Petition to East Gippsland Water to Halt Proposed Kangaroo Culling Program and Require Transparent, Non-Lethal Wildlife Management

We, the undersigned residents, landholders, community members and supporters of East Gippsland, call on East Gippsland Water and relevant government authorities to immediately pause any proposed culling of kangaroos under the recently announced wildlife control program affecting Kalimna West, Paynesville and Metung.

Kangaroos are a protected native species and an important part of Australia’s environmental and cultural heritage. In several affected areas, local mobs have lived peacefully alongside residents and farming communities for generations. In the Lake Victoria Road area, community members report a long-established mob that has coexisted with locals for at least six generations, surviving events such as the 1978 fires and remaining a familiar part of the local landscape.

At present, the community has not been provided with sufficient publicly available information regarding:

• What specific damage is being attributed to kangaroos

• Evidence distinguishing kangaroo impact from deer, foxes or other causes

• What permits, approvals and population assessments are in place

• Animal welfare safeguards and methods proposed

• Why non-lethal alternatives have not been prioritised

We believe kangaroos should be managed through humane, evidence-based and non-lethal methods that protect both wildlife and land values.

We therefore call for:

1. An immediate suspension of any kangaroo culling activities pending public review.

2. Full public release of permits, ecological evidence, population data and justification for kangaroo control.

3. Independent assessment of non-lethal options including exclusion fencing, habitat management and deterrent strategies.

4. Meaningful community consultation before any future action is taken.

5. Recognition of kangaroos as a valued part of East Gippsland’s natural environment.

East Gippsland communities deserve transparent decision-making grounded in science, compassion and responsible stewardship.

Signed,

[Name]

[Suburb]

[Email optional]

[Signature if paper petition]