Councillors to consider corella plan

Corellas in Geraldton last summer munched through a cathedral’s electrical fittings, damaged lawns and trees, and caused a pub to replace the asbestos roof the pesky native birds had stripped of protective paint.

City of Greater Geraldton councillors are due to consider a comprehensive program to manage the birds before they return to Geraldton at harvest time, attracted by the ready supply of wheat.

In a report to the council, community services director Phil Melling said the birds cost the City about $50,000 each year with damage to lighting, sporting ovals and buildings, most notably Queens Park Theatre.

At last Tuesday’ agenda forum, Mr Melling told councillors it was important to work in conjunction with other facility owners such as the Catholic church.

“It’s got to be done in a co-ordinated manner,” he said.

“Scaring the corellas, it does relocate them, as we know.”

Mr Melling said a comprehensive plan would include scaring the birds away from facilities, taking note of the places they tended to land afterwards, and dealing with them in those places as well.

The council is due to consider the plan when it meets tonight and is also set to approve $1.27 million funding for a new roundabout at the Cathedral Avenue-Sanford Street intersection.

Councillors will also decide whether to approve a new code for the City to deal with “unreasonable customer conduct”, two tenders for concrete and brick paving, and will consider rezoning part of Gertrude Street for commercial use.