SSAA NSW

Sporting Shooters Association of Australia (NSW) Inc. 21 When out on your mate's property or in the bush with your eye on the prize, it's all-too-easy to unwittingly spread weeds and diseases that could infect livestock, kill wildlife, contaminate our water and destroy the bush. What you take with you on a hunt is often more than you might think. We all have a "shared responsibility" Biosecurity laws across Australia are starting to recognise this concept of a shared responsibility. This is to ensure everyone plays their part, to ensure all lands are valued equally, whether they're natural areas or farms, public or private land. In NSW, biosecurity legislation requires everybody to abide by a general biosecurity duty (or obligation). The general biosecurity duty requires anyone who may knowingly create or spread a biosecurity risk to take practical measures to prevent, minimise or eliminate that risk. Did you know? Weeds, pests and diseases are major threats to Australia's agricultural industry and our native plants and animals. They can hitch a ride on muddy hiking boots, the dirty rims of your car, your dog, in wet fi shing gear, or even in your stomach. When preparing for a hunt you need to plan ahead and consider whether there will be any livestock, wildlife, crops or native bushland present. Did you clean your gear properly after your last hunt? What you can do To keep your gear clean and our hunting lands free of potentially deadly pests and diseases, follow these simple steps: • Thoroughly check and clean your boots, socks, equipment, bikes, boats and vehicles by scrubbing in local or town water before arriving and leaving each location. Ensure all mud, soil and debris collected during the hunt is removed and left on site. • For multiple-day journeys use a small brush to clean boots, clean equipment and empty your tent of debris each day before leaving camp. • Disinfect the soles of your footwear, gaiters and packs using a spray bottle fi lled with disinfectant before entering and leaving a location. Use methylated spirits (70-100%), bleach (dilute to 25%) or F10 disinfectant solution. Wait for one minute then step forward to avoid re-contaminating boots. • Keep to natural walking trails or cattle trails where possible to avoid spreading diseases into untracked areas, especially on wet ground. • Avoid contaminating water by taking care with personal hygiene and toileting. This stops the spread of giardia and other bugs. • Before going to the next property completely dry all waders, footwear, equipment, boats and vehicles. Protect your assets - Hunt clean

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