newy.com.au – Newcastle councillors will be asked to lobby the state and federal governments to pay for protective equipment for volunteer wildlife rescuers, amid warnings Hunter bird rescues could stop within weeks without more funding.
Councillor Siobhan Isherwood will put the request to Tuesday’s City of Newcastle meeting as wildlife groups prepare for the spread of H5 bird flu.
Cr Isherwood said Hunter Wildlife Rescue had enough money to provide personal protective equipment for only another month. Volunteers in NSW were being told to wear gloves and masks during all bird rescues to protect themselves and reduce the risk of spreading the virus.
“Wildlife rescuers are on the front line of this virus and these volunteers deserve both the support and protective equipment they need to handle this growing threat,” she said.
Cr Isherwood said the H5 virus was detected in Western Australia in June and the Hunter in July, and reports of mass bird deaths had since emerged as it spread across the country.
Volunteer rescuers are often the first people contacted when residents find sick or injured wildlife. In Newcastle alone, Hunter Wildlife Rescue volunteers collected 240 birds last month, according to Cr Isherwood, with the work involving transport, feeding, care and release where possible.
She said the NSW and federal environment departments had declined to provide or fund protective equipment, leaving volunteers and wildlife organisations to meet the additional cost.
“I understand Hunter Wildlife Rescue volunteers have enough funds to cover PPE for another month. Beyond that, without funding, bird rescues in our city and region will stop,” Cr Isherwood said.
She contrasted the response with Western Australia and Victoria, where she said state governments had committed to covering PPE costs for volunteer wildlife rescuers.
Cr Isherwood also cited 2019 research estimating wildlife volunteers spent an average of $5300 of their own money each year caring for animals.
“Somehow, wildlife rescuers who already give up their time and money to care for our wildlife are now being asked to find the funding to cover gloves and masks or face having to stop all bird rescues,” she said.
The proposal before Newcastle council seeks advocacy rather than direct council funding. Cr Isherwood said donations of gloves and N95 masks, as well as financial contributions through the Hunter Wildlife Rescue website, would be welcomed.
