Helping hand for volunteers Rewards without duck hunting

duck shooting was discussed and Mayor Straub “noted its economic importance to the shire”.

A Parliamentary Budget Office Report in 2021 stated duck shooters’ net spend was at best, just $10 million across all Victoria.

For context, Phillip Island Nature Parks - where they shoot penguins with cameras - brings around $120 million and 800 direct jobs just to the Bass Coast Shire.

When the costs of duck shooting are factored in, such as law enforcement and lost tourism, the real economic impact of duck shooting is very likely negative.

Council’s April meeting Agenda, shows no conflicts of interests disclosed either, when Mayor Straub moved that council should make a submission in support of duck shooting.

Such support is not in line with council’s objectives of promoting tourism or protecting the environment.

Independent economists including The Australia Institute 1 , have reported duck shooting deters tourists.

A Game Management Authority Board Paper recently released, reports 2.2 million plastic shotgun components which can take hundreds of years to break down, are pumped into Victoria’s environment each duck shooting season.

The environmental watchdog found 20 per cent of the wetlands it tested between 2017 and 2020, had ducks with lead levels unsafe for consumption 2 . Lead am- here? I should add that two of these councillors are keen duck shooters. Conflict of interest? And as for your views on climate change Cr Beattie, spare a thought for all of us who need to find an extra 25 per cent to cover insurance costs, if we can afford it that is. And spare another thought for those of us who are deprived of an income when adverse weather events occur.

Matthew Mizzi wrote: “Bring it on” when we get another 10 years of drought.

Chris Young wrote: Farmers deal with munition is banned in duck shooting but there are reports almost every year of it being used. Lead is highly toxic remaining in the environment for decades, posing serious risks to people and wildlife.

The most robust long-term science available to track duck abundance trends is the East Australian Annual Waterbird Survey, which shows duck numbers have fallen to just 25% of their long-term average.

As for how many threatened species are collateral damage in duck shooting, according to Arthur Rylah Institute “this data does not exist and would be extremely difficult to gather” (Waterbird Susceptibility to Disturbance from Hunting 2019).

Wetlands at Boort and surrounds, are home to many species of native birds unique to our country. Birdwatching, widely known to be hampered by shooting, is a booming business.

Over 1.4 million tourists birdwatched in our country, spending $3 billion, in the first year data was collected (Tourism Research Australia Visitor Surveys 2019).

When Victoria bans recreational bird shooting like other states have done, the people of Loddon will be able to protect and enjoy their natural assets in peace, and tap into the financial rewards.

*TimHaddadisamemberofRegional VictoriansOpposedtoDuckShooting changing climate and weather patterns every year. At last a win for the-non bed wetters!

Glynn Jarrett wrote: Chris Young, you are talking about weather, not climate change. The climate change we fear has not even started to kick in. We are taking about future generations not the last few seasons hahahahaha

Luke Grinter wrote: Common sense

Glynn Jarrett wrote: Conflict of interest pure and simple re the duck shooting. Makes me think of America, how the gun

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11. And which actor plays that character?

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Answers

lobby people get themselves into postions of authority, to push their own agendas!

ALAN STREADER’S MOVING RENDITION OF LAST POST AT THE AGE OF 97

Bernadette Reeves wrote: You are an amazing man Alan.

Sandra Forster Poyner wrote: A gem of a man. FROM THE LODDON HERALD