Cockatoos to be culled in Potts Point?

NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is likely to give out permits to kill cockatoos in Sydney’s East.

Building owners in Potts Point applied for the license to kill after cockatoos had vandalised their property on Greenknowe Avenue.

An email sent from NPWS to City of Sydney Council and the building owners confirmed the decision to distribute permits to kill the sulphur crested cockatoos.

The email, which stated a “unanimous agreement” on “consent to cull the birds”, was distributed after a meeting on the issue last Thursday

But a spokesperson for NPWS refused to comment on the likelihood of the permits being released and said the decision will be made in the next couple of weeks.

City of Sydney Greens Councillor Irene Doutney said she got the impression from the NPWS that the decision would go the building owners’ way.

“The building owners in question seem to be pulling out every excuse in the book to get this cruel act approved,” she said.

“They cite improbable safety concerns, misunderstood heritage rules and nuances of home and contents insurance policies as reasons that we should clear out the wildlife from around their homes.

“Ultimately, they just want to take the course of action that requires the least effort of their behalf, and that’s getting rid of the birds,” Clr Doutney said.

A representative from Moss Build who assessed the OH&S concerns of the cockatoo-caused damage said the greater concern is not the building damage itself but the danger it presents for pedestrians passing by.

“We’re worried about falling debris causing injuries,” they said.

The representative said the birds chew on wood from the top of the building and debris can fall from eight floors endangering anyone below.

“I hope they do something about it.”

Clr Doutney said she would be powerless to fight the decision if it went through.

“I don’t know if there is anything I can do,” she said.

Clr Doutney and other City of Sydney councillors, including Lord Mayor Clover Moore MP, have fought decisions to cull cockatoos in the past.

Last August the National Parks and Wildlife Service gave permission for 20 cockatoos to be shot in Ultimo after they caused an estimated $100 000 in damage.

“Council strongly opposes shooting the birds and the lack of community consultation over the decision by NPWS,” Ms Moore told the Daily Telegraph last August.

Clr Doutney said: “Previous culls in Potts Point haven’t stopped [the problem]. I can’t see what will make this one any different.”

Specialist bird vet Dr Ross Perry said it’s only natural for the birds to vandalise buildings by chewing up window sills and the rubber of solar panels.

“Cockatoos are naturally chewy birds. If the trees aren’t there they’ll chew other things… they are curious.”

Gary Dunnett from NPWS said the birds are probably looking for the larvae of beetles, which are highly nutritious and live in dead wood.

“Pulling apart dead wood is an extension of that behaviour… from there perspective it is quite a successful strategy.”

Mr Dunnett said Sydney’s cockatoo population had “vastly increased” over the past two decades because of the amount of unnatural grass habitats such as parks and golf courses in the metropolitan area.