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Quest Apartments in Nowra has spent tens of thousands of dollars combating Nowra’s growing corella problem.
Franchisee James Blanchett said the company had tried to “corella proof” the building on the corner of Plunkett and Kinghorne streets.
Opposite Marriott Park, one of the birds’ major roosting areas, Mr Blanchett said the building had been targeted by the voracious pests since opening just over two years ago.
“I would say we have spent close to $25,000 in corella proofing the building,” he said.
“They have really terrorised us. They have torn up anything soft on the building they can get hold of.
“They will get into any small type of opening and tear it up. It’s a real problem.”
Piping for solar panels which run the hot water system and other rubber products have come under attack, even the building’s sign was a target not long after the business opened.
“We’ve gone to some pretty extreme lengths to get rid of the problem,” he said, including installing PVC piping over all the rubber tubing on the roof.
“We just had to do it as a way of protecting the building.
“We’ve got 32 solar panels, all with insulated piping to run our hot water system. If we didn’t do it we are talking about energy losses and by the time we add up those costs it would be a significant loss for the business.
“It has cost several tens of thousands of dollars. Maybe as much as $25,000 in two years.”
They have really terrorised us. They have torn up anything soft on the building they can get hold of.
- Quest Apartments Nowra franchisee James Blanchett
Mr Blanchett said at some times the number of birds in Marriott Park was like a “plague”.
“When you come up Plunkett Street next to Marriott Park of a morning it can look like it is snowing,” he said.
“There are birds everywhere.
“It is a real problem.”
He said other options were available to try and scare the birds away.
“We looked at installing sonic emission devices,” he said.
“Some wineries are using gas cannons but in a residential area that’s probably not the right thing for us.
“We even joked about the bat signal or trying to cast the shadow of a predatory bird to frighten them off.
“At the moment we are crossing our fingers the seasons don’t flow back with the corellas too regularly.”
Nationals parks talking with council over corellas
National Parks and Wildlife Service is in contact with Shoalhaven City Council about the corellas in Nowra, including their impacts and potential options.
A NPWS spokesperson said corellas, like all native species were protected, however could be removed under certain circumstances.
“If the species is shown to be a threat to human safety or causing economic hardship, land managers may apply for a licence under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 to remove a set number of the animals,” the spokesperson said.
“Corellas are generally more prevalent in areas west of the Great Dividing Range, but flocks have established in areas outside this range including Nowra, for reasons not totally clear.
“The majority of corellas in Nowra are little corellas and the population does seem to have increased in recent years.”