By Jed Lanyon
The future of the kangaroos living on Kinley Estate remains uncertain over a month since a planned cull was halted due to community backlash.
Around 40 Eastern Grey Kangaroos, who have made the former Lilydale quarry site home, were spared temporarily as the State Government was pushed into finding an alternative solution for the animals, who will soon make way for the new Kinley Estate development.
Intrapac Property COO Maxwell Shifman told Star Mail, “It’s gone back to DELWP with an alternative proposal again to find an agreement to relocate the kangaroos.
Mr Shiffman said the potential proposal was still being worked through, but said he’s not yet concerned about the issue delaying developments at Kinley.
“Nothing is quick when it comes to planning approvals and this is a relatively short additional time considering the original approval we went through,” he said.
“I’m not yet worried about the time frame. I’m hopeful what we have put forward now with the assistance of local vets and local wildlife experts is something acceptable, but we can’t make that final decision of course.
“It’s still ongoing and we’ll report if and when we succeed in finding an alternative, but it’ll take a little bit of time yet.
A petition created by Mount Evelyn resident Shannen Jones has now reached over 15,000 signatures in an attempt to prevent the cull from taking place.
The petition came after locals received letters from the Kinley management team outlining that DELWP had authorised for the culling to take place.
The letter stated that while methods of site management, fertility control and translocation had been considered, DELWP believed killing the kangaroos was the “most humane method of dealing with the welfare of the local kangaroo population”.
A DELWP Conservation regulator spokesperson previously told Star Mail that relocating the kangaroos wasn’t as simple as it seems.
“Kangaroos when translocated by humans, suffer significant stress and have shown to experience high levels of mortality in some cases this has been greater than 40 per cent.
“Release of an animal at a new site, is likely to cause further stress as a result of being in unfamiliar surroundings, potential territory disputes with existing kangaroo populations as well risks associated with disease transfer.
“Kangaroos have also been known to attempt to find their way back to their original location, which may pose additional risks to both animals and the community.”
Dr Emma Cash, owner of Montrose’s Bungalook Wildlife Sanctuary, slammed the original decision by DELWP, stating the department had knocked back offers to rescue the animals.
“I’m not entirely sure about how being dead is less stressful than being relocated,” she said.
“If handled correctly with the right personnel and veterinary staff it (re-location) can be done.
“I won’t deny that it will be stressful, but I’m not sure how a couple days of stress for these animals is trumped by death.”
