After dealing with corellas tearing up its greens for the past three summers, Kilmore Golf Club is hoping its newest partnership with the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning will encourage the birds to relocate.
At a meeting in September, arranged by the department with the club and residents concerned about the corellas, it was the decided the club would use a combination of salt shot and other deterrents to humanely scare the birds to remove them from the course.
The corellas dig their beaks into the greens, creating large, deep holes which need to be repaired by the club’s volunteer greenkeepers and make it difficult for players to putt.
The club has received a public place permit for the salt shot to be fired while the course is closed to members and the public with members patrolling the course boundaries to ensure public safety.
Kilmore Golf Club president Bea Lay said other deterrents for the birds included reflective ‘eagle eye’ devices but they were being found damaged.
“The problem is they have to be put out in the morning and brought in at night because we have people who walk through the golf course and will steal or damage them,” she said.
“On Tuesday, one of the eagle eyes run by solar was damaged by someone coming through the course who took some of the connecting parts.
“I just despair that we’re doing the right thing but there are some people who think they’re above the law and can do what they like.”
Ms Lay said all the club’s efforts at controlling the animal population’s effect on the course were humane.
“We would like to assure the public that all actions taken are non-lethal… If we can scare them, that’s fine,” she said.
Ms Lay said it can take up to two hours of volunteer time every day to repair the damage caused by corellas, in addition to all the other duties that need to be completed during the club’s busy summer.
“If there’s anyone out there in the community who feel they can give their time to help us, we’d welcome their support,” she said.
“We’re doing the right thing and want some support from people who are concerned about the corellas.”