Greater Bendigo and Loddon will be included in an expanded kangaroo pet food trial.

The state government announced four western Victorian local government areas would be added to the trial this month, bringing the total to 16.

Glenelg and West Wimmera shires are also new additions. 

Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change Lily D’Ambrosio said councils had been consulted about the expansion.

“The trial has received positive support from participating landowners and the pet food industry, helping to reduce waste by processing more than 30,000 kangaroos for pet food and creating jobs for regional Victoria,” she said.

The trial aims to determine whether a sustainable commercial pet food industry can be established using kangaroos controlled under the Authority to Control Wildlife permit system.

It will continue until March 2018.

A tagging system will be implemented  to trace kangaroo carcasses from the property where they are controlled to the pet food processing facility.

Ms D’Ambrosio said all trial participants must comply with the relevant requirements of the Wildlife Act 1975 and the Meat Industry Act 1993, and severe penalties applied for non-compliance.

Landholders applying for an ATCW to are required to demonstrate kangaroos are causing damage to their property.

In addition to the Wildlife Act, shooters must adhere to the National Code of Practice for kangaroo control.