Five Dock Park: Sofianna Han, 14, calls on Canada Bay Council to save cockatoo nest

A environmentally-conscious 14-year-old is fighting to save a cockatoo family, calling on a Sydney council to rethink its plan to fell an old tree to upgrade the area’s path network.

A green-fingered 14-year-old girl is fighting to save the home of a cockatoo family, calling on a Sydney council to rethink its plan to fell an old tree to upgrade the area’s path network.

Sofianna Han, of Five Dock, has encouraged Canada Bay Council to halt plans to create a new path through Five Dock Park which would result in the removal of an old tree which is home to a family of Sulphur-crested cockatoos.

“We noticed a lot of cockatoos around the tree and then when we came over once, we actually saw them enter into the hollow of the tree,” Sofianna, who lives close to the park, said.

“If you head to the west end of the park, right on the corner, you can visit the tree – and the cockatoos may come out and say hello!

The council is considering upgrading the footpath and bicycle tracks at Five Dock Park, and the tree would have to be removed as it would obstruct a planned bicycle right-turn only lane into the park.

Sofianna Han, 14, pictured next to the tree housing the cockatoos in Five Dock Park. Picture: Alexi Demetriadi

“The removal of this tree would mean displacing the family of cockatoos – one of whom is raising chicks – and disturbing their nesting activities,” Sofianna said.

“It’s also not just about the cockatoos, that hollow is a really good place for future animals to live – so by displacing the cockatoos and removing the tree, you’re hurting biodiversity throughout the park.”

The tree is home to a family of Sulphur-crested Cockatoos, not unlike these ones pictured in Geelong.

Sofianna said a number of councillors had come to visit the tree and had opposed the removal, although its future is still unclear.

A Canada Bay Council spokeswoman said there were plans to go ahead with the path, but attempts would be made to minimise impact on that particular tree.

“Council is planning to create a new shared path through Five Dock Park, as part of our new $7 million cycleway connecting Concord to the Bay Run – the new cycleway will help expand our bike network and make it safer for people of all ages and abilities to ride around the area,” she said.

“Our initial investigations have found some trees may be affected by the shared path, including a tree in poor health that we have become aware may be used by cockatoos for nesting.

“We have engaged an arborist to help us provide an independent assessment of this particular tree, and work with us to minimise impacts to existing trees wherever possible.”