Council dropping few hints about future of fouling geese

A gaggle of geese march across Watson Park in Port Chalmers yesterday. Photo: Gerard O'Brien
A gaggle of geese in Port Chalmers. Photo: Gerard O'Brien
Is it goose-gate or a wild goose chase?

Either way, the Dunedin City Council is ruffling feathers by refusing to say what it will do about a gaggle of geese fouling Watson Park in Port Chalmers.

The geese returned earlier this year and in recent weeks have been spending their days waddling across the playing fields, leaving a trail of distinctive deposits behind them.

A Delta worker has been following in their footsteps, spending hours each day picking up the droppings while the council considers how best to deal with the situation.

Their return comes after up to 10 birds made the ground their home in 2016, defying efforts to relocate them - and turning the playing field into a sticky and unhygienic mess - until they were eventually shot by contractors.

Harbour Rugby Club chairman Lance Spence was in no doubt the same thing should happen again, and quickly, before the birds' prolific production of droppings again put the playing fields, or kids using them, at risk.

"Shoot them. The geese need to go," he said last week.

DCC parks and cemetery manager Scott MacLean, speaking last week, had said there were "currently no plans" for a cull, although it remained "a management option in the future".

"We will monitor the situation and, if necessary, consider the best way to manage the birds."

However, attempts to seek an update this week proved challenging, as council staff took two days to decline to say what their next steps would be.

Mr MacLean, in an emailed statement, would only say the council was "still considering our options", while insisting the collection of goose droppings was "part of our normal planned, scheduled maintenance".

He would not elaborate and DCC parks and recreation group manager Robert West - responding to further questions with an emailed statement - was also reluctant to discuss the matter.

He confirmed the field had not been damaged so far, but would not answer other questions, including when council staff would decide their next steps.

"We don't have anything further to add at this stage," was his response to ODT questions.

Mr Spence said yesterday he had heard "nothing" from the council either, and the geese were still as "happy as Larry - untouched and unfazed".

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