- Published:
- Saturday 3 September 2016
The Kangaroo Pet Food Trial is expanding into four new local government areas in Western Victoria.
Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change Lily D’Ambrosio said Greater Bendigo, Glenelg, Loddon and West Wimmera shires will be added to the trial from September 2016.
The trial has been underway since 2014 to test whether a sustainable commercial pet food industry can be established using kangaroos controlled under the Authority to Control Wildlife (ATCW) permit system.
The Kangaroo Pet Food Trial will continue until March 2018 in a total of 16 local government areas including the four newly added areas.
The expansion of the trial won’t change the requirement for landholders applying for an ATCW to demonstrate that kangaroos are causing damage to their property.
All participants in the Kangaroo Pet Food Trial must comply with the relevant requirements of the Wildlife Act 1975 and the Meat Industry Act 1993. There are severe penalties for non-compliance with these Acts and the conditions of any authorisation.
Along with the expansion, a number of other changes are being implemented to improve compliance under the trial, including a tagging system to ensure traceability of kangaroo carcasses from the property where they are controlled through to the pet food processing facility.
The trial requires that the Wildlife Act is closely adhered to and that the National Code of Practice for kangaroo control is used by shooters so that any kangaroo controlled is treated humanely. There are penalties for not complying with the code or with the Wildlife Act.
More information about the Kangaroo Pet Food Trial is available at www.delwp.vic.gov.au/environment-and-wildlife/wildlife/kangaroos
Quotes attributable to Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change Lily D’Ambrosio
“The trial has received positive support from participating landowners and the pet food industry, helping to reduce waste by processing more than 30,000 kangaroos for pet food and creating jobs for regional Victoria.”
“This trial was set up to examine whether a viable pet food industry can be established using only kangaroos controlled under Authority to Control Wildlife permits, to reduce the waste associated with this control work.”
“The expansion of the kangaroo pet food trial into the Greater Bendigo, Glenelg, Loddon and West Wimmera shires follows consultation with local councils.”