Incidentally,. my personal experience of shooters I have known is
that they like to take their "Pig Dogs" out in the bush and let them chase
"Game". The usual result is badly mauled Wombats and Kangaroos - both of which
are protected species.
Mark Clayton has already affirmed that after
hundreds of banding trips to Charcoal Tank and Buddigower, he has seldom seen
any "game animals" in those Nature Reserves (both listed on the Parks to be
opened to shooters)
Denis Wilson
Robertson NSW 2577
On Mon, Feb 4, 2013 at 5:44 PM, Daniel Hoops <> wrote:
Hi All,
Maybe I'm just ignorant, but why are you against this hunting?
From what I understand, the hunt will be on invasive large mammals, which are
unbelieveably destructive in a lot of National Parks. Isn't it a good thing to
allow people who want to shoot them for free shoot them? The parks will be
closed during the hunts, so what's the danger to the public?
Also, according to this website, duck hunting cannot take place on National
Parklands.
On 04/02/2013, at 5:37 PM, Denis Wilson
wrote:
Hi everyone
To satisfy Mark's concern, let me say
that in NSW, there is a very strong campaign against hunting in National Parks
being led by the Nature Conservation Council of NSW, the Total Environment
Centre, National Parks Association of NSW, and the NSW Greens.
That
having been said, Mark is correct in his interpretation of everything
else.
It is a political problem for NSW to deal with, however, and as
ever, politicians are inclined to ignore people outside their
constituency.
But don't feel bad, Mark - my local Member in NSW is
ignoring my vehemently expressed opinions.
There will be a rally outside
his office, In Kiama, on 23 February. But already we know he will not be
attending.
Yours - in Hi Vis apparel
Denis
Wilson
On Mon, Feb 4, 2013 at 5:18 PM, Mark Clayton <>
wrote:
Jude,
I
wouldn’t hold your breath waiting for a sensible reply from the Premier, Robin
Parker who is the Environment Minister (I wonder if she actually knows what
the term means?!!!), nor from Bob Conroy, the Director “Conservation
Operations Division” (my quotation marks) for the National Parks and Wildlife
Service. As I think I said in a previous email, I received a reply from the
Premier’s Parliamentary Secretary, the “Honourable (again my quotation marks)
Marie Ficarra that was almost word for word to a reply a colleague received
from Conroy when she emailed the Premier. I also know of a retired senior
Federal Government researcher who worked on feral species who received
essentially the same reply. Basically we have been treated like
idiots!
One
thing that really gets on my goat – excuse the pun (intended) – is that the
Game Council, a section within the Premier’s Department, has now declared that
the deer “hunting” season has now CLOSED. What sort of morons are running this
show. The whole thing smacks of hypocracy!!!
I
must add that I am disappointed by what appears to be the apathy shown by most
COG members to this problem and I have not heard of the committee doing
anything – I hope I am mistaken. Only a few people have replied to my original
email. If people don’t protest then we deserve what we
cop.
Mark
From: jude
hopwood [
Sent: Monday, 4 February 2013
4:44 PM
To: COG
Subject: [canberrabirds] hunting in nsw
national parks
Dear
All,
Appended:
cut and paste direct from current NSW National Parks and
Wildlife Service website
Protest form letter from http://nohunting.wildwalks.com/ for
those who might like to express an (edited) opinion before this legislation is
enacted in March
Further
to Philip's original email and Mark's comments on dogs with hunters, I was
inspired to look at the NSW Parks website and found something to make one's
gobsmacked brain reel a little more. How has the description of
'Illegal Activities in National Parks' gone from that selected and noted below
to the new legislation? How are hunters going to move around the parks with
shooting equipment and remain on the 'authorised' roads? Does their
'bag' lie where it is shot? Are the shooters permitted to 'harvest' their
kill? I am awaiting response from premier's
department.
Thank
heavens we also have those who are brave enough to attend to the deadly and
pesky duck problem! Kind of the dept to encourage them to 'enjoy their
harvest'. Surely a re-introduced and expanded duck destruction season is just
what we need...
Respectfully,
Jude
Illegal Activities
in Parks
If you see anyone
doing anything suspicious in a park or reserve, please report it. Illegal
activities may include:
·
hunting
of any kind
·
trapping
or collecting birds, birds' eggs, reptiles or other
animals
·
driving
or riding vehicles, bikes and horses on unauthorised
track
3.Conservation
Hunting
to assist rice farmers
Over the past two
years NSW and inland Australia have been experiencing significant rainfall. As
a result of this, ducks have been breeding up over the past 18 months. The
rainfall has also meant that this year there will be significant areas of rice
grown in southern NSW. Holders of NSW Game Hunting Licences can participate in
the NSW Game Bird Management Program and assist farmers by controlling ducks
that have the potential to ruin crops by eating the freshly planted seed,
young emerging plants and, later, the mature crop.
Will I be
able to utilise the ducks harvested under this program?
Yes, although the
program is a mitigation program, hunters must hunt ethically and legally. Game
Council also encourages all hunters involved to remove and utilise the ducks
taken in the program so that they can enjoy the wild
harvest.
--
Denis Wilson
If
you're not pissed off with the World, you're just not paying
attention.
(Kasey Chambers)
"The Nature of Robertson"
www.peonyden.blogspot.com.au
--
Denis Wilson
If
you're not pissed off with the World, you're just not paying
attention.
(Kasey Chambers)
"The Nature of Robertson"
www.peonyden.blogspot.com.au
<Morton NP - Map 2013 -
web.jpg>
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