Onka to handball corella conundrum

Onkaparinga Council will ask the State Government to take over its corella culling program. Image by Michael DawesONKAPARINGA councillors have conceded their efforts to reduce Old Noarlunga's long running corella problem have failed and will attempt to off-load the problem to the State Government.

At a meeting last night (June 26), councillors voted to lobby the government to take control of its corella culling program, aimed at reducing the number of corellas in the area.

The decision followed a report, tabled at the meeting, which found last season's culling program had little impact.

The report recommended the program which involved shooting up to 200 birds and using noise to scare the rest away start in October, two months earlier than last year.

It also suggested the area's waste management program be extended at a cost of $34,000 per year to cope with the increasing bird faeces and debris.

In arguing to off-load the program, councillors said control of abundant species was the role of the government's Adelaide and Mt Lofty Ranges Natural Resources Management Board.

Residents have long complained about the noisy birds keeping them awake at night, killing trees, swooping, ripping up ovals and littering the area with faeces.

The council used a shooting program for the first time this year.

It followed years of failed attempts using non-lethal methods such as torches, vehicle-mounted lights and starter pistols.