Throughout Greater Sydney, European rabbits are causing damage to natural bushland and agricultural areas and degrading important habitat for native wildlife. Rabbits have been declared a pest species under the Local Land Services Act 2013. As a land manager, Council has a responsibility to take reasonable action to control rabbits within our reserves. Impacts of European rabbit activity are routinely monitored within Council’s high value conservation areas. This data informs site selection for pest management actions. 

High value conservation areas include, but are not restricted to: 

• Bushland corridors at Spring Farm and Gledswood Hills 

• Harrington Park Forest and John Oxley Reserve (Kirkham) 

• Bicentennial Equestrian Park and Ferguson Reserve, Camden 

• Biobank Conservation Reserve, Spring Farm/Narellan Vale 

Camden Council participates in a regional pest rabbit control program coordinated by the NSW Government’s Local Land Services in which agent-RHDV1-K5 (calicivirus) is used to manage numbers of European rabbits across Greater Sydney. This virus is not harmful to native animals or domestic pets, other than rabbits.  For best protection, pet rabbits should be vaccinated against this virus prior to 1 March. The NSW Government has notified all veterinarians in the area.  

The control program runs annually at the beginning of March. If you are a land manager with a rural property (>2ha) and would like to participate in the program, you can contact Local Land Services Directly by clicking here. 

Under the Biosecurity Act 2015, all landholders have a General Biosecurity Duty to prevent, eliminate or minimise the risks posed by pest animals, including feral rabbits. 

For more information, please refer to the Greater Sydney Regional Strategic Pest Animal Management Plan 2024-2028 or contact Council’s Natural Resources Officers by calling 13 22 63 or email sustainability@camden.nsw.gov.au.