General News
17 March, 2026
Hunt suporters ‘locally privileged noise’
SUPPORT for duck hunting on Lake Boort and in the Loddon Shire has been labelled “locally privileged noise”.
A submission backing the Lake Boort ban bid by First Nations Assembly member Gary Murray said there was a reluctance of Boort districts to express dissenting views for fear of criticism.
The claims by a Loddon landholder are made in one of 15 submissions to the application under the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Act.
Individual submissions had names redacted before a final chance for them to comment on other submissions. That closed last Friday.
Loddon Shire Council is one of 15 submissions to Compass Heritage Services director Edward East ahead of his report to the Federal Government.
The majority of submissions came from Aboriginal authorities and groups.
Mr East said: ” As the reporter to the minister, I invite(d) all interested parties to review and provide comment on these public submissions. One week was allowed for this round of review and comment on the initial public submissions. A further round of review will not occur due to the deadline of this report.”
Victoria’s annual duck season is to start next Wednesday.
The Loddon landholder said in their submission: It is unclear why there is no comprehensive cultural heritage management plan in place for such a significant area, and/or why the relevant state authority is unable/ or unwilling to offer adequate protection.
“Recommendations should be put to the Minister on the management and preservation of the Aboriginal cultural heritage and archaeological values of the Lake Boort area and surrounds, including for oven mounds and middens, and actions being taken to mitigate desecration and injury which may have arisen as a result of past land management.
“The report should note that while State law may or may not theoretically be able to provide protection or effective remedies against injury and desecration, the willingness of the State to use its actual powers seems open to question.
Coalition Against Duck Hunting wrote in its submission: “Duck rescuers have also witnessed the destruction and disrespect shown by recreational duck shooters at these sites.
“Damage to scar trees and middens continues to take place, despite governments being informed, said the submission signed by the group’s campaign director. Although the name was redacted, the campaign director is Laurie Levy who in December was invited to Boort by the development and tourism committee for its Christmas rubber duck race.
“Over the last 40 years, whenever Big Lake Boort held water ... was open to duck shooting,” the submission said.
“Coalition Against Duck Shooting rescue teams monitored and rescued wounded native waterbirds and recovered illegally shot protected and threatened native birds from this wetland.
“In 2025 Coalition Against Duck Shooting rescuers were present at Big Lake Boort for the five days of the opening of the recreational duck shooting season. More than 250 dead or wounded birds were recovered from Big Lake Boort and from nearby Lake Marmal, including 10 threatened and protected Freckled Ducks, 6 Blue-winged Shovelers and 28 Eurasian Coot that had been illegally shot.”
Federation of Victorian Traditional Owner Corporations has told Mr East: “The existing management regime imposed by the Victorian Government provides inadequate protection from damaging activities by visitors.
“This is a systematic failure to prevent irreversible damage to this highly significant area , and it must immediately be protected by an ATSHIPA declaration.”
Plans from the Department of Premier and Cabinet for an overhaul of Lake Boort activities were shown to members of the development and tourism committee last month amid local criticism of lake maintenance and access.