Regional Victorians Opposed to Duck Shooting Inc., The Tarrangower Times
New warnings for noise pollution – Are policy makers hearing?
The community is awaiting follow up from local Member for Bendigo West, Maree Edwards, regarding the petition to close local wetlands to recreational duck shooting and instead make them a sanctuary for the threatened species which call them home.
The petition attracted just under 500 signatures, mostly local, compared to a petition by shooters to have duck shooting remain which obtained 21 signatures (11 local).
A spokesperson for Regional Victorians Opposed to Duck Shooting Inc said community sentiment is obvious and calls for action.
From a safety perspective, two wetlands were closed to shooting in Mildura in 2019 for safety reasons – without 483 signatures. The group says this paves the way for Goulburn Murray Water (GMW) to do the same at their storage here.
Documents obtained through freedom of information show GMW was aware of safety concerns of their own staff in approaching duck shooters. “We would like to see them show more concern for public safety, protection of threatened species, and economic impacts to surrounding towns,” said the spokesperson.
It’s no secret Victoria is failing to protect threatened species as has featured in major media.
“We would be lucky to have a dozen wetland sanctuaries compared to the thousands of public waterways across our state where shooters can take aim at our native waterbirds. Threatened species are too often collateral damage.”
The group believes that sanctuaries here (and elsewhere) would make a real difference in helping native wildlife, while also opening up the area to the benefits of nature-based tourism.
“In the first year birdwatching data was collected in Australia, over 1.4 million tourists birdwatched in our country and spent $2.88 billion. More overnight domestic tourists birdwatched than visited the Great Barrier Reef and more international tourists birdwatched than fished” (source: National Visitor Survey Year ending December 2019).
Meanwhile, studies show most holiday makers avoid areas where there is shooting.
This week the EPA issued a warning on the use of scare guns due to noise pollution and RVOTDS say noise pollution from shotguns is worse. “If you compare the decibels from gas guns, to that of shotguns, you begin to understand the impact duck shooting is having on residents. Add to that, the fact it starts before dawn and is allowed to go all day for weeks if not months.
“As the petition comments show, people are stressed and anxious. Animals are impacted. It’s very hard to work from home. There are real health and safety risks of duck shooting to community which authorities need to act on,” said the spokesperson.
Recreational duck shooting is banned in QLD, ACT, NSW and WA. In Victoria, less than half of one percent of the population shoot ducks. Professional polls show most Victorians want the activity banned, with the strongest support for a ban coming from regional areas.
References:
The Australia Institute ‘Out for a Duck’
VEAC Red River Gum Investigation
UComms Poll 2021.
This article appeared in the Tarrangower Times, 3 December 2021.
Related story: Calls to ban shooting at Cairn Curran Reservoir
