The draft concept plan of the new aviary is about three times the size, 19m long and will have more perches and planting. Image / Hastings District Council
The draft concept plan of the new aviary is about three times the size, 19m long and will have more perches and planting. Image / Hastings District Council
Hastings District Council has released a new draft concept plan for an upgraded Cornwall Park aviary, and the design has mostly pleased a petitioner who feared for the welfare of its birds.
The upgraded aviary for cockatoo Mate and corella Stevie Nicks will give them more flying room, something campaignerTania Thomson said she was happy to see.
The council planned a $75,000 upgrade of the aviary as part of its 2020/21 Annual Plan and Reserve Management Plan and after community consultation in March 2019 on the Cornwall Park Reserve Management Plan (RMP).
The council says the community consultation showed the aviary was valued by the community, but people wanted it to be upgraded for the birds.
At the same time, opposition for keeping the cockatoo and corella in the aviary was growing.
An online petition was started by Tania Thomson, who cares for Chucky, a cockatoo who used to live in the same aviary but was harassed and became aggressive and self-plucked.
She and the more than 1000 people who signed the petition want the council to release the birds from the aviary into the care of people who know about birds.
When the council decided to go ahead with the upgrade, the petition was at 620 signatures.
The new aviary will be about three times its current size, 19 metres long, includes water features, more planting and natural perches, ropes and other play activities and housing that can be warm and ventilated in winter.
Thomson said it was good the council was doing upgrades and she was pleased the birds would have room to fly, but they would still be without the human bond they form with carers.
She hopes one day they can live out their lives in a sanctuary or home.
Tania Thomson, who started the petition with son Jack, is pleased the birds will have more room but still hopes one day they will live out their lives in a sanctuary or home. Photo / File
"Anything is better than what they were in. If they can fly and they've got enrichment and a more natural habitat that's fantastic, but what about the human contact?
"I'd still like to see them have somebody they can bond to because that's really important, especially for the big parrots."
"They're not artworks. We're not supposed to go and view animals on parade any more, they're not art work they are living, breathing animals.
"We will never be able to set them free, but we need to give them the quality of life that they deserve."
A Friends of Cornwall spokesperson said the aviary upgrade was one of the initiatives the group supported when giving feedback on the proposed RMP.
