THE council has been urged to knock back a request to cull kangaroos on a farming property it leases.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The person who leases the property, "The Common", from Tamworth Regional Council has claimed the land has become "overrun" with roos, to the point where they haven't been able to have any stock graze since the lease was signed.
The property sits between the Tamworth hospital and the Forest Road tip.
READ ALSO:
Russell Webb raised the matter at the last council meeting as a question on notice.
A number of approvals must be in place before culling can take place.
- TRC waste director Bruce Logan
He said the roos had "become a heck of a problem" and asked the council if it would consider allowing a cull to help maintain some ground-cover at the property.
The council will vote on the request at Tuesday's meeting where staff have recommended blocking the call to cull.
The report by water and waste director Bruce Logan cited "proximity of residential property, the Tamworth base hospital and heavily trafficked roads" as the main issues.
"A number of approvals must be in place before culling can take place and for some of those approvals the consent of the property owner is required," Mr Logan's report said.
"As a result the lessee has requested council, as property owner, sign off on relevant forms related to this matter."
The lessee had already contacted a shooter to carry out the cull who the council also queried about the job.
The shooter reportedly told the council they would not fire in the direction of the hospital, roads and residences and also carry-out the cull at night time.
But it appears these measures weren't enough to convince the council to allow the cull.
If the councillors support the motion on Tuesday night, there is a chance the issue could go to mediation, or the lease could be surrendered which would see the council take a financial hit.
The annual lease payments made to the council were not disclosed in the report.
Mr Logan's report also raised another implication which could arise if the cull was nixed.
"Council should also be aware the operator of the Tamworth Effluent Reuse Farm has also informally discussed the possibility of conducting a cull of kangaroos on the reuse farm given the high numbers presently on the site, although no formal application has been received to date," the report said.