AGRICULTURE Minister Ros Spence will be asked to step in with help to tackle Bridgewater’s pesky corella invasion.
Bridgewater on Loddon Development last week launched a petition to State Parliament in the decade-long battle to reduce corella numbers along the Loddon River.
They will have the support of Northern Victoria Region MP Gaelle Broad who will table the petition in the Legislative Council.
Ms Broad last Thursday met with BOLD representatives and inspected trees either side of the Calder Highway bridge stripped by the birds that have returned in bigger numbers.
Graham Morse, a long-time advocate for reducing bird numbers, told Ms Broad that corellas were damaging trees and continued to a blight on the popular town.
“There has been significant damage to trees and corellas are having an impact on tourism and the mental health of residents,” Ms Broad said.
The petition says: “Thousands of corellas are causing irreparable damage to the local community, destroying native river redgums and local crops, and extensive damage to street lighting, powerline infrastructure and local homes.
“The Bridgewater community is still recovering from recent flooding events, and the constant screeching of thousands of corellas is causing angst amongst residents and driving tourists and residents away from the region.”