At their April meeting, council passed a motion 6-3 to request that the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action conduct a ground survey of southern Campaspe as part of the Victorian 2026 kangaroo population survey.
The previous kangaroo population survey completed in 2024 was an aerial survey, with this motion including a request for a ground survey to ensure accuracy of kangaroo numbers.
Put forward by Cr Adrian Weston, the proposed motion called for council to acknowledge community observations of increasing eastern grey kangaroo populations in southern Campaspe including concerns of increasing risks to road users and impacts to agriculture.
Cr Jessica Mitchell supported the motion based on the fact of it being an information gathering exercise and future management of the population relies on having up-to-date information.
“You can really note the difference driving down to that end of the shire with the kangaroo population down there,” she said.
Speaking against the motion, Cr Zoe Cook said she could not support observations of increasing kangaroos because she had not received any reports of increased observations from the community.
The motion also called for council to note that Victorian Kangaroo Harvest Management Plan 2024-28 sets out how kangaroo populations are managed in Victoria, also noting that Victorian kangaroo populations increased about 18 per cent to 2.3 million between 2022 and 2024.
Speaking to the motion, Cr Weston explained the current Victorian management plan sets out a maximum of 10 per cent each year of the estimated numbers that will be issued through both commercial and other authority to cull the population.
Cr Cook said she disagreed with the harvest management plan, as culling 10 per cent of the kangaroo population is “not a just and fair way to deal with native creatures of this land.”
Distinguishing kangaroos from invasive species like cane toads, rabbits and carp, Cr Cook said, “they are not introduced species”, but rather native Australian wildlife deserving different treatment.
“I think it is a poor way to treat our native animal population in this state.”
The motion passed with Crs Mitchell, Weston, Tony Marwood, John Zobec, Paul Jarman and Luke Sharrock voting in support, while Crs Cook, Rob Amos and Mayor Daniel Mackrell voted against.
