National Parks and Wildlife Service pest management (aerial shooting) activities near Nowra

On this page

Closed consultation

NSW

Start 25/07/2025
AEST 10:00

End 15/08/2025
AEST 17:00

Submit feedback to

Helen Jessup

NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service

helen.jessup@environment.nsw.gov.au

National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) pest management (aerial shooting).

The issue

In order to control feral animal populations, aerial shooting operations are often conducted by NPWS park air in a Squirrel B3 helicopter. The crew consists of a Pilot, Navigator, Shooter and an on-ground Officer-in-Charge maintaining flight following for search and rescue purposes.

The aerial shooting operations will be conducted within NPWS land tenure and specific adjoining private properties, near Nowra restricted air space, performing low flying operations that target pest animals only.

HMAS Albatross Nowra and other airspace users may potentially be impacted by the upcoming aerial shoot on NPWS parks and reserves from Monday 27 to Friday 31 October 2025.

Purpose

To seek feedback from other airspace users on planned aerial shooting operations for feral animal control by the New South Wales NPWS, South Coast Branch.

The proposed aerial shooting operations will take place in NPWS parks and reserves near Nowra restricted airspace from Monday 27 to Friday 31 October 2025.

The next round of aerial shooting will be undertaken within the Shoalhaven and Illawarra-Highlands section of NPWS South Coast Branch area of operations. In order to reduce the potential impact on other stakeholders, the aircraft will only operate during daylight hours and below 3500 feet.

This operation is part of a long-term pest animal control program that has been taking place since 1984 using highly trained shooters that are part of the Feral Animal Aerial Shooting Team (FAAST) staff.

Most of the operations will not fly within the Nowra HMAS Albatross restricted airspace as most of the pest animals being targeted are further to the west in Morton National Park and Bungonia State conservation area.

Generally, we will be aiming for peak pest animal activity. This will likely involve flying/shooting with early morning starts (from first light) through to late afternoon (until last light), with intermittent operations throughout the day.