Wild deer will be culled and fenced off from native species across more than 150,000ha of Victorian land.
The five-year deer control plans for the state’s eastern and western regions were launched on Monday, following government consultation with traditional owners, councils and hunting associations.
The plans will provide public land managers and the community with tools for targeted deer action, including on-ground shooting programs and fencing to protect threatened plants and animals.
“We’re making sure we manage deer in a safe and targeted way across Victoria,” Environment Minister Ingrid Stitt said.
“Deer can cause significant damage to our unique flora and fauna and areas of Aboriginal cultural significance and are increasingly encroaching on urban areas.
“That’s why it’s important we manage them effectively.”
The government has invested $19.25 million over four years to reduce the impact of the species across the state, along with an ongoing $4.4m to implement the Victorian deer control strategy.
The strategy is supporting 26 projects in priority locations including Wilsons Promontory and the Alpine and Budj Bim National Parks.
It’s also supporting eight community-led projects to manage the impact of deer in Melbourne’s outer suburbs.
Deer are classified as pests in all states bar Victoria and Tasmania, where they are legally protected as game animals for hunting.
The Invasive Species Council is pushing for that to be reconsidered, with the group noting there could be as many as one million wild deer in Victoria.