Bellarine Rabbit Sweep News

Rabbit Sweep Newsletter Feb/2026

The Rabbit Sweep is a Bellarine Landcare Entity. This news is for all people who are keen to control the rabbits that, so far, seem to be winning the environment of the Bellarine and for people in organisations that can help us. Many organisations do not specialise in the control of rabbits but their members are so engaged and we will be happy to work with them.

We have four topics for this newsletter:

1. PAP grant and Rabbit Sweep clusters
2. Participation in a cluster
3. CoGG Grant and restoration of indigenous species
4. How to support our work

 PAP grant and the Rabbit Sweep project

We are working on the new Rabbit Sweep project funded by Agriculture Victoria and supported by volunteers. Bellarine land managers are encouraged to form teams to help and support each other in their rabbit control work. The details of the project are available online at

https://www.rabbit-sweep.org/rabbit-sweep-2025-2027

Our modus operandi is:

1. to tell people what we are doing on a regular basis (via this newsletter)
2. invite interested potential participants to help us by filling in a form so we can establish clusters of neighbours who can work together to control rabbits
3. contact other relevant neighbours to ask them if they will join a local cluster
4. schedule a meeting of members of a cluster to work on developing a plan for the cluster for the next few years. This is an important meeting so a Rabbit Sweep facilitator and one or more rabbit control experts will attend the meeting.

 On-going, Rabbit Sweep will support cluster members with respect to identifying

1. good information about recommended techniques for rabbit control
2. integration and choice of techniques
3. relationship of techniques and time of year, weather, etc
4. availability of required equipment
5. potential contractors

 Note: we are not funded to do on-ground work but we aim to make it easier and cheaper.

We are grateful to be supported by an Agriculture Victoria Partnerships against Pests grant:

Participation in a Rabbit Sweep cluster

While carefully maintaining privacy, we will work behind the scenes to help team building (cluster formation) but we will need some information to do this. Anyone interested in participating should complete our form that is available at https://www.rabbit-sweep.org/project-application-form

We will provide help and templates etc to help make the process of long-term planning easier.

We expect to start work immediately now.

CoGG Grant and restoration of indigenous fauna

Rabbit control can be hard work and requires determination and it demands expertise. It touches ethical and welfare issues, scientific considerations, practical logistics, and more. To help explain what is involved and what might be achieved, the Rabbit Sweep has received a grant from the City of Greater Geelong to help promote returning the environment to its best natural state. This means cleaning out invasive flora and fauna, of course.There will be events to which all will be welcomed - current dates are:

1. March 11, a talk at a regular Bellarine Landcare Meeting about rabbits and indigenous animals,
2. ,April 26, a walk through the Ocean Grove Reserve to learn about indigenous environments and the role played by invasive vs indigenous fauna,
3. and
   May 2 a picnic and visit to Mt Rothwell to learn about indigenous fauna after dark (participation is limited and there will be a charge). 

Sponsored by a City of Greater Geelong grant:

www.geelongaustralia.com.au

How to support our work

As always, Landcare depends upon grants and volunteers of teir time and money. The Rabbit Sweep would love to hear from you if you can help us with funds, perhaps organising a corporate day, volunteers, or anyone else.

Please feel free to email us or call us:  or ph 0494 569 999

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