Chair, Bob Smith, said the board members were shown first hand the impact of wild deer in the Port Macquarie area.

“It is essential that our board members have the latest information about these reforms and emerging issues that are impacting our community, such as wild deer,” Mr Smith said.

Wild deer are an emerging pest animal in Australia with the potential for significant primary production and environmental impacts if local populations continue to consolidate and expand.

In locations where there are currently high numbers of wild deer the immediate concern is the increase in vehicle collisions and interaction with the community on urban perimeters.

North Coast Local Land Services has been working with the Hastings Wild Deer Working Group since 2015 in the development and implementation of the Hastings Wild Deer Management Strategy. 

The focus of the strategy is to integrate control practices, establish greater coordination of resources, implement new control programs, protect key social and economic assets and evaluate the overall success of a cooperative management program.

“The conclusion of the Hastings Wild Deer Strategy in 2018 and the commencement of the Biosecurity Act 2015 and supporting regulation this year is the opportunity to strengthen the governance of a range of pest animals, including wild deer,” Mr Smith said.

 “North Coast Local Land Services will be bringing together a range of biosecurity stakeholders on a North Coast Pest Animal Committee who will be responsible for developing a regional pest animal management plan targeted to local needs.

“Board member discussions over this two days and listening to landholders directly affected by pest animals is an important part of our process of understanding the complex issues involved in pest animal control.”

The board is comprised of people who were successfully elected in June and members appointed by the Minister for Primary Industries, Niall Blair, earlier this year.

Mr Smith said the board members are a vital link between the organisation and the North Coast community.

“We are spearheading a number of reforms to protect our environment against pest, diseases and environmental threats as well as helping to grow farm productivity and healthy environments,” he said.

“These include the NSW Biosecurity Act 2015, which came into effect on 1 July 2017 and changes to the way biodiversity and native vegetation are managed, which begin later this month.

“North Coast Local Land Services is part of a statewide organisation but the strength of our structure is our ability to work together as One LLS for customers and productivity across New South Wales while being able to address our own priorities in the communities we work in.”