RCP - Our Rabbit Control Plan 2021 - 2026

Vision

Apply an integrated approach to rabbit control, supported by the community, that enables natural regeneration on our reserves, and restores natural and rural landscapes. We aspire to have no active rabbit warrens on City managed land.

Goals

Apply an integrated control program to have rabbits and warrens under effective control* on all City-managed land in the Restoring Rural Landscape target areas by 2026.
To identify the extent of the rabbit infestations across all City managed land to identify our next target areas by 2025.
To partner with all Landcare groups in programs that will engage and equip rural landowners to control rabbits by 2026.

*Rabbit numbers low enough to enable regeneration in natural areas - warrens ripped preferably, or fumigated if constraints present, and harbour removed.

Objectives

Principle	Objective
Commit	Sufficiently resource rabbit control to achieve and maintain our goals.
Prioritise and deliver	Rabbit control prioritised in areas where there is existing community action, significant rabbit impacts, high-value biodiversity and/or other community assets. Use the full suite of available control techniques to maximise impact. Act where we can achieve the best results.
Mitigate and evaluate	Identify hazards and adopt control measures to minimise risk of harm. Monitor results and measure success to better understand the rabbit problem and adapt the program.
Collaborate and empower	Establish new relationships, and foster existing ones, with our land management partners and government agencies. Support and empower community groups and rural landowners to undertake effective rabbit control.
Communicate and engage	Share our plans, results and learnings with the community and partner agencies. Create resources that engage the community about rabbits, the damage they cause and control methods.

Action Plan 2021–2026

Principle	Action	Timing	Measure of success
Commit	Approve an annual budget that supports effective rabbit control across all City-managed land for the life of this plan and beyond.	Annual	Adequate resources for the effective implementation of this plan allocated.
	Extend the term of the Rural and Peri-Urban Advisory Committee.	Ongoing	The term of the committee is extended.
	Advocate to the Victorian Government to commit more resources for extension, enforcement and biological control.	Ongoing	Meet once a year, or as situations arise.
	Review the Plan in 2026 and consider including other pest animals.	2026	Reviewed plan adopted and implemented.
Prioritise and deliver	Map rabbit warrens on priority sites.	June 2022	All rabbit warrens on priority sites mapped
	Survey all City managed land to identify the extent of rabbit infestations.	2025	All infestations identified and prioritised.
	Use a site prioritisation tool for City-managed land to target resources effectively.	Annual	All sites ranked and priority sites identified each year.
	Undertake extensive works program on priority sites, applying all steps of our integrated rabbit control program (see page 18), installing fencing where appropriate.	Annual	Effective control achieved on priority sites and natural regeneration occurring.
	Deliver restoration projects on sites that have been impacted by rabbit control activities. This may include intensive weed control to encourage natural regeneration, and revegetation.	Annual	Two restoration projects each year.
	Trial new and innovative rabbit control techniques including non-lethal technologies.	As opportunities arise	Trial any new control technique approved by the Centre for Invasive Species.
Mitigate and evaluate	Develop and implement a site-specific risk management framework for rabbit control that considers public safety, occupational health and safety, cultural heritage, native vegetation and wildlife risks.	August 2021	No rabbit-control-related incidents involving public safety, occupational health and safety, cultural heritage, native vegetation or wildlife.
	Require contractors adhere to our site-specific risk management framework for rabbit control and undertake regular audits.	Ongoing	No rabbit-control-related incidents involving public safety, occupational health and safety, cultural heritage, native vegetation or wildlife.
	Develop a monitoring program that incorporates new technologies to assess the effectiveness of our control program.	2022	A monitoring program will be in place by 2022.
	Review and adapt the rabbit control program at the end of each season.	Annual	Continuous improvement in rabbit control resulting in a greater reduction in rabbit impacts and numbers each year.
	Ensure land handed over to the City by developers is free from rabbits and rabbits warrens, and is made rabbit-proof where required.	Ongoing	Rabbit control conditions applied to all new developments.
Collaborate and Empower	Partner with Landcare groups to develop assistance programs, equipping landowners to control and monitor rabbits.	June 2022	Assistance program introduced.
	Partner with Landcare groups and the Victorian Rabbit Action Network to deliver collaborative events for landowners in the region.	Annual	Support two rabbit collaborative events in the Geelong region – one on the Bellarine Peninsula and one elsewhere.
	Partner with Landcare and industry experts to organise a rabbit forum to encourage best practice rabbit management.	December 2024	Rabbit forum is held, with presentations from industry experts.
	Maintain regular correspondence with Landcare groups and agencies.	Annual	Attend four Landcare group meetings a year.
	Establish demonstration sites at prominent locations within Restoring Rural Landscape zones to demonstrate successful rabbit control programs and illustrate the positive improvement to the environment.	June 2022	Three demonstration areas established, monitored and results promoted.
	Collaborate with the Wathaurung Aboriginal Corporation to enter into an Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Land Management Agreement for priority reserves.	December 2023	Agreement is signed and implemented.
	Reconvene Public Land Rabbit Control Group with government agencies.	Annual	Hold two meetings per year (December and June).
	Identify and report rabbit infestations on private land to Agriculture Victoria and advocate for a rabbit compliance program.	Annual	Agriculture Victoria regularly informed about heavily-infested properties.
	Connect with universities and government agencies.	Ongoing	Discuss partnership opportunities with two universities/TAFE institutions and the Centre of Invasive Species.
Communicate and Engage	Develop a rabbit control communication plan.	Ongoing	Report to councillors once a year. Report annually to the community. Report to the City’s Rural and Peri-Urban Advisory Committee quarterly. Promote rabbit control plan at two rural events each year. Promote community control programs using our communication channels. Update the rabbit control web page as required – approximately three times a year – and include maps and annual program information.
Communicate and Engage	Create a rural land management education toolkit that covers rabbit and weed control.	June 2022	Education toolkit created and distribution started. Investigate and trial the use of online applications.

Page last updated: Monday, 30th March 2026

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