Jack Hudson

LITTLE corellas are causing significant damage across the Playford Council area, and a local mayor has called for a more state-wide approach to the issue.

Throughout areas like Virginia, along Curtis Road and the Munno Para Wetlands, trees have been stripped by the rampant flocks.

Playford Mayor Glenn Docherty said the cost of the damage is difficult to quantify.

“Due to the widespread nature of damage on both council and private assets, it is difficult to quantify the costs associated with damage caused by little corellas,” he said.

“Between the years 2016-2018, City of Playford has invested resources into a number of strategies to deal with marauding little corella flocks.

“This included identifying the areas where little corellas congregate and protect council assets by implementing electric bird-deterrent systems, curved diffusers on street lights, steel conduits on oval light towers and employing Peregine Falcons to break up flocks and move the birds out of Playford."

After some initial success, council found it has failed to solve the problem being experienced by residents and local business, as these methods only move the birds to different areas/regions.

“However, due to our city’s numerous wetlands, ancient gums, grasslands and open spaces, these corellas thrive in Playford and do tend to come back,” Mr Docherty said.

He said through previous experiences, a move to a whole state-wide strategy would be the better option.

“What council has learnt from this experience, plus those of other councils, is that a state-wide strategy would be a more viable approach to this problem,” Mr Docherty said.

“City of Playford has partnered with other councils to provide feedback to the Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources regarding the South Australian Little Corella Management Strategy.

“In the interim, should any localised issues occur in Playford with little corellas, council will consider taking appropriate action.”