South Burnett Regional Council votes down plan to relocate up to 20 dangerous swooping magpies after Brisbane park tragedy

A regional council has come to a shock conclusion regarding relocating up to 20 swooping magpies in the wake of a child dying in a bird-related accident.

The South Burnett Regional Council has voted down a plan presented to it by its own officers to relocate dangerous magpies, despite the impassioned plea from one councillor.

At its meeting on August 25, the council was presented a report compiled by staff proposing to relocate up to 20 swooping magpies from across the region.

The report was requested by council following the tragic incident in Holland Park, Brisbane, where a five-month-old girl died when her mother fell while carrying her trying to avoid a swooping magpie.

The report outlined a plan to relocate up to 20 magpies from the region, at an estimated cost of $10,900.

The report included 20 locations compiled by the council staff of possible birds that could be removed.

However, it was noted this was a preliminary list, and further investigations would be needed before a final list of birds was determined, with locations that were highly trafficked and frequented by vulnerable people prioritised.

Councillor Kathy Duff moved the motion gave an impassioned plea for the council to support it.

“It will help ensure we don’t have a tragic situation like occurred to a mother and child in Brisbane,” Cr Duff said.

“This problem has been going on for a very long time.”

However, other councillors raised issues with the proposal, including councillor Scott Henschen who suggested the plan would simply move the problem elsewhere.

“It’s noted you’re going to relocate these magpies – have you thought for a moment that you’re going to be relocating them and creating a problem somewhere else,” Cr Henschen said.

“As a much as there has been some tragedies … I just can’t support relocating 20 magpies when you’re (shifting) a problem and putting it somewhere else.”

Screenshot of reported magpie swooping areas in the South Burnett.

Despite the opposition, Cr Duff again urged her fellow councillors to at least trial the program, and warned doing nothing was a risk.

“The thing that I am really concerned about is that this has been brought to our attention, we know there is a possible solution,” she said.

“If we turn a blind eye – just imagine if something now happens and we didn’t give it a red hot go.

“I urge you at the very least to give this a trial.”

When put to a vote the motion was defeated, with councillors Duff, Schumacher and Mayor Otto voting in favour, while councillors Jones, Henschen, Potter and Frohloff voting against.