Little corellas at Perry Lakes.
Camera IconLittle corellas at Perry Lakes. Credit: Supplied/Frank O'Connor

WALGA may call on State Govt to take lead on corrella problem

Tim SlaterComment News

THE peak WA local government body is considering calling on the State Government to take a leadership role to manage rampant corella parrot populations in the metropolitan area and the Swan Coastal Plain.

An urgent report to this week’s WA Local Government Association (WALGA) state council said the birds were having a “deleterious impact” on local ecosystems, public open spaces and associated infrastructure.

There are also concerns about public health risks the birds are posing, due to “large levels of corella faeces being deposited in public open spaces”.

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The council will consider a motion at its meeting in Dalwallinu this Friday that “the State Government through the auspices of the Department of Parks and Wildlife (DPaW), in consultation with all Local Governments…take a leadership role in the development and implementation of a state-wide Corella Management Strategy”.

The strategy will also look at managing corella populations at sustainable and “ecologically appropriate” levels.

WALGA has obtained $50,000 from DPaW to be used for infrastructure (feeding stations and cameras) and to assist with contractor costs for control activities during 2016-17.

A working group has also been formed of affected councils and DPaW to co-ordinate and maximise the current local government and new DPaW investment for corella control along the Swan Coastal Plain.

This approach will be reviewed at the end of the financial year.

Armadale Mayor Henry Zelones said the birds competed with native birds, such as red-tailed cockatoos, over tree hollows for nesting.

“But so far we have not received any reports of impacts on our infrastructure which have been experienced in other local government areas,” he said.

He said the City would wait for the rollout of the corella management strategy before committing to any course of action.