Snake home delivered

THE last straw was when a pharmacist delivering medication to the Scobie sisters found himself eye-to-eye with a snake, which had slithered off their roof.

Sisters Edie and Deanne Scobie, residents of Graeme Ave in Goonellabah, are worried about the wildlife coming into their yard since trees were removed from nearby land. Picture: Cathy Adams

THE last straw was when a pharmacist delivering medication to the Scobie sisters at home found himself eye-to-eye with a snake, which had slithered down off their roof.

Graeme Ave Goonellabah residents Edie and Deanne Scobie said they live in fear because of what they call a reckless decision by Lismore City Council to poison trees on Tucki Creek behind their home a year ago.

Ever since, they have had wildlife including goannas and water dragons in their backyard and home.

"I've been here 14 years and this is the first time I've had wildlife in my home," said 77-year-old Edie Scobie.

"Shocks like that are not really welcome at our age."

Next door Vince and June Cohen have the same problem.

Mr Cohen said even though the poisoned trees weren't Australian natives, they provided important habitat to local wildlife that would take up to 15 years to regenerate.

Council's environmental strategies co-ordinator Nick Stephens said it was a condition of the Goonellabah Sports and Aquatic Centre development that all weed species be removed.

"This creates a temporary loss of habitat and council has spent the last 12 months planting out the area with native seedlings," Mr Stephens said.

"It is unfortunately impossible to remove a 10m tree and replace it with a 10m tree, hence the trees were poisoned rather than removed, to retain some habitat value."

The pharmacist hasn't been seen in Graeme Ave since.

Originally published as Snake home delivered