Six Senses retreat offers lifeline to Sanctuary Cove’s kangaroos earmarked for culling

A MULTIMILLION-dollar retreat which once hosted rock stars for $3500 a week has offered refuge for ‘roos from Sanctuary Cove.

Eastern grey kangaroo (Macropus giganteus) two males boxing, Victoria, Australia.

A MULTIMILLION-dollar retreat which once hosted rock stars, including Sting for up to $3500 a week, has offered to open its golden doors to refugee ’roos from Sanctuary Cove.

The body corporate of the up-market village has begun a cull of up to 100 eastern grey kangaroos on the estate after reports golfers were being attacked and injured by the macropods.

KANGAROOS ATTACK GOLFERS AT RESORT

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Norman Bartie, who manages the Six Senses health retreat, formerly the Golden Door, at Willow Vale, said he would like to see some of the doomed animals relocated about 16km west to that property.

“They don’t need to be killed,” he said.

“We’ve got a large property and they could have a good home here.

“We’ve got 200 acres of bushland and large grass areas.”

Six Senses manager Norman Bartie has plenty of room for kangaroos at his Willow Vale retreat. Photo: Kit Wise

Mr Bartie said the kangaroos could be sedated and driven to Willow Vale, possibly in vans, over the course of a few weeks.

Sanctuary Cove body corporate president Darin Scott said he would support Mr Bartie’s offer if experts thought it was suitable.

“It’s not up to us — we’ve passed the details on to the government,” he said.

“I think it’s a great idea but it’s not my call.”

Kangaroos on and surrounding the Pines Golf Course at Sanctuary Cove. Picture Glenn Hampson

Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary senior vet Michael Pyne said the plan, while well-intentioned, was unlikely to work.

“Kangaroos don’t travel well,” he said.

“If they get stressed they get myopathy, which basically means their muscles melt.

“It’s incredibly painful and causes kidney failure and they die in a lot of pain — it takes them weeks to die.”

Six Senses manager Norman Bartie is ready to welcome Sanctuary Cove’s rogue roos. Photo: Kit Wise

Dr Pyne said transporting macropods was difficult even for highly trained experts working with captive animals and wild roos would have to be progressively sedated up to a week in advance, leaving them open to dog attacks.

He said he did not support the cull either and said the body corporate should have taken steps to avoid the overpopulation in the first place.

The Willow Vale retreat, which has also hosted horseracing tycoon the late Robert Sangster and a steady stream of politicians, was bought for $5.6 million in 1998, put up for sale again in 2012 but was withdrawn from the market soon after.