Nationals MP demands government halt aerial horse cull in Yuraygir National Park
A Clarence Valley MP wants the state government to ground a planned aerial shooting operation targeting horses in Yuraygir National Park, accusing NSW National Parks of failing to be upfront with the community about which animals are in its sights.
Member for Clarence Richie Williamson has written to NSW Minister for the Environment Penny Sharpe calling on the government to stop the proposed cull and give the community clear information about the operation.
Sections of Yuraygir National Park and Yuraygir State Conservation Area are due to close from 6am on Monday 24 August until 6pm on Friday 28 August while aerial shooting takes place.
Mr Williamson said he had only recently learned horses were among the animals targeted, and believed the community had not been given adequate information.
“The community is rightfully distressed and alarmed by this proposal,” Mr Williamson said.
“People deserve to know exactly what is being proposed in our national parks, particularly when it involves shooting horses from the air.
“NSW National Parks has not been upfront and fully transparent with the community about which animals are being targeted as part of this aerial shooting operation.
“Once people understand that horses are among the animals targeted, I have no doubt many in our community will be deeply upset and concerned.”
Mr Williamson said he did not believe shooting horses from the air was a humane way to remove them from national parks, and called on the Minns Government to intervene.
“I am calling on the Minns Labor Government to put a stop to the proposed aerial horse cull,” he said.
“If the Government and NSW National Parks believe this is the appropriate course of action, then they should be upfront and honest with the community about exactly what is being proposed and which animals will be targeted.
“Our community deserves transparency, proper consultation and confidence that animal management programs are being conducted humanely and responsibly.
“This is not something that should be hidden behind a broad description of an aerial shooting operation.”
Mr Williamson said the government needed to listen to the community, explain what was being proposed and reconsider the horse cull.
An NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) spokesperson said feral animals posed one of the greatest threats to native wildlife and ecosystems across NSW, and defended aerial shooting as a crucial tool in terrain that was remote, rugged and difficult to access.
“No one wants to have to kill animals and animal welfare is a high priority for NPWS. All control activities are undertaken in accordance with strict standard operating procedures, animal welfare standards and legislative requirements,” the spokesperson said.
Annual aerial feral animal operations have taken place in the Clarence Valley, including Yuraygir National Park, since 2020. The upcoming operation will target feral pigs, foxes, cats and feral horses, which the spokesperson said continued to have significant negative impacts on native animals, plants and habitat in the park.
Wild horses are subject to a Biosecurity Direction across the North Coast Local Land Services Wild Horse Management Area Zone, which includes Yuraygir National Park, and habitat degradation by feral horses is listed as a key threatening process under the NSW Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016.
The spokesperson said community and stakeholder notification had been carried out through multiple channels in the fortnight before the operation, including public notices, direct contact with neighbouring landholders and accommodation providers, signage at trail access points, and targeted email, mail and SMS alerts, with local police also notified.
All coastal visitor facilities, including campgrounds, day use areas and walking tracks, will remain open during the closure, with affected areas clearly signposted.
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