The Minns Labor Government is ramping up efforts to tackle feral rabbits in the Riverina, providing an additional $120,000 to support local councils' on-ground control efforts including baiting and warren ripping.
The funding, through the NSW Government's $10 million Good Neighbours Program, will support Coolamon, Junee and Temora shires to better manage rabbits on public land, including road reserves and local cemeteries.
The extra funding will provide the three councils with more resources to destroy rabbit warrens - a critical follow-up step in controlling feral rabbit populations.
This new initiative is in addition to the support Local Land Services already extended to private landholders, with more than 20 tonnes of poisoned carrot provided free of charge this financial year in the Riverina region to assist in targeted baiting programs.
In response to rising rabbit populations, Local Land Services launched the Riverina Rabbit Response Alliance Management Plan late last year.
The plan outlines a strategic, coordinated approach to feral rabbit management across the Coolamon, Junee and Temora areas over the next five years.
Control measures for rabbits include ground baiting, destruction of burrows, and biological control. Other methods include shooting, trapping, fumigation and exclusion fencing.
The plan also highlights the importance of upskilling land managers and improving collaboration between stakeholders to deliver effective, landscape-scale control.
Wild rabbits are found across most of the Riverina and are a major pest that harms farms and the environment. They damage crops and pasture, eat native plants, and can cause soil erosion. Rabbits can also damage farm infrastructure and cultural heritage sites.
To help build public land managers' skills, including NSW Government agencies and local councils, two Government run rabbit control masterclasses, will be held in Wagga Wagga on 26-27 May and 28-29 May.
