Bellarine fury at spikes on pelican perching posts

Bellarine Peninsula resident have slammed a decision to install spikes on light poles to stop pelicans perching on them.

The pelicans were famous around St Leonards, Indented Head and Portarlington, 3AW radio host Tony Jones said.

“What happens is the pelicans sit perched on these light poles, which border the boat ramp,” Jones said. “But what the council’s decided to do is install spikes on top of the lamp posts to stop the pelicans from actually sitting there.”

But Geelong council said it was not involved in the matter.

Instead, Bellarine Bayside Coastal Management, a committee of management set up by the state government to manage the coastline is responsible for the move.

“They sent me a letter to say the reason is because they’re causing the light poles, the plastic, to corrode and its costing council money to have to fix them,” Indented Head resident Heather Snook told 3AW. “But the most amusing thing about it is, rumour has it, that they’re are all coming down anyway when they change the pier. It’s pointless.”

She called for the spikes to be removed, saying: “Pelicans in the area are an icon.

“They’re just lovely and it’s so sad to see the pelicans doing circles around these lamp posts, looking on where to land and they can’t land there. “I think it’s just cruel.” Ms Snook said she would keep pushing the issue, including with a petition.

She said residents were not consulted on the matter.

A Bellarine Bayside spokesperson said the droppings of birds, including pelicans, were acidic and had been corroding the lights.

“The lights are also not designed for the weight of large birds like pelicans. As a result, we have installed bird spikes on the lights that are being regularly damaged,” the spokesperson said.

“The pelicans’ use of light poles is an opportunistic behaviour rather than being part of their natural roosting or breeding habits.”