Urge City of Sydney Council to Stop Using SGAR Rodenticides | Animal Liberation
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SGAR Use Confirmed — City of Sydney Council

Tell the City of Sydney to Stop Poisoning Wildlife.

City of Sydney's contractor Ventia is permitted to use five SGAR products across council premises. On 25 August 2025 — following advocacy by Animal Liberation and Cr Thompson — council voted unanimously to investigate restricting SGAR use. The investigation is underway. Your email keeps the pressure on for a full phase-out.

Audit Record
NSW SGAR Council Audit — City of Sydney Updated 25 Aug 2025
SGAR Status
Confirmed User
Contractor Ventia is permitted to use five SGAR products across council premises. On 25 August 2025, Council voted unanimously to investigate restricting SGAR use — but no phase-out has been enacted yet.
Permitted SGAR Products (per 25 Aug 2025 Council Decision)
Ditrac brodifacoum
Generation First Strike difethialone
Maki Block bromadiolone
Storm Secure flocoumafen
Talon Wax Blocks brodifacoum
Contractor
Ventia
LGA Region
Sydney Metro
Council Decision Record
Protecting the City's Powerful Owl Population — City of Sydney Council 25 Aug 2025
SGAR Use Investigation Resolved Cr Thompson moved to investigate ways to restrict SGAR use to protect the Powerful Owl, including reviewing Ventia's contract and trialling safer alternatives. Animal Liberation and BirdLife Australia named in the resolution.
Outcome CARRIED Unanimously
The CEO was directed to report back on: (i) improving waste & pest management coordination; (ii) reviewing contractor arrangements and tender language; and (iii) trialling lower-risk rodenticide alternatives.
Where things stand: The investigation is underway but no phase-out has been enacted. Your email creates a formal constituent record that reinforces the council's own resolution and supports a full transition when the CEO's report comes back to council.
Why This Matters

Council voted unanimously to investigate. Now push them to act.

01

Secondary poisoning of native wildlife

SGARs accumulate in the tissue of poisoned rodents and remain lethal for days. Native predators — powerful owls, wedge-tailed eagles, raptors, quolls, and antechinus — are exposed when they eat affected animals. Research led by Prof. Raylene Cooke and Assoc. Prof. John White at Deakin University has documented SGAR toxins in the livers of native predators across Australia.

02

Active regulatory review by the APVMA

The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority is currently reviewing SGAR registrations following evidence of widespread non-target harm. Councils continuing to use these products risk being on the wrong side of an emerging regulatory shift.

03

Effective alternatives already exist

First-generation anticoagulants (FGARs) and non-anticoagulant products such as Selontra (colecalciferol) provide effective rodent control with substantially lower risk to non-target wildlife. The unanimous August 2025 resolution explicitly named trialling alternative rodenticides — the council has already acknowledged the transition is possible.

The investigation has begun — the phase-out hasn't. Council's August 2025 resolution directed the CEO to investigate ways to restrict SGAR use and report back. Your email creates a formal constituent record that strengthens the case for action when that report comes to council. Blue Mountains, Hornsby, Byron, Camden, and Inner West have already transitioned — City of Sydney has every reason to follow.
Send Your Email

Email the City of Sydney's General Manager

Your email is sent directly to the City of Sydney's General Manager. You can edit the subject line and message before sending. Your details are managed by Animal Liberation via Action Network.