The problem of a feral deer population which has “exploded” across New South Wales could be dealt with by a simple change in the law, environmentalists told MPs yesterday.

A delegation from Illawarra and beyond, including Wollongong Lord Mayor Gordon Bradbery, travelled to NSW parliament as part of the push to persuade the Government to declare deer a pest species.

This change would make it easier to shoot or cull deer, which have expanded their reach more than 60 per cent across the state over six years, it was claimed.

“Deer maps in NSW show that the population has expanded to cover about 13 per cent of the state – a 62 per cent increase in the past six years,” Invasive Species Council CEO Andrew Cox said. “Landowners and farmers are being severely impacted by this expansion of deer territory in our state."

At present deer are classed as game, so can only be hunted with a licence.

The NSW Natural Resources Commission recommended in 2016 that deer be listed as a pest and State Cabinet will soon make its decision on whether to do so.

Illawarra residents who live near the escarpment know only too well about the damage caused by the animals, from yards and trees being ripped up to drivers being endangered.

Among the delegation were Illawarra Landcare project officer Richard Scarborough, Foxground landowner Barbara Mathie and council representatives.

Greens MLC Jeremy Buckingham said less than 1000 deer were killed in 2015-16 in NSW, compared with more than 50,000 in Victoria.

“The NSW Government have been dragging the chain on declaring deer a pest for many years because of political pressure from the Shooters and Fishers Party who want them to remain a protected hunting resource,” he said.

The Greens want a removal of “bag” limits on deer, more culling, no restriction on night-time hunting, and an obligation on land managers to remove deer.

A spokeswoman for Primary Industries Minister Niall Blair declined to answer whether the Government agreed with Mr Cox’s estimate of a 13 per cent reach across NSW, or the estimate that 30,000 deer needed to be culled.

“The management of wild deer is currently being considered in response to the Natural Resource Commission’s review of pest animal management in NSW,” she said.

“However, the minister understands how contentious the issue of feral deer management is and will ensure that the views of all key stakeholders are taken into account when considering the Government’s response.”