Speaker & Managing Ferals Panel Member

Feral cat management for community resilience

Peter Voller, Lower West Tamar Cat Management Committee

The Lower West Tamar Cat group was formed in 2019 following community concern about stray and feral cats in the Greens Beach, Kelso, Clarence Point and Badger Head areas.

They work closely with groups including RSPCA, Landcare Tasmania, Tamar NRM and NRM North and West Tamar Council to promote responsible cat ownership, using an ethical and strategic approach to trapping, identifying and removing feral and stray cats over a 6500ha area.

Over 100 feral cats have been removed from colonies in the area over a 4 year period. The committee now has ongoing funding from WTC and is working closely with PWS, UTAS researchers and the Council to deliver trapping and community awareness programs. Maintaining a focus on responsible cat ownership, and providing tangible reasons for this focus (eg protecting wildlife and keeping your pet safe) have been critical messages contributing to the success of the project.

Peter Voller is chair of West Tamar Landcare Group and convenor of the Lower West Tamar Cat Management Committee. He is a long-time landcarer having worked in state government agencies in Queensland and Tasmania for over 35 years, primarily in landscape management. He is presently Chair of Cradle Coast NRM Committee and a director on the Board of Landcare Tasmania. He also serves on the board of NRM Regions Australia, the Tasmanian Farm Innovation Hub and Cradle Coast Authority.