A STATE government move to open Mount Canobolas State Conservation Area to shooters for feral animal culls has been slammed by a woman who lives on its doorstep.
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The Mullion Range conservation area is also among 79 national parks and reserves where the feral animal eradication program will be extended under changes to the Game and Feral Animal Control Act.
Mountain Tea House owner Carol Thornton said she did not know how hunting could be managed safely in the popular tourist area.
“This is a populated area ... a lot of people bushwalk here every day and people take their children up the top of the mountain to see the view,” she said.
“Mount Canobolas is the second most visited place in the central west after the Dubbo zoo.”
She said the dangerous move was irresponsible of the government not the hunters.
“The shooters would be just as horrified about hitting someone as the person being hit,” she said.
“It’s a sport that needs to be monitored safely.”
Premier Barry O’Farrell announced the changes yesterday as part of a deal with the Shooters and Fishers Party to ensure passage of the electricity privatisation bill, despite repeatedly ruling out allowing shooting in national parks.
Member for Orange Andrew Gee defended the decision saying safety would be paramount.
“His [Mr O’Farrell’s] words were that he wouldn’t be turning national parks into hunting reserves. There’s a big difference between hunting reserves and responsible shooting under the direction of the minister for the environment,” he said.
Ms Thornton said she understood the move to allow hunting in some more remote areas but Mount Canobolas didn’t have enough feral animals to warrant the change.
“On the mountain you never see foxes and in the seven years that I’ve lived here I’ve seen one goat.”
Mr Gee said as a conservationist he supported the move, as the area would not be open to the public when pest eradication occurred.
“If it’s strongly controlled ... and it’s not open season on all feral animals, then I think the response I’ve had is very positive. It’s one of those issues where people in the city have a totally different perspective to people in the country,” he said.
Game Council spokesman Greg McFarland said the arrangements were yet to be finalised.
“The department of environment will set the rules for each place and we will manage the hunters,” he said.
“It will be the same requirements as the state forest [hunting], they will need a firearms licence, Game Council licence and will have to go through our accreditation process.”
