Overwhelming community support for peacocks welcomed


Released 20/06/2018

More than 400 submissions were received during community consultation on the ACT Government’s draft Peafowl Management Plan highlighting the community’s affection for the peafowl in Canberra’s inner south.

Minister for Transport and City Services, Meegan Fitzharris, said she was overwhelmed by the discussion the Plan had generated locally amongst Canberrans, nationally and internationally, and said the peacocks would continue to have a home in and around Narrabundah.

“I would like to thank the Canberra community and everyone who provided their comments on the draft Peafowl Management Plan. It’s great that so many people took the time to provide feedback to the ACT Government about this issue,” said Minister Fitzharris.

“During the consultation period, over 400 submissions were received via the Transport Canberra and City Services website, email, Access Canberra call centre and post, showing that people valued having a say on the future of our local peafowl population.

“We have read your comments, we have listened and I’m pleased to announce that we will not remove the peafowl from their current habitat.

“We recognise that the peafowl are an integral part of the community and so we have come to the decision that we will work with the local community to develop an agreed approach to the future management of the peafowl to be jointly carried out by the ACT Government and residents.

“From the consultation it was clear that there is overwhelming support for the peafowl to remain. However the ACT Government acknowledges that there have been a number of complaints over the years and it is important that these are not ignored and they will be taken into account as part of the community-led discussions.

“It’s great that through this consultation, the community has come together to come up with a way humans and peafowl can live in harmony. The next step will be to facilitate the formation of a community group that is representative of the community as a whole to assist with the development of a management plan.

“We want all views represented and that includes those who supported the removal of the peafowl and those who expressed a desire for the peafowl to remain.

“On behalf of the ACT Government I would like to thank everyone for their feedback. I look forward to seeing the progress we make in the coming months,” Minister Fitzharris concluded.

For more information on the next steps and to remain updated on the project, visit www.tccs.act.gov.au/peafowl.

- Statement ends -

Meegan Fitzharris, MLA | Media Releases

Media Contacts

Name Phone Mobile Email

Mark Paviour

02 6205 2775

0466 521 634

mark.paviour@act.gov.au


«ACT Government Media Releases | «Minister Media Releases