Rabbit Management: Lake Hayes, Shotover Cemetery and Gibbston Reserve

The rabbit population in and around reserves near Lake Hayes, Shotover Cemetery, Whitechapel Reserve and Gibbston is posing a nuisance to neighbours and users of Council-owned reserves, damaging property and eating vegetation and plantings

We're carrying out control work to reduce rabbit numbers in these reserves. Council will be installing rabbit-proof fencing in locations near Lake Hayes, and conducting monitoring, night shooting and other control methods in 2022/2023.

To keep members of the public safe during these works, contractors on site will ensure control areas are unable to be accessed while shooting is underway. Contractors will be clearly visible, and signage will be in place when control works are underway. Residents living near the affected areas will be notified in advance.

Night shooting:

QLDC is using professional contractors and will make every effort to ensure members of the public cannot access areas where shooting is underway.  Shooting will take place between the hours of 9.30pm to 2.00am.

All direct neighbours will be notified of night shooting by our contractor.

Magtoxin:

Magtoxin pellets will be placed in rabbit holes which will then be collapsed and closed. Signage will be in place in areas of high use, and treated holes will be marked with orange flagging tape. Dead rabbits will not be poisonous to dogs, but we would recommend keeping dogs on lead in any control area.

Baiting:

Carrot baits covered in a pindone paste will be laid specifically at Whitechapel Reserve near Arrow Junction, within a fenced area by new plantings.

Fencing:

Rabbit fencing will be attached to existing fences, with further fencing installed around the boundaries of some reserves. 

Magtoxin pellets are being laid in burrows from Thursday 31 March 2022 across all control areas.

Night shooting and fencing work will commence from Thursday 31 March 2022 in the northern reserves of Lake Hayes, in Mill Creek reserves from Friday 1 April 2022, and in Gibbston Reserve from Saturday 2 April 2022.

Estimated dates for further night shooting in 2023 are as follows:

6 February: Lake Hayes Pavilion/Arena and Showground
7 February: Lake Hayes Reserve North Reserve
10 February: Cemetery at Lower Shotover Road, Gibbston Reserve and Mill Creek reserves
20 February: Lake Hayes Pavilion/Arena and Showground
21 February: Lake Hayes Reserve North Reserve
24 February: Cemetery at Lower Shotover Road, Gibbston Reserve and Mill Creek reserves

6 March: Lake Hayes Pavilion/Arena and Showground
7 March: Lake Hayes Reserve North Reserve
10 March: Cemetery at Lower Shotover Road, Gibbston Reserve and Mill Creek reserves
20 March: Lake Hayes Pavilion/Arena and Showground
21 March: Lake Hayes Reserve North Reserve
24 March: Cemetery at Lower Shotover Road, Gibbston Reserve and Mill Creek reserves

January 9: Lake Hayes Pavilion/Arena and Showground
January 10: Lake Hayes Reserve North Reserve
January 13: Cemetery at Lower Shotover Road, Gibbston Reserve and Mill Creek reserves
January 23: Lake Hayes Pavilion/Arena and Showground
January 24: Lake Hayes Reserve North Reserve
January 27: Cemetery at Lower Shotover Road, Gibbston Reserve and Mill Creek reserves