news, local-news,

Water bird, the Australian white ibis, is proving to be an ongoing problem in waterways of Campbelltown. Campbelltown Council has signalled its intentions to reduce the amount of the species in Eagle Vale Pond, Eagle Vale, after it placed a draft management plan to cull the bird on public exhibition recently. The numbers of the native species – protected under the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 – have blown out from about 10 to about 100 in the last year. The council said local residents had become concerned with odours, loud noises and damage to vegetation, as a result of the increases population. Given the bird is native to Australia, the council first need a Section 121 Occupier’s Licence to Harm Fauna before any plan can be enforced. The Eagle Vale Pond plan comes almost one year after the council introduced a similar plan to reduce the population in Lake Mandurama Reserve, Ambarvale. Council’s acting director of planning and environment, Jim Balwin, said the Ambarvale plan had been a success. “Ongoing monitoring of the Australian White Ibis Management Program at Lake Mandurama, Ambarvale has indicated a clear reduction in Ibis numbers at the site,” he said. “These preliminary findings, however, are based on data captured over just one breeding cycle, with more representative population data expected following the second breeding season around January or February next year.” The public exhibition period will end in August and Mr Baldwin said should there be no issues, it would be adopted soon after. Steps to reduce the numbers of the bird include: reducing breeding success by egg-oiling and burning nests; reduce exotic vegetation; removing carcases and decaying eggs; introducing more native species of vegetation; and continually monitoring the population.

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