The kangaroo invasion at two major sporting precincts needs to come to an end one way or another for the sake of safety, according to councillor Warren Aubin.

Bathurst Regional Council has discussed the controversy as concerns increase regarding the number of kangaroos calling Mount Panorama home.

Bathurst Harness Racing Club chief executive officer Danny Dwyer has revealed that more than 100 kangaroos have started to encroach on the club’s new facility, causing accidents on the roads leading to the club and spooking the competing horses. 

Cr Aubin said that if the problem increases further at both sites, Bathurst Regional Council would need to seriously consider a cull. 

“The Harness Racing Club has spent a lot of money on getting their premises looking beautiful,” he said.

“They have got these pests that have moved in and are starting to chew it all up.” 

Mr Dwyer said members of the Harness Racing Club have yet to hold official discussions regarding the number of kangaroos near the track.

However, he said a cull would need to be considered if the risks to the safety of people and the horses increased.

“As a club, we haven’t really decided what direction we want to go with it,” Mr Dwyer said.

“Potentially, the more kangaroos that are on the basic precinct of where we are, they may become a problem during race meetings or when the trainers are out there with the horses.” 

The club will continue to consult with council as it determines a way to manage the problem. 

If the club does decide that culling is the only option, it will receive full support from Cr Aubin.

“If that is what it comes to, I am all for it,” he said.

“Do we rate people’s lives above animals? I think so. Kangaroos should not be around a harness racing track or a racetrack when there are events on.” 

Cr Aubin added that he had asked the person leading the Kangaroo Project at Mount Panorama, which is researching the behaviour and movement of the animals, if they could “dart these animals and move them elsewhere”.

He was told this was a possibility. 

“We need to do something and we need to do it now,” Cr Aubin said.