Our inaugural Rabbit Control Plan 2021-2026 was adopted by Council on 27 July 2021.

We would like to thank our community and the various stakeholders who provided input into the development of the plan over the three phases of consultation.

Rabbits breed very quickly. As a result rabbit populations can multiply rapidly and spread over large areas if no effective control action is taken.

The damage that uncontrolled rabbit infestations can have on the environment agriculture and our open spaces is enormous costing Australian agriculture alone an estimated $600 million per year.

Pest control is a complex issue and there are often conflicting community views on what actions we should take to control rabbits.

We receive many complaints from the community about rabbits especially as they become more visible in suburban gardens agricultural areas and City managed reserves.

Our rabbit control program has been developed using expert advice including information provided by Agriculture Victoria and the Centre for Invasive Species Solutions.

The recent expansion of the City’s rabbit control program has been made possible by the Restoring Rural Landscapes program. This City-funded landscape restoration program has greatly increased the resources available for pest plant and animal control activities on City-managed reserves and roadsides.

Please watch this video to learn more about why rabbits are such a big problem in the Geelong region. A big thank you to Sophie and Geoff from the Bellarine Landcare Group for sharing their time and expertise.

In general we prioritise control activities at locations where:

• we can partner with and coordination our efforts with adjoining landholders public land managers and Landcare groups
• high biodiversity values are present or to protect assets such as sporting fields buildings and walking tracks.

Our control efforts are constrained by many factors including:

• the large area of land that we manage and the range of landscapes and habitats within it
• our finite resources (budget and time)
• community safety and wellbeing concerns and/or perceptions of risk
• native vegetation laws
• cultural heritage laws
• Underground services
• laws regulating to management around waterways (this is a particularly complex issue).

We adapt our control program and the methods we utilize depending on the constraints present at each site.

• Visit the Pest Smart website or the Agriculture Victoria website for more advice.
• The Victorian Rabbit Action Network (VRAN) also have many useful videos on their YouTube channel.
• Contact your local Landcare Group to find out more about rabbit control in your area.
• Remember – coordinated action brings the best results. Get together with your neighbors and talk about how you might work together to control rabbits in your area.

The Environment and Biodiversity Team completed a pindone baiting program (in accordance with our Rabbit Control Plan 2021–2026) to reduce high rabbit numbers at six priority City-managed reserves.

The program commenced in April and concluded in May 2025.

The baiting program is an important part of our integrated rabbit control program which aims to reduce the impacts of rabbits, including environment degradation and damage to sporting and recreational infrastructure. 

The 2025 baiting program occurred at the following City-managed reserves:

1. 18 Kees Rd & 9A Forest Rd Nth, Wadawurrung Country, Lara 
2. Barwon and Moorabool River Reserve – Wadawurrung Country, Mount Brandon Peninsula, 100-102 Highett Road, Highton
3. Hovell's Creek Reserve – Wadawurrung Country, 8 Kanowna Place, Lara
4. Waurn Ponds Creek – Wadawurrung Country, Rossack Drive to Pioneer Road – both sides of the creek
5. Waurn Ponds Creek – Wadawurrung Country, east side of Pioneer Road
6. Waurn Ponds Creek – Wadawurrung Country, west side of Rossack Road – both sides of the creek

Extensive efforts are taken at each site to reduce the risk of other animals or humans coming into contact with the bait.

These include:

• Baiting occurs behind permanent and/or temporary fencing, or at reserves that can be closed to the public during the baiting period.
• Signage notifies the public of partial reserve closures during the four-week baiting window and letters are posted to residents living in close proximity to these reserves.
• Baits of chopped carrot or oats, treated with anticoagulant poison, ‘Pindone’, are laid by a licensed contractor in accordance with the manufacturer’s directions.
• Baits are laid late in the afternoon and uneaten baits and/or rabbit carcasses cleaned up the following morning.
• Signage informs the public that dogs should be restrained and not allowed to roam in these reserves during the baiting period.
• Pindone is a first-generation rodenticide so there is a low risk that pets might get sick if they ingest poisoned bait or rabbit carcasses. Vitamin K1, which is an antidote for Pindone, is stocked at veterinarian clinics.

Our rabbit control program has been developed using expert advice and information provided by Agriculture Victoria and the Centre for Invasive Species Solutions.

Once the baiting program is complete and rabbit numbers have been reduced, we will continue to control rabbits by removing harbour and destroying warrens to limit their ability to repopulate these reserves.

Please contact our Environment Unit on 03 5272 5272 for further information.

1. Mount Duneed Recreation Reserve – warrens ripped and fumigated
2. Mount Brandon Peninsula – Wadawurrung Country, 53-57 Rivergum Drive, Highton – warrens (and a fox den) fumigated).
3. Basin Reserve, Drysdale – warrens fumigated.
4. Belchers Reserve, Drysdale – harbour removed, warrens ripped and fumigated.
5. Hovell's Creek Reserve (between Windermere Road and Forest Road North) – warrens fumigated
6. Hovell's Creek Reserve (Wadawurrung Country, 8 Kanowna Place, Lara) – Harbour removed (boxthorn thicket), warrens fumigated.
7. Dooliebeal Reserve, Armstrong Creek – warrens fumigated and rabbit proof gate installed
8. Knights Road (Queenscliff Road end)
   Permission was granted from the Department of Environment Land Water and Planning (DELWP) to impact the roadside native vegetation (to the minimum extent necessary) during implosion, ripping and fumigation activities. Please note that care was taken to have as little impact on the native vegetation present as possible. Over 200 warrens were fumigated and over 640 entrances closed.
9. Manifold Road, St Leonards
   Permission was granted from the Department of Environment Land Water and Planning (DELWP) to impact the roadside native vegetation (to the minimum extent necessary) during implosion and ripping activities. Please note that care was taken to have as little impact on the native vegetation present as possible.
   
   Over 250 warrens with 627 entrances have been fumigated and manually collapsed. A total of 4.14 tonnes of bower spinach, sea berry saltbush and fallen timber was taken to the Drysdale Transfer Station and 3 sheoak limbs were removed. No other native species were impacted during these works.
10. Community support
    We provided assistance to the Batesford, Stonehaven and Fyansford Landcare Group, Maude and District Landcare Group and the Barrabool Hills Landcare Group with their baiting programs by performing a mail out to properties in their target areas.