Applications to re-home the aviaries’ 48 birds will be processed over the coming weeks.
A recently released independent report highlighted the structures, which are decades old, were not fit for purpose and unsuitable for the birds’ welfare.
Waitaki District Council planned to demolish the aviaries, one of several recommendations made in the report, and said demolition would not take place until homes were found for the birds.
‘‘We have had a strong response from the community and aviaries further afield and will be processing applications in the next few weeks,’’ a council statement read.
The report, which was compiled following a site visit in December last year, raised ‘‘serious concern’’ about food storage areas not being pest proof and highlighted that staff working at the aviaries had no professional animal care qualifications.
The reviewer made several recommendations, including demolishing and replacing or redesigning the aviaries, an increased staff presence to care for the birds and hiring dedicated staff.
A council response, to a query from the Oamaru Mail about what action had been taken on issues identified in the report, read: ‘‘[The] council gets an annual veterinary report and seek out specialist advice from local vets when this is needed’’.
‘‘We also undertake pest control at the site, which is conducted by subcontractors.’’
