Grampians National Park conservation program targets deer, feral goats and weeds

The $1.8 million program started in October and will run for the next three months.

In June helicopters were used to control populations of deer and feral goats for the first time in the park.

This month Parks Victoria is working with the Sporting Shooters Association Australia to remove feral goats from some remote areas of park.

The invasive weed sallow wattle is also targeted in October, with mechanical mulching, and some manual and chemical control taking place.

In late November Parks Victoria Rangers will work alongside professional contractors to control populations of deer.

The conservation initiative is funded by the state government's Biodiversity Response Planning program.

Parks Victoria area chief ranger Rhonda McNeil said it was essential to protect the park's unique flora and fauna.

"The Grampians National Park is a very special environment, a fragile landscape that faces ongoing threats from invasive and destructive animals and weeds," she said.

"Part of a larger conservation response, these spring and summer projects will help us to reduce the impacts of feral goats, deer and sallow wattle.

"Though we don't expect any park users or neighbours to be affected, safety plans will be implemented and some areas may be restricted for short periods of time."

The Grampians National Park contains more than 800 indigenous plant species, and one third of Victoria's flora and fauna.

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