Feral Deer

In reply to the Hon. C. BONAROS ().4 February 2025).

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries): The Minister for Climate, Environment and Water has advised:

1.

The general manager of the Limestone Coast Landscape Board met with the CEO of Kingston District Council on 26 June 2024 to discuss the possibility of feral deer culling on roadsides in the Kingston DC area.

The operations manager for the Limestone Coast Landscape Board consulted SAPOL to discuss rules associated with shooting on roadsides.

A ground shooting operations plan (GSOP) was prepared and signed by both parties 24 November 2024.

Letters were sent to neighbouring properties prior to Christmas 2024 to advise of the program.

Following calls from landholders in the Kingston District Council area requesting more information, an additional letter was sent to landholders in the priority areas in mid-January to provide further information about the ground shooting operation.

The start of the operation was delayed by 10 days until 1 February 2025 to ensure all landholders had the opportunity to receive the additional information and to request a text message notification 72 hours prior to the start of any 10-day period near their property if they so wished.

The mobile number is a Limestone Coast Landscape Board number.

2.

The contractor is familiar with the area having undertaken ground shooting operations for more than five years with the Limestone Coast Landscape Board.

The contractor uses a georeferenced operational map of the target area, allowing the contractor to view live his exact location, buffer zones, dwellings and hazards, and plan accordingly at daily briefings as well as discuss areas with relevant land managers as required.

A buffer or no shoot zones were identified along with any hazards. A 500-metre buffer is established around houses and residential areas to prevent residents from being disturbed by firearm discharge late at night.

3.

SAPOL is made aware of all feral deer culling operations undertaken by landscape boards.

Rifles are fitted with suppressors and contractors are required to advise SAPOL when they are being used.

The contractor advised local SAPOL on 1 February 2025 that he was commencing operations.

The Limestone Coast Landscape Board sent an email to Mount Gambier headquarters on 1 February 2025, for distribution to all SAPOL officers in the upper Limestone Coast, as per the Feral Deer Eradication Program's established arrangements.

4.

All animals will be shot in accordance with the National Standard Operating Procedure: Ground Shooting for Feral and Wild Deer.

Shooting of feral deer must be carried out as humanely as possible, in a manner which causes rapid death. This requires the use of appropriate shot placement, correct calibre firearms and ammunition. Any animal will only be shot when:

The animal can be clearly seen and identified.

It is within the effective range of the firearm and ammunition being used.

The vehicle and animal are stationary.

A humane kill is probable.

It is safe to do so, considering the foreground and background environment and other shooters' locations.

Shooting does not occur across the roadway

Shooting is undertaken at night when traffic is very low to non-existent. Ground shooting operations will occur between 5pm (sundown) and 4am (sunup).

Signage is being placed on roadsides around the operational area to alert anyone entering the area that the operation in in progress and include a contact number.

Landholders who have requested a text message notification and provided their mobile numbers will receive this message 72 hours prior to the start of a 10-day period that is near or adjacent to their property.

5.

Section 192 (8) of the Landscape SA Act requires that 'All regional landscape boards must carry out proper measures for the destruction of all animals or plants of a class to which subsection (1) applies and for the control of all animals or plants of a class to which subsection (2) applies on road reserves situated within both a declared area for that class of animals or plants and the region of the board.'

The contractor is engaged by the Limestone Coast Landscape Board to undertake this activity.

The contractor has all relevant firearms licences, accreditations, safe work practices in place.

The contractor follows the National Standard Operating Procedure: Ground Shooting for Feral and Wild Deer and ground shooting operations plan approved by LCLB and KDC.

Firearms and ammunition associated with the shooting operation are handled, stored, transported and used in accordance with the Firearms Act (2015) and firearms regulations (2017).

This roadside culling of feral deer in accordance with legislation and approved procedures is not a criminal activity.

6.

The Limestone Coast Landscape Board would like to clarify the roadside shooting is not undertaken by snipers, the single accredited contractor is acting in accordance with the National Standard Operating Procedure: Ground Shooting for Feral and Wild Deer.

Furthermore, signage is placed on roadsides around the operational area to alert anyone entering the area that the operation is in progress and neighbouring landholders notified by letter of upcoming shoot operations. These neighbouring landholders had the opportunity to request a text message notification 72 hours prior to the start of any 10-day period near their property if they so wish.

The Limestone Coast Landscape Board has responded to concerns raised by three local landholders who contacted the office.

The Limestone Coast Landscape Board met with the executive of the Australian Deer Association (ADA) SE Branch on Friday 31 January 2025 to outline the roadside ground shoot program and addressed all concerns raised.

In response to additional information provided by the SE ADA, the GSOP was updated and the contractor advised of SE ADA hunting areas.

The Australian Deer Association rules prevent the hunting of deer at night by their members hence there is no chance of a direct encounter.