The 'rabbit plague' destroying property

Forget owls and wild dogs, rabbits on Victoria's Mornington Peninsula in Hastings have a different predator.

His name is Colin Fitches and he's doing everything he can to protect his pristine property from what he calls a "rabbit plague".

He first noticed the intruders encroaching on his home from the rear of his property about six months ago.

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At dawn and dusk, they hop through the fence from vacant land, attracted to Mr Fitches numerous fruit trees – orange trees, grapefruit trees, peach trees and the list goes on.

As a result, Mr Fitches' property is gradually getting destroyed by the furry mammals.

They're digging up his garden, burrowing tunnels and eating fruit from the trees.

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"When the trees drop fruit, it's like a party for them," Mr Fitches told A Current Affair.  

Mr Fitches was even forced to replace his water tanks, which cost him more than $3000.

"They dug underneath the timber that was underneath there and the timber just gave out because it was all rotted out," he said.

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What frustrates Mr Fitches, he said, is that the council, the Department of Agriculture and the Agriculture Minister have all provided him with advice on what to do to eradicate rabbits.

But, to his knowledge, the owner of the land where the rabbits are coming from hasn't made any effort to control the pests on his property.

"It's all about what I've got to do! Why am I out of pocket $6000 in damages plus $20,000 (probably) to put a rabbit proof fence in?"

The local council has been contacted for comment.