Rodney Stevens

Controlling the free roaming of cats, which kill more than 500 million animals a year in Australia, is the focus of a new campaign by the Northern Regional Joint Organisation of council’s which, if successful, will be implemented across the Clarence Valley.

Along with six other Northern Rivers Councils, Clarence Valley Council is a member of the Northern Regional Joint Organisation NRJO, which is requesting changes in the law so councils can restrict the free roaming of cats where necessary.

The Lions Club of Clarence Environmental have been calling for tighter regulations and increased control of domestic cats, due to their devastating impact on native species, for several years and have thrown their support behind this campaign.

A study by the Biodiversity Council found that roaming pet cats in Australia kill approximately 546 million animals per year.

The NRJO believes council programs and by-laws can contribute towards the reduction of these numbers, therefore the organisation is spearheading the advocacy effort to address the detrimental impact of roaming domestic cats on wildlife and enhance the health and welfare of companion animals in NSW.

These are the reforms and initiatives proposed by the NRJO, which, if implemented, the organisation believes they would achieve the effective control of roaming pet cats:

1. The amendment of the Companion Animals Act 1998 and Companion Animals Regulation 2018, which would empower local governments to enforce the containment of pet cats on their owner’s property.
2. A statewide funding program to support local governments enforcing compliance with the Companion Animals Act 1998, where the NRJO advocates for funding for more rangers to do compliance activities.
3. The NRJO proposes consolidation of pet identification and registration into a single process managed by Service NSW, and available through the Service NSW app.
4. The NRJO recommends transitioning to mandatory desexing laws that will align NSW with successful approaches in WA, Tasmania, the ACT, SA and Victoria.
5. The NRJO proposes a $10 million, three-year statewide grant program to support councils implementing cat containment policies and responsible cat ownership programs, encompassing identification and registration measures, large scale desexing and microchipping programs and education initiatives to encourage responsible cat ownership.
6. The NRJO advocates for a statewide “Safe Cat, Safe Wildlife” campaign including the development of a statewide online platform, created in consultation with councils, relevant agencies, and animal welfare bodies to make responsible pet ownership information easily accessible.

NRJO chair, Ballina Mayor Sharon Cadwallader said the NRJO is committed to creating a healthier and safer environment for both our wildlife and companion animals.

“We believe that these proposed reforms, coupled with robust enforcement and educational initiatives, will contribute significantly to the well-being of our communities and the preservation of our unique biodiversity,” she said.