Nunniong brumby shooting: DEECA, Parks Victoria fail to clear waters

Swollen parks and environment bureaucracy has failed to clear the waters surrounding potentially non-compliant camping and hunting activities in East Gippsland.

The Victorian Government’s swollen parks and environment bureaucracy has failed to satisfactorily comment on its brumby cull program, or the recent spate of suspected illegal spotlighting that left dead horses rotting in an East Gippsland campsite.

Neither Parks Victoria nor the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action have responded to The Weekly Times queries following reports of possible illegal hunting at Nunniong that locals say is becoming commonplace. (Note: See bottom of article for DEECA’s eventual response.)

In one incident revealed last week, a family mare that escaped and joined a mob of brumbies at Nunniong was found shot dead in the area a month later.

Dakoda the mare was a much-loved member of a local East Gippsland family before she was illegally killed in April last year. Picture: Supplied

Nunniong is DEECA-managed land. The Weekly Times was directed to its Swifts Creek office while questions regarding compliance and possible sanctions for illegal hunting in camping areas were working through the gears at the Conservation Regulator.

However the Swifts Creek office refused to comment.

One of the many dead brumbies found over the holiday period at Nunniong. Locals are saying more needs to be done to catch and fine illegal spotlighters. Picture: Supplied

While Nunniong is not Parks Victoria-managed land, Marble Gully just to its northwest is, according to their website.

When quizzed specifically on the dividing line between the two areas, and on its brumby culling activity, Parks sidestepped: “Parks Victoria are not the land managers for the area where this incident took place, and we don’t have any comment to make.”

Cass McCormack, president of the Mountain Cattlemen’s Association of Victoria, said the lack of disclosure was nothing new, as her organisation has never been consulted on High Country management by government.

Cass McCormack, Mountain Cattlemen's Association of Victoria president with father and former president Bruce. Picture: Supplied

“It’s really disappointing that we’re not allowed to do what we used to do. As cattlemen, we used to help control brumby numbers,” she said.

“It will be 200 years next year that we’ve been looking after the high country and over the last 20-30 years they’ve taken it off us.

“They should put trust back into the people that have been looking after it for so long. We would love for the government to come and consult with us.

“There’s a lot of knowledge among the cattlemen that isn’t getting used.”

NOTE: DEECA’s Office of the Conservation Regulator sent a response after this article’s print deadline. It reads:

“Conservation Regulator and Forest Fire Management Victoria Authorised Officers patrol State Forests, parks and reserves in Gippsland, including Nunniong State Forest, educating visitors about protecting public land and wildlife, and enforcing relevant laws.

“Patrols target activities including campfire safety, responsible disposal of litter, off road vehicle use on public land and wildlife protection.

“Authorised Officers assess all reports of alleged offences relating to public land use, fire prevention and biodiversity protection.

“Given the large size of Gippsland’s forests and parks, Authorised Officers appreciate members of the public reporting information about environmental offences, including the time, location and description of the offence.”