WEST Wimmera Shire councillors have called for immediate action to combat the region’s corella problems.
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Councillors discussed the issue at a meeting at Kaniva on Wednesday.
It comes as other councils including Horsham Rural City work to lower the damage the pest birds are causing to land and infrastructure.
Cr Trevor Domaschenz expressed his dismay with corellas during the spring and summer period.
Cr Domaschenz said Edenhope almost lost its water supply when people noticed the birds had been chewing through some of the town’s powerlines.
“There has been complaints from nearly everyone in Edenhope about what they are doing,” he said.
Cr Domaschenz said he had dinner at the caravan park with family and friends for three nights – but the group couldn’t “hear each other talk” because of the noises from the pest birds.
He said it was important the council restarted its corella culling program.
“It’s pretty basic and a matter of emergency. We nearly lost our water last week,” he said.
Cr Domaschenz said he had talked with power companies about the risk the birds posed while chewing on the powerlines.
“They assured me the black lines are tough and won’t be chewed through. There are some other wires which are grey and are easier to chew through, though,” he said.
“Corellas have done significant damage to the bowls club, Henley Park is a mess and Apex Park is the same. The program needs to start straight away. We just need to be mindful as we go along.”
Cr Tom Houlihan said it was a serious problem.
“It’s a problem all over this part of the state,” he said.
“We need to put in some sort of plan. It has gotten to a stage where we have to do something.
“We need to put a plan in place so that in next September we can start on it.”
Cr Richard Hicks said he supported the call to act immediately.
“What I have noticed is (the council) has been very reactive instead of proactive. It’s been going on for a while and we are only talking about this now. Reactive is not the best response,” he said.
“We should liaise with other councils to see what they are doing about the problem, what they are doing with netting and culling or even set a bounty.
“We just need to be proactive in this.”
The council’s infrastructure development and works director Roby Evans said the council needed advice from officers regarding the risks and financial costs of culling the corellas.