Exempt Cairn Curran!

Following the state government’s recent decision to keep Victoria the only state in the country where recreational duck shooting is allowed, FOBIF has endorsed the letter below to the state premier. The letter, drafted by Regional Victorians Opposed to Duck Shooting, was also endorsed by Castlemaine Field Naturalists and Castlemaine Birdlife.

*****************

Dear Premier,

We write to request your urgent assistance in making Cairn Curran Reservoir and surrounding wetlands exempt from native bird hunting which is due to start April 10.

As you are aware, there is strong support for a ban on native bird hunting from the local community. The number of local groups including First Nation Clans who signed our joint letter is significant.

Further, our local petition in 2021 (which Maree Edwards MP has viewed) showed those in the area wanting bird shooting banned, was 23 times higher than those wanting it to stay. (Our petition, which was deliberately run quietly, obtained over 480 signatures, mostly local. A petition by shooters to keep bird hunting in the area obtained just 21 signatures, only 11 of them local.)

Cairn Curran: a recreation area for a small minority?

In general terms, a UComms Poll of over 1000 metro and regional Victorians in 2021, found while most Victorians supported a ban on duck shooting, the strongest support for a ban came from the regions. As you know, in your own electorate of East Bendigo, the majority supported a ban also. In terms of Cairn Curran and surrounds, reasons for constituents wanting the area exempt from native bird hunting include:

Safety concerns. We note that other wetlands, such as two in Mildura in 2019, were closed to shooting for public safety concerns– without 480 signatures.
Despite one in four Victorians now living in regional areas, there has never been any public consultation, nor risk assessment, nor even desk top studies to consider the impacts – physically or mentally, of shooting on residents and other recreational users. As you can see by the petition comments from community, impacts are real and ought be a significant concern to policy makers.

Economically, Central Goldfields and Mount Alexander Shires were two of ten LGAs noted as having the least if any, economic contribution from hunters (DEPI “Estimating the Economic Impact of Hunting” 2014. A further DJPR study in 2019 showed alleged economic impact from duck shooters had fallen by 46% across the state).
Missed tourism. Ongoing polls1 show most visitors avoid areas where there is shooting. Meanwhile, nature tourism, especially birdwatching, is rapidly gaining in popularity. The first year data was collated, (year ending December 2019), over 1.4 million tourists birdwatched around Australia, and spent over $2.8 billion. More domestic overnight tourists birdwatched than visited the Great Barrier Reef, and the number of international tourists who birdwatched was more than double those who fished (Tourism Research Australia). This is tourism revenue our area is missing out on, due to bird hunting taking place.
It’s no secret Victoria is failing dismally to protect threatened species. Cairn Curran is home to many unique and threatened species and protecting them would be positive branding. There are only 25,000 duck shooters for all Victoria (only 14,000, actually participated in the activity in the season last year– GMA data). But there are circa 35,000 public waterways – no government authority has been able to quantify it for us yet – where they can go to shoot birds. Surely some wetlands such as Cairn Curran could be handed back to the local residents and the 99.98 percent of the non-shooting public to enjoy in peace.

We ask that you represent regional constituents who want a safer, more peaceful, enjoyable amenity.

We would be happy to meet with you to discuss, and look forward to your urgent assistance. Thank you in advance. Yours Sincerely

was more than double those who fished (Tourism Research Australia). This is tourism revenue our area is missing out on, due to bird hunting taking place.
• It’s no secret Victoria is failing dismally to protect threatened species. Cairn Curran is home to many unique and threatened species and protecting them would be positive branding. There are only 25,000 duck shooters for all Victoria (only 14,000, actually participated in the activity in the season last year– GMA data). But there are circa 35,000 public waterways – no government
authority has been able to quantify it for us yet – where they can go to shoot birds. Surely some wetlands such as Cairn Curran could be handed back to the local residents and the 99.98 percent of the non-shooting public to enjoy in peace.

We ask that you represent regional constituents who want a safer, more peaceful, enjoyable amenity.

We would be happy to meet with you to discuss, and look forward to your urgent assistance.
Thank you in advance.
Yours Sincerely