COOCHIEMUDLO Island residents have challenged Redland City Council’s justification for installing bird-exclusion netting at ferry terminals, arguing the measure has displaced protected native welcome swallows without sufficient evidence or consultation.
Resident Kylie Francis, who says an initial petition attracted 189 signatures, has exchanged a series of letters with Council over the netting at the Coochiemudlo Island and Victoria Point pontoons.
Ms Francis said the swallows had roosted and nested around the terminals for decades and were an important part of island life.
She questioned whether Council had adequately considered its wildlife obligations, sought details of any environmental assessment and asked whether Traditional Owners had been consulted.
Council responded that the netting was installed to address the impact of bird roosting on high-use public marine infrastructure, citing increased maintenance, accelerated deck deterioration and slip risks associated with cleaning.
It said flooring materials designed for a 10-year service life had instead lasted about seven years, creating additional costs for ratepayers.
Council said no birds were nesting or roosting in the affected areas when the works were carried out, and that a formal environmental impact assessment and consultation with the Quandamooka Yoolooburrabee Aboriginal Corporation were not required for routine maintenance on existing infrastructure.
It also said the contractor was required to comply with relevant wildlife and environmental obligations, and that the exclusion netting was specified to meet wildlife-safe requirements.
Ms Francis disputed Council’s account, saying she had not been provided with maintenance records, engineering assessments, risk reports, incident reports or costings to substantiate the claims.
She said the pontoons had previously been cleaned with a standard hose, rather than high-pressure equipment, and argued normal passenger traffic and ferry operations were more likely contributors to deck wear.
She also raised concerns about netting offcuts allegedly left at the sites following installation, claiming some material was later blown towards Moreton Bay during clean-up. Council said it had raised residual-material concerns directly with the contractor.
While Council said it had considered more frequent cleaning, acoustic deterrents, spikes and structural redesign before selecting netting as the most targeted and proportionate option, Ms Francis said alternatives such as droppings barriers or collection trays had not been properly addressed.
Council has maintained it does not intend to remove the netting, but will monitor the installations for safety and compliance.
The dispute follows alleged vandalism of the Victoria Point terminal netting, which Council says created openings that allowed a swallow to enter the roof space and become trapped. Council has referred the damage to police.
