Residents of a Sydney suburb say they are under siege after a colony of ibises inhabited two large gum trees in their neighbourhood.
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Garry McCarthy told the September 9 meeting of Georges River Council that since the ibis colony arrived in Myers Street in June it has been hugely disruptive and is detrimental to the health and well-being of the affected residents.
"Ibises roost communally and this large colony produces droppings and faeces on a weapon-grade scale," Mr McCarthy said.
"The splatter area is well over 100-metres in length and 30-metre wide," he said. "Cars parked in the street have been absolutely caked in ibis faeces."
Mr McCarthy said the roadway often looks like "a ski-run on Thredbo" because of the dramatic overload of white splattered faeces. He said it is a terrible eyesore and in wet weather very slippery and dangerous for people crossing the road and even cars.
"These ibises are well beyond a serious nuisance. They are a major public health issue.
"These droppings pose a serious risk to residents' health in Myers Street Sans Souci and the local LGA.
"There are host pathogens both viral and bacterial that are extremely harmful to humans including, salmonella, bacteria, avian influenza and encephalitis.
He said his family has had to keep their windows and doors closed at night, especially if there is wind blowing.
"There is nothing more fundamental than the protection and personal safety and good health that your home provides. This is a red-line issue."
The Australian White Ibis is protected under the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Services Act 1974, making it a prosecutable offence under sections 70 and 71 of the Act to harm or remove their nests.
If protected native animals are shown to be a threat to human safety, damaging property and/or causing economic hardship, the National Parks and Wildlife Service may grant a licence to the owner or occupier of a property, to cull or catch and release the animals.
Deputy Mayor Elise Borg, who inspected the site, described the problem as extreme.
She submitted a notice of motion asking the council to update its Tree Management Policy to incorporate a new provision to allow for appropriate actions to help mitigate and discourage ibis nesting in affected areas.
"The current policy is silent in this regard so that the council officers are prevented from taking some practical actions due to it being in conflict with the policy," she said. Deputy Mayor Borg was unanimously supported by the council.
