‘‘Kangaroos can also cause environmental damage, especially if they are confined on reserved land and their numbers are allowed to increase unchecked. Contraceptives may be useful for controlling kangaroo populations in confined areas or in the peri-urban area. However, much more work is required, including an assessment of their biological and ecological impacts, before they could be considered,’’ the centre’s latest report states.

But Wildlife Rescuers dispute these claims. Wildlife Victoria carer Manfred Zabinskas argues kangaroo numbers are, in fact, on the decline.

“A lot of the arguments you hear out there are just scaremongering. Getting people worried we’re going to be over-run by these so-called ‘pest animals’ is just false,” he says. “We’ve seen a huge reduction in the number of joeys visible. Kangaroos are very good at controlling their own population … and I dare say the populations have reduced significantly.”

The DSE is responsible for managing the state’s wild kangaroo population. Because all wildlife is protected under the Wildlife Act 1975, landowners who wish to cull kangaroos on their properties must apply for an Authority to Control Wildlife permit from the DSE. Between June 2008 and June 2010, 37 permits were issued across Nillumbik and Whittlesea. One of those permits was issued to a Church Road, Panton Hill, resident in April, which brought the issue to shire-wide attention.

“Everyone I’ve spoken to is up in arms, because people came out here to live because of the wildlife. They love seeing the animals,” protesting neighbour Colin Duggleby told BNW at the time.

Zabinskas says neighbours’ views should be considered when wildlife culling permits are issued. ‘‘[The permit] doesn’t take into consideration what the neighbours want, so if one person happens not to like them, but surrounding properties do enjoy them and don’t consider them a problem, it doesn’t matter. That one person can be granted a permit to cull them and destroy kangaroos whether it’s appropriate or not.’’

University of New South Wales biological, earth and environmental science lecturer David Croft argues that culling kangaroos isn’t just bad for neighbours – it’s bad for business. He created The Kangaroo Trail, developed with the Australian Wildlife Protection Council, which shows where in Australia each of the 50 kangaroo species can be found in its natural habitat. Croft argues that international visitors are willing to pay big money to see Australia’s native wildlife.

Zabinskas supports the proposal and believes it has the potential to defuse the tension associated with the issue.

“I think one of the most important drawcards of Australia is our environment and the incredible wildlife that we have. I don’t believe that people truly recognise the monetary value of tourists being able to come over and actually see these sorts of species in real life, rather than in parks and sanctuaries,” he says.

DSE spokesman Nick Talbot says culling permits are issued only as a last resort. He says moving kangaroos to another location is not feasible because of welfare concerns, public safety and cost.

“Each application is examined on a case-by-case basis by a DSE officer who visits the site. The permit system is necessary because animals can damage crops, fences or other property or pose a direct threat to communities or public health,’’ he says, adding that a condition of a permit is that humane methods of destruction are used.

But Zabinskas says culls are not always carried out humanely. “One of the horrible things I do get called out to on a regular basis are the consequences of when a landowner has been given a permit to destroy animals or whether they’re just doing it illegally,” he says.

“Anyone today can get a gun and a permit tomorrow, not having any ability to hit a target – the consequences are that we get calls about injured animals with bits of their faces blown off or limbs missing… A lot of joeys end up orphaned and will die if we don’t ... rescue them.”

He says the DSE doesn’t always do its due diligence to make sure a cull really is the only way to solve a problem. “We have really crap regulations and controls over how that’s done – there’s no need to actually prove anything to get issued a cull licence.”

Standing in front of a new housing development in the back streets of Diamond Creek, Smith looks over at a small, empty patch of land. We came here expecting to find a mob of kangaroos, but they are nowhere to be seen.

‘‘It’s obvious from this that we’re still developing and encroaching on the land,’’ she says. ‘‘We recently had a look at a site assessment in Craigieburn, which has a species of owl that is classified as vulnerable, yet the whole site is still being developed with no management plan put in place for it. From my point of view, what hope do we have for a common species if we can’t even protect our vulnerable species?’’

¦ To report injured wildlife, call Wildlife Victoria on

1300 094 535 or Wildlife Rescuers on 0406 737 283.