Is it possible to find a better way to live alongside the island’s wildlife?

That’s the question addressed by the draft Wildlife Plan released by Phillip Island Nature Parks this week.

The community is being invited to have their say.

The first draft of the plan on the Engage Vic website is open for comment for four weeks.

As the island’s two populations – human and wildlife – continue to grow, there’s been increasing concern about the best way to manage what are at times conflicting needs.

PINP Chief Executive Officer Catherine Basterfield said the Wildlife Plan aims to bring a holistic approach to living with wildlife on Phillip Island.

“The whole of Phillip Island is blessed with lots of wildlife,” Ms Basterfield said.

“The challenge is to manage the benefits of wildlife with issues in sustainable agriculture and the intersection with community activities, particularly the conflict on the roads.”

It also examines the wildlife populations in the context of conservation and tourism activities.

She is hopeful the plan – a joint effort between the Department of Environment Land Water and Planning (DELWP), Bass Coast Shire Council and the Nature Parks, with input from the Bunurong Land Council – will provide better outcomes for wildlife and people

Targets

The plan specifically targets three native species with rising populations that are significantly impacting on the local environment, agriculture and tourism.

One of the aims is to better understand the island’s Cape Barren geese, swamp wallabies and common brushtail possums populations and the best way to manage them.

Cape Barren Geese have a major impact on agriculture, while the biggest impact of wallabies and possums is seen on revegetation projects.

“The means of controlling wildlife at the moment are really limited,” Ms Basterfield.

“That’s the crux of this plan. We want to expand those and find non-lethal means of population management. This is the preferable option for the Nature Parks and farmers don’t want to resort to culling activities. 

“That’s not a desirable outcome for anyone.”

Trials and research – including electronic fencing and studies into the economic impact of wildlife on agriculture – are already underway.

Ms Basterfield said other options for population control, including egg removal, fertility control and traditional harvesting had been discussed.

“We’re keen to get more suggestions from the community on how to manage these populations.

“We’re very open to including new suggestions or modifying ones that are already there.”

Ms Basterfield said research, tests and processes had been running while the plan was being drafted.

“We’ve had studies into the wallaby population, there’s been Cape Barren geese counts, and an electronic fencing trial.”

Part of the plan would include trialling different methods to assess their suitability.

“We need to get some runs on the ground. The more things we test, or the more we do to support other processes that already exist, the better we will be.”

She stressed the plan shouldn’t be seen as a plan targeted at culling wildlife.

“It’s the opposite of that. We’re looking for population and eco-system management that doesn’t require going to lethal methods and will deliver other community benefits as well.”

Have your say

Online feedback includes a survey and the option to submit general comments.

The Nature Parks will hold a number of online forums in the coming month to gather input from people.

The feedback will then be reviewed and a revised version will go back to the Nature Parks, DELWP, Bunurong Land Council and Bass Coast Shire Council.

The final plan is expected to be completed by early next year.

Ms Basterfield said the joint ownership of the plan means that it will go through the approval processes of all the organisations to be endorsed, adopted and resourced.

The first draft of the Phillip Island Wildlife Plan is available to view on the Engage Vic website engage.vic.gov.au

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