THE Australian Society for Kangaroos used the Freedom of Information Act to access documents from Bathurst Regional Council and the NSW Department of Environment and Climate Change to underpin its challenge to what it claims was the illegal killing of 228 kangaroos and joeys at Mount Panorama in September 2009.
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ASK claims that according to NSW Department of Environment and Climate Change authorisation permits and other internal council documents, 150 kangaroos were removed from the race track and adjacent land using herding by Bathurst Regional Council in September 2008 in preparation for the Bathurst 1000.
According to Nikki Sutterby from ASK, this was in response to an incident in 2007 when a kangaroo entered the track during the Bathurst 1000.
“Following the herding of kangaroos away from the race track in 2008, no kangaroos entered the track during the 2008 event.
“In light of this we believe that the killing of 228 kangaroos and joeys in August and September 2009 on Mount Panorama was unnecessary and unjustifiable in light of the success of herding in 2008, and therefore in breach of the NSW Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.
“Secondly, I refer to the breach of the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 when council’s contractor killed 88 kangaroos/joeys without authority on Mount Panorama in September 2009.
“Wildlife destruction permits reveal that the NSW Department of Environment and Climate Change authorised the contractor to kill only 140 kangaroos. However, documents reveal the contractor killed 228 kangaroos, including 97 females, 43 males, and 88 joeys.”
