Duck fanciers bowled over by council edict

DUCK-LOVING Tasmanians have been warned by their local council to stop feeding “feral” ducks, in a letter that also says property owners “must take reasonable action to remove or eradicate them”.

Lisa Coombes and more than 100 other Windermere Bay residents have signed a petition, which they have presented to Glenorchy City Council, asking it not to “eradicate our beloved ducks”.

Ms Coombes said the birds had been visiting her Curlew Parade home and neighbouring properties for more than five years, bringing “ambience to the area”.

She said she was baffled after opening a letter from the GCC outlining that the “ducks were causing a nuisance by continuous, frequent feeding and watering of ducks on properties”.

“Council is aware that these feral ducks are causing a nuisance by entering properties, damaging gardens and fouling both private and public areas,” the letter reads.

“They are also posing a significant traffic hazard within the area, several having been killed by motor vehicles already.

“Council requests that you do not encourage these ducks on to your property by feeding and watering them.”

The letter makes mention of the council’s Animal Management By-law 2000, which states: “An owner or occupier of a property where pest animals are present, excluding stray animals, must take reasonable action to remove or eradicate them.”

Ms Coombes said she and dozens of other residents were “upset” by the letter.

“For years the ducks and ducklings have come right up to my door,” she said on Wednesday. “They’re not a problem. “They eat the bugs in the garden and people come to the area to see them, regardless of whether they are feral or not.”

This comes after the Derwent Valley Council last year initiated an independent investigation into the unauthorised culling of 14 geese, two ducks and several plovers at Tynwald Park.

“We certainly don’t want the same thing to happen here,” Ms Coombes said.

Glenorchy Mayor Kristie Johnston said there were “no plans whatsoever” to eradicate the ducks.

“Unfortunately, when the ducks feed on properties, they come up on the road, which can be hazardous,” Ms Johnston said.

“The ducks could also come in contact with domestic animals, and they can create a nuisance in terms of droppings.

“The council is happy with the ducks being on the bay — they are a feature down there, and are really beautiful.

“We encourage people to go down there and look at them — just not to feed them.”