Blue Mountains Companion Animal Survey

The NSW Companion Animals Act 1998 makes provision for Council to declare council managed lands as Wildlife Protection Areas (WPAs) for the purpose of excluding domestic cats and dogs to protect wildlife.

The reduction in the presence of domestic animals has the benefit of reducing both the stress levels as well as the pressures of predation on wildlife that inhabits the declared land. The declaration of a WPA also provides options for enforcement of the exclusions under the Act.

It is initially proposed that Blue Mountains City Council trial 8 Wildlife Protection Areas.

The establishment and regulation of WPAs by Council in the Blue Mountains LGA is currently unfunded. The resources needed to fund WPAs may require reallocation of resources from existing Environmental Management programs such as bush regeneration, track maintenance, environmental education, and Bushcare support programs.

The results of the survey will assist Council in several areas of management, such as:

1/ Introduction of trial Wildlife Protection Areas (WPAs);

2/ Review of Council's draft Companion Animal Management Plan 2011-2014 (currently on public exhibition click here );

3/ Understanding of community perceptions about the impacts of domestic and feral animals upon native wildlife in council's bushland reserves and in the Blue Mountains National Park;

4/ Further development of community education programs to encourage responsible cat and dog ownership and wildlife protection.

This survey will provide an opportunity to gauge community opinion on WPAs and any associated increased companion animal regulation and/or feral animal control that may be required in these areas. In addition the survey will gauge the communities perceptions of the importance of companion and pest animal control compared with other environmental programs currently delivered by Council.

The survey will help inform discussion at a community forum to be held on Sunday 29 May exploring the issues of Wildlife Protection Areas, companion animal regulation, feral animal control and wildlife protection to be held in partnership with the World Heritage Institute and the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (Blue Mountains Region).

A community forum will be held on Sunday 29 May at the Mid Mountains Community Centre (time to be confirmed) to explore the issues of Wildlife Protection Areas, companion animal regulation, feral animal control and wildlife protection.

The facilitated forum will be held in partnership with the World Heritage Institute and the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (Blue Mountains Region).

Expressions of Interest in attending the forum are invited. Please register your expression of interest in this Forum by sending an email to Michael Hensen, BMCC on mhensen@bmcc.nsw.gov.au

You will be notified of the forum details once confirmed. An RSVP will be required at this time to confirm your attendance.