Brisbane City Council promises no peacock cull in Mackenzie

There will be no murder most fowl in a Brisbane suburb torn over how to deal with its controversial peacock flock, as the birds escape a cull in a heartwarming twist.

A peacock in Mackenzie, which is completely split down the middle over the fate of the peacock population. Picture: Remko Bijker

A PEACOCK colony that split a Brisbane suburb down the middle over the fate of the rapidly growing flock has escaped a cull – but they will not be left to overpopulate.

Cr Ryan Murphy (Chandler) said residents from Caboolture to Brisbane’s western suburbs had offered refuge to Mackenzie’s surplus birds after The Southern Star published the suburb’s plight.

“A number of residents across southeast Queensland have contacted my office offering to adopt the Mackenzie peacocks,” he said.

“It’s great to have these offers because it means can avoid having to cull the birds, which was really a last resort.”

Complaints about the birds’ noise, defecation and damage to bushland were rising as the flock grew to about 30 birds as other residents insisted they were part of the area’s identity and charm.

One resident, Remko Bijker, is so protective of the birds he registered six of them as his pets.

Peacocks have become a divisive issue in the small community of Mackenzie. Picture: Remko Bijker

Cr Murphy announced the council would develop a management plan for the peafowl colony using non-lethal methods based on the results of his Peacock Attitudes Survey.

A letter to be sent to residents tomorrow states that the 66 responses showed a perfect split between residents wanting the council to take action, which included a total removal or selective culling, or do nothing.

Of the 33 responses who wanted to take action, 19 wanted the council to undertake selective culling while the other 14 wanted a complete removal of the colony.

“Clearly, there is no community consensus as to what we do with the peafowl colony,” he wrote.

“Additionally, many residents were adamant that if the peafowls were to be controlled, non-lethal methods such as relocation be used instead of culling.”

Cr Murphy told the Star he undertook the survey to gain a better understanding of which side was in the minority.

The peacock colony in Mackenzie has grown to about 30 birds. Picture: Remko Bijker

“Unfortunately, that’s neither side,” he said.

He said feedback had confirmed the detrimental impact the colony had on the welfare of residents in specific streets and “conversely” the value of the peafowl to the suburb of Mackenzie as a whole.

“There is a substantial Indian community in Mackenzie, many of whom claimed they purchased a home in the suburb primarily because of the peafowl,” he said.

“Peacocks are the national bird of India and there’s a great deal of cultural significance placed on them.”

He said he was “confident” that any birds that needed to be removed would find a home.

“The good news is Council has had many offers from residents in other communities with peafowl populations who would like to take them.”

He said the management plan would maintain and track the peafowl population in Mackenzie, while lowering the number of birds to a more sustainable level using non-lethal methods.

Work on the plan would begin immediately, and Cr Murphy said he would update residents next year when it was ready to be rolled out.