By Tania Martin
HILLS residents caught feeding sulphur-crested cockatoos could soon be breaking the law, as a local council bans bird feeding.
Yarra Ranges Council last week approved a move to prohibit backyard feeding in a bid to curb cockatoo related damage.
For the past four years residents in Upwey and Kallista have been battling to pay for rising damage bills as cockatoos continued to feed on houses and community centres.
The bird feeding ban follows a decision last September which called for a report into the need for a law to stop feeding.
At an ordinary meeting last Tuesday, 13 April, the council agreed to start working on a law to prohibit feeding.
They also moved to continue with an education program throughout the shire and revisit the issue in 12 months’ time.
Belgrave resident Kate Gustke called for feeding to be outlawed.
She said there had been enough information provided to residents about the effects of feeding but the message was failing to get through.
“I strongly believe that people who feed cockatoos are well aware of what they are doing and will continue to feed them no matter what information you provide to them, “ Ms Gustke said.
She said introducing a ban would send a stern message that feeding cockatoos was not only unacceptable, but illegal.
“There will be no room for misconceptions and they will be accountable if they choose to ignore the message,” Ms Gustke said.
Lyster Ward councillor Samantha Dunn said the council needed to step in now.
“Communities continue to be under siege from cockatoos,” she said.
But Ryrie Ward’s cr Jeanette McRae said it was the State Government’s job to introduce new by-laws.
“It has nothing to do with us and how to we actually enforce this… I am all for the legislative process if they seem practical,” she said.
But Cr Dunn said the council had a role to play when so many people were suffering damage.
But the question remains how the proposed law would be enforced.
The council has also called for the State Government to step in and modify a lease between Parks Victoria and Grants on Sherbrooke to ban feeding at the popular tourist spot.
Grants currently hold a lease until 2019 to sell birdseed for the feeding of cockatoos and other wild birds.
The council believes the feeding is having an adverse effect on the birds’ health.
“It compromises their health … ultimately this practice isn’t benefiting the health of our wildlife,” Cr Dunn said.
Do you think there should be a ban on bird feeding? Report you concerns to Tania Martin on 9736 1044 or email tania.martin@yvnews.com.au.
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