1766	G 28	10 July 2003	Victoria Government Gazette

Wildlife Act 1975

ORDER DECLARING COMMON BRUSHTAIL POSSUM
(TRICHOSURUS VULPECULA) TO BE UNPROTECTED WILDLIFE
Order in Council

The Governor in Council, on the recommendation of the Minister for Environment, under section 7A of the

Wildlife Act 1975 –

(a) 	revokes the Order of Declaration of Common Brushtail Possums (Trichosurus vulpecula) to be Unprotected Wildlife which was made on 8 July 1997 and published in the Government Gazette No. G27 on 10 July 1997 at pages 1718-1719; 

(b) 	declares the Common Brushtail Possum (Trichosurus vulpecula) to be unprotected wildlife in the area being the whole of Victoria for the period commencing on the date of publication of this Order in the Government Gazette subject to the conditions, limitations and restrictions listed in the Schedule to this Order in respect of the taking, killing or controlling of Common Brushtail Possums. 

SCHEDULE

1. 	Only Common Brushtail Possums living within buildings or in municipal parks and municipal gardens may be controlled and the only method of capture permitted is by the use of a cage trap. 

2. 	The following conditions, limitations and restrictions apply in respect of trapping Common Brushtail Possums living within buildings: 

(a) 	Common Brushtail Possums may only be trapped by home-owners or occupiers and members of their families, building managers or their staff and holders of a Commercial Wildlife (Wildlife Controller) Licence Type 1 endorsed for taking possums. 

(b) 	Possums may only be trapped in a cage trap designed not to cause injury. 

(c) 	Trapped possums must be released on the property on which they are captured, up to a maximum of 50 metres from the capture site after sunset on the day of capture. 

(d) 	Where condition (c) above is not reasonably possible, possums must be humanely destroyed by a registered veterinary practitioner, at the trapper’s expense, within 24 hours of capture. 

(e) 	Trapped possums must be protected from rain or wind, direct sun and domestic animals at all times. 

3. 	The following conditions, limitations and restrictions apply in respect of trapping Common Brushtail Possums in municipal parks and municipal gardens: 

(a) 	Common Brushtail Possums may only be trapped by holders of a Commercial Wildlife (Wildlife Controller) Licence Type 1 endorsed for taking possums. 

(b) 	Trapping may only occur with the express permission of the land manager and may only be conducted in accordance with a management plan that includes the use of non-lethal methods of damage control. 

(c) 	Possums may only be trapped in a cage trap designed not to cause injury. 

(d) 	Trapped possums must be protected from rain or wind, direct sun and domestic animals at all times. 

Victoria Government Gazette	G 28	10 July 2003	1767

(e) 	Trapped possums must be humanely destroyed by a registered veterinary practitioner within 24 hours of capture. 

(f) 	Specimens not to be retained for humane destruction must be released within a maximum of 50 metres from the capture site after sunset on the day of capture. 

Dated 8 July 2003 Responsible Minister: JOHN THWAITES Minister for Environment

HELEN DOYE Clerk of the Executive Council