Above: Kallista Uniting Church’s Karleen Osborne is calling for action over the continued attack from cockatoos.
By Tania Martin
A CALL to ban feeding cockatoos has intensified, following the desecration of a local church.
But a tourism operator fears a ban would have a negative impact on the local tourist trade.
This also follows calls from residents and Yarra Ranges councillors earlier this month for action to stop the cockatoos destroying property.
The Mail reported last week that a public servant said people needed to stop feeding sulphur-crested cockatoos at Grants Picnic Ground in Kallista.
However, Parks Victoria has signed a lease 20-year lease with Grants which is not due to run out until 2019.
But locals want action now to stop the continued damage inflicted by the birds.
Kallista Uniting Church is the latest victim.
Church secretary Karleen Osborne said cockatoos had attacked the side of the building and railings and a number of window frames.
Ms Obsorne said it was the first time in the church’s 80-year history that it had been attacked by birds and estimated the repair bill could run as high as $8000.
“It’s just devastating because we are only a little church,” she said.
“We have heard of others having problems with cockatoos but we’ve never had any issue before,” she said.
Ms Osborne said all the window frames on the newly opened Chapel Gallery would have to be replaced.
She said the gallery, which was fast becoming a tourist attraction, would have to be closed for repairs.
But Ms Osborne said it was still unclear when this would happen.
“We are still getting quotes,” she said.
Ms Osborne’s husband even chased the cockatoos away with a stick last Wednesday when they returned to finish the job.
She said it was hard to tell if banning feeding was going to be the cure to the problem but something needed to be done.
Dandenong Ranges Tourism Information Centre manager Michael Axel said banning the feeding would have a huge impact on the region.
He said bird feeding at Grants Picnic Ground was immensely popular.
Mr Axel said the picnic ground would received more than 100,000 visitors a year.
He said at least one or two groups of people visited the information centre every day inquiring about the feeding.
“It gets huge publicity all over the world,” he said.
Mr Axel said people were attracted to the Dandeongs for many reasons but feeding the birds was one of the most high profile.
“People travelling from overseas have often heard about it back home and it’s on the list of things want to do,” he said
Mr Axel said a ban would totally destroy Grants Picnic Ground as a bird-feeding destination.
“They would have to rebuild it and base it around something else…it would have a huge impact,” he said.
Mr Axel said there was every chance that such a ban would prevent visitors from coming to the Dandenongs.
“It would have a serious effect on tourism and wreck Grants as a visitation destination for a period of time,” he said.
