Tell Narrabri Shire Council to Complete the Transition.

In June 2025, Animal Liberation presented to Narrabri Shire Council's Pesticide Control Group and submitted six recommendations for strengthening the council's Pesticide Use Notification Plan — including mandatory notification for SGAR use, wildlife buffer zones, and contractor oversight. Council is actively incorporating this input. But no commitment to phase out SGARs has been made. A council staff member confirmed SGAR use; the PCG disputes it. Your email creates a formal constituent record that supports a full phase-out when the PUNP reaches the elected body.

Audit Record

NSW SGAR Council Audit — Narrabri Shire Updated 27 Feb 2026

SGAR Status

Confirmed User

SGAR use confirmed by a council staff member — disputed by the PCG. Council is mid-review of its PUNP with Animal Liberation's input incorporated. No phase-out has been committed to.

Confirmed SGAR Products in Use

Contrac bromadiolone

Contractor

Not disclosed

LGA Region

Regional

Council Engagement Record

Pesticide Use Notification Plan Review — Animal Liberation Presentation to PCG 18 June 2025

Six Recommendations Accepted for PUNP Review Animal Liberation (Alex Vince and Lisa Ryan) presented to Narrabri Shire Council's Pesticide Control Group and submitted six recommendations for the draft Pesticide Use Notification Plan. Council's Manager Regulatory Compliance confirmed all six are being incorporated into the plan.

Status IN REVIEW Awaiting elected
body endorsement

The six recommendations include: mandatory notification for all rodenticide use; explicit distinction between SGAR and non-SGAR classes; wildlife buffer zones near sensitive habitat; public transparency register for pesticide deployment; and contractor training and reporting obligations.

The unresolved question: Council's Manager Regulatory Compliance has noted that PCG members dispute whether SGARs are currently in use — despite a council staff member confirming they are. This transparency gap is itself an argument for the public register recommended in the PUNP review. Your email adds constituent weight to the case for completing this work and committing to a formal SGAR phase-out.

Why This Matters

A review is underway — but a SGAR phase-out is not yet on the table.

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.

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.

Effective alternatives already exist

Non-anticoagulant products such as Selontra (colecalciferol) provide effective rodent control with no secondary poisoning risk to native wildlife. Council has already committed to strengthening its Pesticide Use Notification Plan — the next step is a formal resolution to phase out SGARs and specify wildlife-friendly alternatives in all rodent management contracts.

Councils that have already made the switch: Blue Mountains, Hornsby, Byron, Camden, Campbelltown, Inner West, Clarence Valley, Kiama, and Edward River have all implemented SGAR-free policies. Narrabri Shire Council is already in dialogue with Animal Liberation and has accepted six recommendations for its PUNP review. Councils including Camden, Albury, Blue Mountains, and Inner West have completed this transition. Narrabri has the engagement, the process, and the evidence — what is needed is a formal commitment from the elected body to complete the work.

Send Your Email

Email Narrabri Shire Council's General Manager

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