It’s not an honour many regions would covet, to come tops on the pest ruminant charts. But it is backed by evidence.

And if the decision were up to many environmentally-minded residents of this region, it may just be we’re No.1 with a bullet.

Just who gets to use the bullet is the issue the NSW must grapple with.

Mr Park said deer had been preserved as a game animal for too long, meaning their population had been allowed to grow.

“In our experience in the Illawarra, residential fences do not prevent deer from entering property—they simply jump the fence,” he said.

“Neither do deer recognise boundaries of local government areas, conservation areas, schools, main roads or train lines.

“In my electorate of Keira, constituents regularly report damage to private property and express concern about near-miss incidents on the roads. 

“For years, the numbers of deer have been allowed to grow and communities have been left to manage the problem in the best way they can.”

Mr Park cited a recent report by the NSW Natural Resources Commission (NRC), which found the Illawarra was a main hotspot requiring “urgent attention” in wild deer management.

Mr Park called on the ministers for Environment and Primary Industries to act on the NRC’s recommendations to declare wild deer a pest, to ease control measures. He wanted to know what would be done to control deer in the Illawarra Escarpment State Conservation Area and the Royal National Park.

“I want the Government to look at this, not just from an environmental point of view but also from an economic point of view because of the huge burden it has on local landowners and local residents,” he said. 

Member for Kiama Gareth Ward said he shared Mr Park’s concerns and would help raise the issue with the Minister for the Environment.