Supplementary Pest Control Program operations report: September 2025 to February 2026

New volunteers have been trained or are being trained, new locations for operations are being assessed for suitability and different ways of delivering the program are being trialled. The results of the SPC Program in this period have been good, and volunteer participation and support have been high.

New SPC volunteers

New volunteers now have access to the My Impact program to begin the journey of becoming a fully trained and qualified SPC volunteer. New volunteers are required to attend accredited training in 'AHCPMG304 – Use firearms to humanely destroy animals'. This course has been delivered in multiple locations to enable volunteer participation.

In addition to this course, volunteers must provide proof of first aid and firearms licensing details. Volunteers who have completed all the required training can now receive SPC operation requests to attend their first operation, which includes a detailed induction.

To date, 10 newly accredited SPC volunteers have participated in operations. There is a very positive dynamic between the new volunteers, experienced volunteers and National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) staff, contributing to safer and more effective delivery of ground shooting programs.

SPC programs

From 1 September 2025 to 12 February 2026, 14 SPC operations were delivered in 16 NPWS reserves. A total of 4,706 feral animals were removed by ground shooting and 14 animals were trapped.

Volunteers contributed 1,047 hours of support. This figure is expected to increase in 2026 as more operations are offered and a larger pool of trained volunteers is available to participate.

Other SPC business

The SPC team has been busy behind the scenes developing processes and procedures to make program delivery more efficient, safe and accessible to SPC volunteers. Volunteer feedback is valuable and has contributed to improved application submission and program acceptance timeframes. Longer-duration operations are being trialled and feedback is contributing to finetuning logistics and provision of meals and meeting accommodation needs.

SPC has procured new Pulsar Telos thermal monoculars for enhanced thermal detection. The new monoculars reduce downtime and the image lag that the older units experienced, thereby increasing detection and animal-tracking capability at night. Other improvements include the addition of a starlink satellite communications system to each vehicle for enhanced communications and vehicle-tracking capability in remote areas.

SPC staff have conducted site inspections of new areas being considered for future SPC operations, including west of the Blue Mountains and in the Scone area. This is not a guarantee that they will form part of the SPC Program, but it is a positive step in further developing the SPC Program and creating new internal working relations.