Wednesday, 18 February 2026

 Wendy LOVELL (Northern Victoria) (18:40): (2330) My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Environment. The action that I seek is for the minister to review and improve the Victorian Corella Strategy and to develop more effective methods of corella control to prevent widespread damage to sporting surfaces. I have been contacted by the Hill Top Golf & County Club in Tatura, who are desperate for solutions to their persistent problems with corellas. The birds gather in large groups around the golf course to dig up the grass in search of food below the surface, and their digging tears up the playing surface. A flock of corellas can destroy one of the golf greens in a single morning, making the hole essentially unplayable. As the problem has spread, fewer rounds of golf are being played, and this has caused a sharp drop in club revenue. The club is already in a tight financial position, but with less people playing and using the course due to the corella damage the future viability of the club is at risk. They have tried every possible method of management and control. They have instituted daily corella patrols staffed by elderly volunteers who drive around in shifts at 6 am and 6 pm to scare off the birds, but this is only a temporary solution as the birds soon return. They have also tried using a gas gun to scare the birds but were met with vocal pushback from nearby residents. The club has obtained an authority-to-control-wildlife permit and employed shooters, but they cost $600 to hire and are only allowed to kill 20 birds at one time. When the club reached out to the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA), they suggested the removal of onion grass, but the club does not have any onion grass. The club estimates it has spent $12,000 in repairs this season and $9000 in wages for staff responding to daytime attacks. These estimates do not include lost revenue, the volunteer effort or the use of carts. The figures demonstrate how this problem is threatening the future viability of the club.

The minister must urgently find a solution that is both effective and financially viable for small golf clubs, and cricket clubs as well, across the rural and regional area. The Victoria Corella Strategy June 2022–32 identifies that corella populations have increased significantly since 2010 following the millennium drought, and density has increased, especially in north-central Victoria. Page 22 of the strategy document says that the strategy will be reviewed to ensure that it is an effective tool for the community to manage corella issues. The experience of the golf club suggests that the existing suite of suggested strategies is not effective and that more consideration must be given to other potential control methods. The club is desperate for help to contain and remove these birds, and they feel they have now exhausted all options and are getting no support from DEECA.