General News
26 April, 2023
Mayor's duck bid backed
UPDATE Loddon Shire has backed its Mayor Dan Straub in his bid to have duck hunting seasons continue in Victoria. Both Councillors Gavan Holt and Neil Beattie supported his motion today to make a submission to the Victorian Parliament inquiry. Cr...
UPDATE
Loddon Shire has backed its Mayor Dan Straub in his bid to have duck hunting seasons continue in Victoria.
Both Councillors Gavan Holt and Neil Beattie supported his motion today to make a submission to the Victorian Parliament inquiry.
Cr Beattie said that ducking hunting season, like Easter, brought different groups of people to Loddon communities and enormous economic value.
He said the season would be missed in Boort if duck hunting was banned.
"It's a great social occasion. It's not all about shooting ducks," Cr Beattie said.
Cr Linda Jungwirth said she was uncertain of the role council should play in advocating for duck hunting. that she described as a complex issue.
Cr Jungwirth said she did not know the different between the economic value of duck hunting and nature based tourism.
Only Councillors Straub, Holt and Beattie supported the motion that was not supported by Councillord Jungwirth and Wendy Murphy.
EARLIER
A STATE Parliament inquiry could be told that duck hunting made a positive economic and mental health impact in the Loddon Shire.
As the shortened 2023 duck hunting season opened yesterday, Mayor Dan Straub presented a notice of motion at the council’s monthly meeting for a formal submission telling the inquiry that duck hunting was a long-standing tradition for many families in the shire and to visitors.
“The Loddon Shire area has long been one of Victoria’s most popular duck hunting location,” said Cr Straub.
“With a vast number of hunting locations including some of the best state game reserves in Victoria, like Tang Tang Swamp, Thunder Swamp, Woolshed Swamp, Lake Boort, Lake Lyndger and Lake Yando to name but a few of the most popular.
“The economic stimulus promoted by the game hunting in Victoria estimates recreational hunting was worth $356 million to the Victorian economy in 2019.
“A great portion of this is generated throughout northern Victoria, with Loddon Shire one of the recipients benefiting our tourism and small business sectors.
“Mental health is a continuous concern within society, many Loddon residents have raised this issue with me a number of times, stating the ability to connect with likeminded people, reconnect to nature in the natural environment and the ability to harvest organic game meat, whilst spending quality time with their family and friends are some of the most important reasons they continue to hunt.
“The long-standing tradition of duck hunting in Victoria is generational and nondiscriminatory. The ability for cross generational participation and options for multiple fitness levels sees duck hunting across Loddon Shire very popular, not just as a recreational activity but a lifestyle choice.”
Loddon Shire’s debate yesterday afternoon on Cr Straub’s notice of motion came as Regional Victorians Opposed to Duck Shooting said the inquiry was the best chance for Victoria to align with other states and“change the plight of native duck and quail”.
“In Victoria, less than half of one percent of the population shoot ducks and quail. Professional polls show most Victorians, particularly regional residents, wish to see the end of annual shoots, hoping this year is the last.”
“Our towns and business continue to recover from the October 2022 flood event, nature tourism of our natural environment of many user groups including duck hunting, helps support the economic stimulus across our shire,” said Cr Straub,
Next week’s Loddon Herald will report on debate of Cr Straub’s motion yesterday afternoon.