Our February 2012 General Meeting was addressed by two of our East Ward Councillors Cr John Nell and Cr Sally Dover, and a number of issues were raised with them by members from the floor. TRRA would like to thank Councillor Sally Dover for responding in a timely manner on two of these matters, Rabbits and Extra Rubbish Bins. Both the Council Resposes are posted below:
Rabbits:
Dear Judy (TRRA),
Further to the complaints at the last TRRA meeting about the rabbit problem in the Bay I am forwarding the response that I received from Council.
Regards,
Cr Sally Dover, East Ward Councillor, Mob: 0412 130 269, Email: sallydover@portstephens.nsw.gov.au
For Further General Information and History of the Rabbit Control Problem, Click: HERE
Re: CRM148173 – Rabbits on Tomarree Penninsula
I agree that rabbits are definitely a problem and staff do what they can to control the pests on Council Land. We are not able to control rabbits on private land as the Livestock Health and Pest Authority is the statutory authority that looks after rabbit control.
Below is an overview of our program and attached is some further information that you may find useful. However in the end if the community has concerns/complaints about rabbits on Council land please direct them to staff so that they can be recorded and our program adjusted appropriately.
Rabbits are listed as a declared pest animal under the Rural Lands Protection Act 1998, which is administered by the Livestock Health and Pest Authority, that places responsibility for controlling them with the owner or occupier of the land on which they are present. Rural lots that contribute to the rural lands levy administered by the LHPA can receive assistance. Rural Residential and Residential lands do not qualify for assistance from the LHPA, although properties over 1000m2 can directly purchase poison from rural suppliers and undertake their own control programs, Council advises the community of this option. (Attached is the Rabbit Information sheet which is on councils website)
Since 2006, Councils Weeds & Pest Unit have been collating complaints from the public, offering advice where appropriate, investigating source of rabbits and have compiled this information to set up 60 Active Baiting Stations across the LGA on council controlled land. These sites are monitored regularly using industry standard techniques and depending upon availability of product and rabbit numbers are at least treated annually with the Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease Virus (RHD), also known as the Calici Virus, which is specific to rabbits only and does not result in secondary poisoning as with other control options.
Many of the rabbit problems that exist at the Bay (45 of the 60 bait stations are on the Tomaree) appear to be a combination of rabbits colonising on absentee landholders properties, (not council land as many complainants would have us believe) which then venture out and damage neighbouring lawns and gardens, and secondly escapee pet rabbits breeding with wild rabbits and passing on RHD immunity from their vaccination to the next generation. Rabbit control in urban areas provides many obstacles that make integrated control methods used currently in rural areas less effective or in many cases inappropriate such as warren destruction, fumigation and poisoning using Pindone or 1080.
Funding for rabbit control has been extremely limited, being reliant on surplus funds from the feral animal committee budget, to cover staff wages, virus, materials, signage, and advertising. Likewise allocation of staff to this very time consuming program is limited to 2 suitably qualified staff members and most of the control program is undertaken after hours, on completion of a normal day duties.
Despite this, numbers of rabbits are decreasing dramatically on these control sites on council land, which means the virus is offering some control, however numbers of complaints are increasing dramatically and we are continually setting up new stations as rabbits move into new areas which is normal of a boom /bust cycle that we are also experiencing with fox and wild dog complaints.
Currently we are participating in a joint Rabbit baiting project with the LHPA and the RAAF starting in March to cover areas of Williamtown to Lemon Tree Passage, which will address around 77% of our current rabbit complaints. Unfortunately the major landholder in this parcel, National Parks is not participating. Due to high mosquito numbers at present, there are considerable numbers of rabbits affected by myxomatosis in the Salt Ash and Medowie areas that will hopefully complement the RHD baiting program.
After completion of this joint project we plan to resume monitoring and baiting our other existing bait stations as time permits.
If you have any more enquiries about this please direct them to Bruce Petersen.
Extra Rubbish Bins:
Dear Judy (TRRA),
At the last TRRA meeting a couple sitting in the second row on the left hand side of the room complained about the additional garbage that residents had to put up with during the Christmas holiday season. I followed this up at Council and was informed that additional garbage bins are available by prior arrangement with Council. I am attaching the letter which Council sends to strata managers and estate agents. This could be amended and sent to private property owners as well if they too want to arrange for additional garbage services for their properties.
I have suggested that Council advertise that this service is available towards the end of the year so that property owners can take advantage of this additional service for December January season.
Would you be kind enough to pass this information on. Thanking you
Cr Sally Dover, East Ward Councillor,,Mob: 0412 130 269,Email: sallydover@portstephens.nsw.gov.au
Hello Sally
Attached is the letter my Waste Team sent to 14 strata management businesses and real estate agents in September 2011 for summer holiday waste/recycling services.
Of the 14 businesses that received the letter, two (2) took up the option for 30 holiday homes and units. One (1) other business brought on 9 extra bin services for the whole year.
Telephone enquiries: (02) 4980 0134, Please quote file no:PSC2005-2666
SPECIAL GARBAGE AND RECYCLING BIN SERVICES DURING THE CHRISTMAS SCHOOL HOLIDAYS 2011/2012
In response to the successful introduction of extra garbage and recycling bin services for holiday rentals, Port Stephens Council is pleased to offer this service again for the summer school holidays of 2011/12.
The conditions of the service are:
- Real Estate Agents and Strata Managers (i.e. Property Managers) on theTomareePeninsulaare able to arrange extra garbage and recycling bins for private holiday rental properties. NB: these bins are additional to the existing bins and will be collected on normal collection days.
- Bins will be available for a minimum 8 week period (longer by negotiation)
- Cost is $180 per garbage bin (red lid) for eight collections (garbage bins are collected once per week with the normal service)
- Cost is $90 per recycling bin (yellow lid) for four collections (recycling bins are collected once per fortnight with the normal service)
- Alternatively for $308.00 per annum properties can have this additional set of bins available all year in lieu of the above holiday service.
- The extra bins will be delivered to the nominated properties during the week commencing Monday 5th December 2011.
- Collections will occur during the week commencing Monday 12 December 2011
- Collections will cease during the week commencing Monday 30th January 2012
- Property Managers are to place the bins out on the footpath at the end of the eight week period for recovery by Council’s contractor during 6th February to 10th February 2012.
- It is the responsibility of the Property Manager to ensure that all the extra bins are accounted for on cancellation of the holiday service.
- Charges will be invoiced in full in December 2011 to the Property Manager that requests the service. Council will not invoice individual property owners. It is the responsibility of the Property Manager to recover these costs.
If you wish to use this service please return the attached application form with the details of each property that requires the service by 7th November 2011.
If you have any questions please contact the Waste Team on 49 800 134 or email sharon.quigley@portstephens.nsw.gov.au
Yours faithfully,
AARON MALLOY, WASTE MANAGEMENT COORDINATOR
12 September 2011
