Corella cull shot down

Sitting duck... a corella perches in a tree in Maylands. Picture: Dominique Menegaldo

BAYSWATER City council has opposed the shooting of corellas at Maylands Foreshore Reserve.

The Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) planned to use low-calibre rifles to cull long-billed and little corellas as they flew into roost.

A DEC spokeswoman said the introduced corellas were pests because they ate plant life, chewed through electric cabling and damaged reticulation and grass surfaces.

They posed a threat to native birds by inhabiting nest hollows that were in limited supply in the metropolitan area.

DEC director general Keiran McNamara recently wrote to the City seeking its support for the cull.

He said the local police had “offered their own sharp shooters to help with the control program”.

Mr McNamara said every effort would be made to ensure the shooting remained “a low-key affair”.

But the council voted to support the cull only if there were no firearms involved.

Although councillors recognised the corellas as pests, they called for the DEC to use an alternative control method.

Councillor Marlene Robinson said she did not want residents to be alarmed when “target practice” began.

She said she would not support the use of guns in the community at any level.

“The use of guns in a built-up area is not appropriate and sets the wrong example,” she said.

“It sets a bad example for the more brainless in our society who might think, hey, let’s go shoot some birds.

“Find another way (to cull the birds) and I’ll support it.”

Cr Barry McKenna said if firearms were used, the cull would have to be well advertised.

“The last thing I want is worried ratepayers calling me saying there are police running around shooting at something,” he said.

Cr Sylvan Albert was among the minority who supported the DEC proposal.

“We need to take the hard line or there will be devastation for our flora and fauna,” he said.