Halloween ’spoil sport’: Council orders decorations be removed

Residents in Brisbane’s north were left confused after Council ordered a resident remove “potentially harmful” Halloween decorations next to a roundabout.

Residents in Brisbane’s north were left confused after Council ordered a resident remove “potentially harmful” Halloween decorations next to a roundabout.

Jay Howarth from Grange posted in a local community page alerting neighbours that someone had reported Halloween decorations on verges to Council “who are currently in visiting properties in area (sic)”.

One commenter said the person who reported the decorations was being a “spoil sport”.

“Obviously someone is leading a boring life with nothing to do but complain,” they wrote.

Another said they hoped Council “can fill in some potholes while they are performing such an important public service.”

Spooky Halloween decorations.

“Grange Crime on the up again,” wrote another.

“Rate payers money hard at work,” said a third.

One person said they asked the resident who made the report to Council what he was doing as he shot pictures of the decorations.

“He explained that the stuff everyone puts up is absolutely terrible for birds.”

It turns out Council’s response in getting the decorations removed was warranted as one common feature used in the annual reminder of the spooky season’s arrival raises serious concerns for birds.

A Brisbane City Council spokesman said Council received multiple complaints that webbing placed alongside a roundabout in the Grange could harm wildlife.

“Council spoke to the resident who owned the decoration and they were more than happy to remove it,” he said.

A statement from Birdlife Australia, an advocacy organisation for native birds and the conservation of their habitat, said Halloween decorations can be a horror story for birds and other native wildlife.

Halloween decorations.

“Today, scientists estimate that around 30% of Australian bird nests incorporate human-made materials,” they said.

“And with Spooky Season coinciding with Swoopy Season and the breeding season for many Australian birds, it’s important to be mindful of what materials you might be making available to them.”

The conservation group said when birds weave non-biodegradable materials into their nests ‒ like fishing line or polymer rope – it means that their nestlings are more likely to get tangled up, which can cut off their circulation as they grow.

“More plastic materials also means a higher risk of plastic accumulating in the guts of young birds,” they said.

“The fine threads within cotton wool and human hair mean that these also pose a risk of entanglement, as does fruit tree netting: which should have a mesh size of 5mm x 5mm (or less at full stretch).”

DOS AND DON’TS FOR MATERIALS THAT CAN BE USED OUTSIDE TO HELP NATIVE BIRD’S WELFARE.:

Do use natural materials, such as:

✔️ Straw

✔️ Sheep’s wool

✔️ Sticks and twigs

✔️ Leaves and other organic garden waste

Avoid:

X Fishing line

X Rope/string/yarn

X Cotton wool

X Fruit tree netting

Halloween jack-o-lantern.

Council’s Festive Footpaths program allows Brisbane residents to decorate their footpath and street trees during the festive period from 15 October 2023 to 14 January 2024 without a Council permit.

Participants must follow the following Decorating Conditions Checklist.

Decorations must:

Only be displayed during the prescribed festive period.

Not obstruct or create a hazard on the footpath for pedestrians (including people using a wheelchair), cyclists or people alighting from a vehicle.

Not be placed on or obstruct any other infrastructure on the footpath such as power poles, manholes, underground services, bus shelters, bike racks etc.

Not contain offensive language or other material that may be deemed offensive.

Not harm wildlife or result in the pollution of the local environment.

Not obstruct the visibility of motorists using the road, entering or exiting a residential driveway.

Be adequately secured to property fences and any freestanding ornaments and decorations are of sufficient weight to prevent them from being carried by the wind.

Where involving festive lighting, be solar powered and installed in a manner that does not affect the health and wellbeing of residents in their neighbourhood.

Not obstruct the Australia Post delivery service, rubbish collectors and utility services.

Not damage street trees.

Participants must also understand that:

Utility providers may need to service or upgrade their infrastructure, and this may result in the removal of their decorations.

Placing decorations is at their own risk, and must consider the impacts of the decorations on residents, domestic animals, wildlife and surroundings.