Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Port Fairy Cricket Club’s Paul Sheehan called for a solution that would be “good for all of us and death for the corellas” after outlining damage the native birds were doing to grounds at Southcombe Park.
He said he was not surprised councillors voted to explore non-lethal methods to control the corellas.
“I still believe the only response to get rid of the corellas is to eliminate them,” he said.
“It was always going to be hard to get a permit to shoot the corellas.”
He said alternative methods such as scare guns and bird noise machines had already been tried and had failed.
“We will work with council to find solutions with appropriate grasses, etc,” Mr Sheehan said.
“As long as the process and everything is going to start as soon as the (Port Fairy Folk Festival) is finished.
“If not it will get to November next year and we will have the same problem and I’ll be straight back to council again.”
Mr Sheehan expressed frustration that “greenies” had been outraged over the idea of culling the corellas, and said they had swayed council.
“It’s alright for them to say what they are saying but I’d like to see them volunteer at the ovals and do a bit of work and see first-hand the damage the corellas are doing,” he said.
“That might change their opinion.”
Moyne Shire will explore non-lethal methods for controlling corellas, including looking at the impact of the health and types of grasses on whether or not the native birds caused damage.
Warrnambool resident and wildlife conservation volunteer Katrina van Someren started an online petition opposing the cull that gained more than 1000 signatures.
Ms Someren said she believed the number of signatures and the public reaction to talk of a cull contributed to council’s decision.
“I knew the council was really on board with the cull at the last meeting, and I was a bit surprised to see they were pretty much all against it after hearing from the pubic,” she said.
“Then again, there was a lot of public outcry.”
