Perth Voice Interactive

An attempt by the Abbott and Barnett governments to shift costs onto local councils has failed and could result in an exploding population of corellas and rainbow lorikeets throughout Perth.

Farmer consider the birds serious pests because of their impact on grain and fodder. They also damage phone and light towers, and aggressively compete (very successfully) with native birds for food and nesting sites.

Bayswater city council was gobsmacked when told funding for a control program had been axed and that for it to continue, the council would have to cough up $25,000 over five years.

“Under the current fiscal restraints issued to state government departments, the departments are restricting current program expenditure and are unlikely to take on emerging environmental problems,” Bayswater council staff told elected members.

“There is a risk that the city may see more requests for funding of programs that were traditionally run at a state level, however, fall into what is increasingly termed ‘shared governmental responsibility’.”

Bayswater councillors voted to approve the control program, on the proviso the government funded it.

by STEPHEN POLLOCK