The Victorian government is working to reduce the impact of the state’s deer population on the environment in the Macedon Ranges.
Twenty-six projects will share in $6.5 million to protect significant ecological values, water supplies, national parks and Aboriginal cultural heritage from deer.
The government said projects will include on-ground or aerial control operations, allowing for native habitat restoration in regional parklands including the Macedon Ranges, Alpine, Snowy River, Grampians National Parks, Lerdererg State Park, Gippsland coast, Great Otway National Park and the Wimmera.
Set to be delivered by Parks Victoria and the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, along with agencies such as Melbourne Water and local governments, the projects are a part of the government’s Victorian Deer Control Strategy released in 2020.
Victorian Treasurer and Werribee MP Tim Pallas announced the funding, and said the government was taking action to “safely control” the deer population while reducing their negative influence.
“These deer control projects will help communities, councils and Victorian government agencies to reduce the impacts of the state’s estimated one million deer,” Mr Pallas said.
“This investment in deer control will help to deliver on the goals of Biodiversity 2037, our plan to stop the decline of native plants and animals and improve the state’s natural environment.”
