The ACT government has no idea how to run the place. They have finally removed another non native pest - lets see how long it takes them to get their ACT together this time. Seriously poor management. Time for the Barr Government to go.

Released 16/11/2023

The ACT Government is expanding its rabbit control program to City Hill with operations commencing from Monday 20 November 2023 and running through until next month. Further operations will then take place in Grevillea Park in early 2024.

“The ACT Government undertakes rabbit control to protect the ACT’s environment values, primary production and urban landscapes. Control operations are currently underway in a range of parks and reserves,” said Executive Branch Manager for City Presentation, Daniel Iglesias.

“Rabbits are a declared pest under the Pest Plants and Animals Act 2005 and control operations are designed to maintain rabbit populations below a density where they can cause significant harm to the environment or to other assets.

“Significant rabbit numbers and damage from rabbits has been identified in both urban areas, including damage to the Italian Pencil Pines (Cupressus sempervirens) on City Hill.

“This control program is not only designed to protect these trees of significance, but address animal welfare concerns due to insufficient vegetation to support grazing for a large population, traffic concerns from road users braking or swerving to avoid collisions, and the risk rabbit burrowing poses to pedestrians walking through the area,” Mr Iglesias said.

Rabbit control will be mostly undertaken at night when the area is generally not in public use. A formal closure of the area is not deemed necessary, but signage will be on display to inform the community of the rabbit control operations.

A range of control techniques will be utilised on City Hill including fumigation, shooting pellets by air rifle and destruction of rabbit warrens.

“The operations will be undertaken by a qualified, certified contractor who is experienced in rabbit control in publicly accessible urban areas,” Mr Iglesias said.

“Follow-up assessments will be undertaken after the initial operations are completed in December 2023. These will help to determine the effectiveness of the control program and determine whether any follow up action is required in the short term or in future.”

“The control works have been planned under the leadership of the Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate’s vertebrate pest team. It is a good example of ACT Government managers working together to address a land management problem,” Mr Iglesias said.