Lethal last resort for corellas

Little correla. Image by marj kA DECISION to shoot corellas in Old Noarlunga for the first time in six years has divided the community.

Old Noarlunga Commercial and Residents Association (ONCARA) members have welcomed action to rid the town of the “noisy and destructive” birds, but Friends of the Little Corella say shooting them is “barbaric”.

Onkaparinga Council decided last Tuesday, October 18 - on the casting vote of Mayor Lorraine Rosenberg - to adopt a corella management plan.

It will include killing up to 200 of the expected 18,000 birds from November to January and using noise to scare away the rest of the flock.

More than 20 readers have commented on the plans at southerntimes.com.au in the past week. Many backed the council’s plan and others labelled it “disgusting”.

ENCOURAGED: ONCARA president Wayne Henkel in Market Square, Old Noarlunga, where corellas converge. Picture: Cathy Mundy.ONCARA president Wayne Henkel said locals were “encouraged” by the council’s decision.

Member Jim Lincoln said there were “eight to 10 corellas” when he moved to Old Noarlunga 43 years ago.

“If we can frighten a few of them with the shooting, then hopefully they will move on.”

Friends of the Little Corella spokeswoman Maree Smith said “nature does its own culls and by us intervening and playing God it will create chaos”.

“The corellas have been coming to Old Noarlunga for more than 100 years and it’s barbaric to now kill them,” she said.

Ms Rosenberg said the council was forced to return to shooting after years of unsuccessful attempts to rid Old Noarlunga of the birds by non-lethal methods such as torches, vehicle-mounted lights and starter pistols.

“It’s a tough decision, but we can’t turn a blind eye to the distress this community feels for four months of the year because of these birds,” she said after the meeting.

“The idea is for us to set off starter pistols while the shooting occurs, so the birds associate guns with some of their flock dying and move on.”

Ms Rosenberg said the council was frustrated at spending $64,000 on the controls, after the Department of Environment and Natural Resources agreed to chip in only $6000 for information workshops.

The council will review the plan at the end of the season.

What your councillors said about corellas (council meeting, Tuesday, October 18)
Cr Yvonne Wenham
“We’re not isolated in Onkaparinga with this problem. There should be a national and state approach.”
Cr Bill Jamieson
“I’m concerned already with the use of the word “cull”. People need to understand it’s not a culling exercise.”
Cr Sandra Brown
“How does council propose to handle copy cat gunfire and residents being upset over the use of ammunition?
“I can’t support killing our native fauna.”
Cr Gail Kilby
“We’re killing the odd bird to scare the other birds because they have a memory.
“I’m in favour of doing something, we have to find the money.”
Cr Kym Richardson
“I believe we have a responsibility to the residents.”
Cr Don Chapman
“I’ve seen the corellas in action; the swooping, the noise. I’ve seen what it’s done to property, what it’s done to trees.
“The corellas are like the bikie gangs of the air.
“We can’t afford to do nothing.”
Cr Martin Bray
“Residents in our city are concerned about the quality of life.”
Cr Steve Webster
“The reality is, it’s an issue that’s not going away. We need to do something and this is the best of the options before us.”