The cockatoo and corella at the Cornwall Park aviary may now remain in their foster home. Photo / Warren Buckland
The cockatoo and corella at the Cornwall Park aviary may now remain in their foster home. Photo / Warren Buckland
The Hastings District Council is considering abandoning its controversial plan to return two parrots to cages inside Cornwall Park's upgraded aviary.
The two birds, cockatoo Mate and corella Stevie Nicks, have been in an SPCA-approved foster home since January while the council progressed with a $75,000 plan to upgradeall of the enclosures and expand the parrot cages as part of the Cornwall Park Reserve Management Plan which was adopted in 2018.
But a report to the council reveals the initial estimate of the aviary upgrade has blown out, and council staff are now recommending the parrots' cage be scrapped as a cost-saving measure, with the birds to remain with their foster carers and the existing funds be focused on the main enclosures, which house other birds.
A 600-strong petition to rehome the birds, rather than return them to the aviary, was presented to the council last September.
Tania Thomson, who has previously adopted a cockatoo from the same aviary, started the online petition in July 2020, concerned for the two birds' wellbeing. It has since grown to 1800 signatures.
At the time the council said community consultation in March 2019 received a "strong response" that they wanted the aviary retained, but with enlarged and enhanced cages.
But now, the council Operations and Monitoring Committee on Tuesday will hear recommendations that the two birds remain in their foster home and the funds be focused on the enhancement of the main aviary enclosure.
The committee agenda states that initial cost estimates suggested the enhancement work would cost "more than the $75,000 currently budgeted".
"This, together with increasing community concern surrounding the welfare of the two large parrots (evidenced by increase in online petition to over 1800 signatories) suggests that a reconsideration of the proposed enhancement of the bird aviary is both appropriate and prudent."
The agenda also states that with no intention to replace the parrots when they die, the cost to provide a specific enclosure for them is "not deemed a responsible use of ratepayer funds".
"Nor is it in line with a change in acceptability of society for the caging of large birds solely for community enjoyment, where there is no education or conservation purpose."
A council spokesperson said as officers progressed with the first concepts of the upgraded enclosures, it became apparent the amount set aside was "likely to be inadequate given increasing design and construction costs in today's market".
"There is no definitive estimate for the delivery of the initial concept, as this would come once a detailed design was complete.
"Officers, however, deemed it prudent to take the project back to councillors before investing in a detailed design, given the rising construction costs, together with increased public concern for the welfare of the large parrots."
Tania Thomson, who started the petition with her son, Jack, said letting the birds remain in their SPCA-approved foster home is "the sensible option". Photo / File
Thomson said gifting the birds to the SPCA so they can stay in their "wonderful" approved foster home was "the sensible option" that she would fully support.
"For decades those poor birds led a miserable caged existence with no room to fly and they were constantly tormented. I'd be chuffed to know they'll now have a happy retirement."
