Council in a flap

Onkaparinga Council will ask the State Government to manage Old Noarlunga's corella problem after its attempts proved unsuccessful.ONKAPARINGA Council will ask the State Government to fix Old Noarlunga's corella problem after its attempts to cull the birds failed.

At a meeting on Tuesday, June 26, councillors voted to lobby the government to take control of corella culling in the district. The decision came after the meeting was told last season's culling program had little impact.

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

Onkaparinga Mayor Lorraine Rosenberg said after the meeting the corellas had always been the State Government's responsibility.

"I have always said that it is an abundant species, which is a statewide problem and the government's responsibility," Ms Rosenberg said.

(The) council made the decision last year to step in and has now decided we're not going to continue running the program."

In arguing to jettison the program, councillors said animal control was the responsibility of the government's Adelaide and Mt Lofty Ranges Natural Resources Management Board.

"It should fall to the NRM Board to carry out the program," Councillor Bill Jamieson told the meeting.

Cr Martin Bray said the birds were a "disaster".

"It's certainly a good idea to approach the State Government before we do anything," Cr Bray said.

The council's report also suggested the area's waste management program be given an extra $34,000 per year to cope with increasing bird droppings and debris. Residents have long complained about the birds keeping them awake at night, killing trees, swooping, ripping up ovals and littering the area with droppings.

The council shot the birds for the first time this year. It followed years of failed attempts using methods such as torches, vehicle-mounted lights and starter pistols.

An Environment & Natural Resources Department spokesman said the government would work on a solution with the council but would not say whether it would consider funding the program in the future.