Deer cull plan to clean waterworks

INCREASING numbers of Sambar Deer in the Yarra Ranges National Park have forced Melbourne Water, Parks Victoria and the Department of Sustainability to take action to introduce a 12-month program to cull them.
Spokesman for Melbourne Water Andrew McGinnes said that the increased population surrounding the Upper Yarra Dam had led to the alliance to start a 12 month prog-ram to manage the Sambar Deer numbers in the National Park.
“We believe there are approximately 1000 Sambar Deer in the Yarra Ranges National Park catchment,” Mr McGinnes said.
“Over the next 12 months, we will be reducing this number by up to 400 through a limited cull.”
He said that Melbourne’s closed catchments provided some of the world’s highest quality drinking water that generally required little treatment.
“To keep it that way, Melbourne Water ensures any potential risks to water quality are identified and managed,” Mr McGinnes said.
“The deer are non-native, large animals. They have a tendency to gather near water and if their numbers are not kept in check, their faeces could ultimately pose a risk to clean water supply.”
He said that the risk to the water supply was “prudent” to keeping deer numbers low.
The cull implements Melbourne Water’s legislative requirements (Safe Drinking Water Act, 2003) to protect water quality in its water supply catchments.
Mr McGinnes said that the deer would be culled in a humane way, with accredited shooters, following strict operational protocols.