Council accused of inaction as dozens of birds mysteriously die at Gold Coast park

A council “quick enough to fine parked cars” has been accused of inaction after 50 bird deaths near a children’s playground sparked no public warnings.

Business owners at Sorrento Shops have criticised Gold Coast City Council after a week of mass bird deaths has seen no signage erected in the area home to an off leash dog park and kids’ playground.

Calls to local authorities started Tuesday last week, with reports at least 25 birds – including ibis, currawongs, noisy miners, magpies, and crested pigeons – had mysteriously dropped dead in a 24-hour period at Gladys Moncrieff Park in Bundall, next to Sorrento Shops.

Gladys Moncrieff Park. Picture: Glenn Hampson

Sorrento Shops business owner Maria Harvey said about 50 birds had been found dead in the past week, and she’d heard birds were still being found dead and dying on Monday.

“The ibis have been a problem at the shopping centre for a while, and a lot of people complain about them, but to me, they’re no different than any other bird,” she said.

“Arrangements had been made to rehome them which was supposed to start this week, then lo and behold last Tuesday the ibis and many other birds start dropping dead all over the shopping centre and in the park.”

Ms Harvey said there’d been much speculation as to what caused the deaths, with the matter under investigation with the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) and the Department of Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation (DETSI).

Samples have been submitted to the Biosecurity Sciences Laboratory for testing.

On Tuesday a DPI spokesperson said initial tests have excluded avian influenza and Newcastle disease as causes of the bird deaths.

Local resident Tracy Watson and Maria Harvey from Maria Harvey's Nail Studio, at Gladys Moncrieff park behind the shopping centre where one local has put up their own sign. Picture: Glenn Hampson

As birds continue to drop dead, business operators are fuming council is yet to erect signage in the City-owned park, despite pleas to the area councillor.

“Myself and plenty of other people in the community have all emailed our local councillor with no response,” she said.

“Each day either myself or others have been warning parents with kids, or those with dogs in the off leash dog park, about the potential danger in the area.

“We would’ve thought council would put signs up or at least some temporary fencing until we find out the source of whatever is killing all these birds.”

Gladys Moncrieff Park with Sorrento Shops in the background. Picture: Glenn Hampson

Area councillor Darren Taylor told this masthead on Tuesday council officers were patrolling the park regularly to monitor the situation.

“If the state advises of any real concern we will consider shutting the park down,” he said.

“But at this stage we want to keep it open – from our perspective there’s no concerns at this point.”

Ms Harvey said the Sorrento community held grave concerns for not only wildlife, but small children and dogs.

“There’s just been nothing from the council – it shouldn’t be our responsibility to put up warnings in the park,” she said.

The bird found dying next to Sorrento Shops on Monday. Picture: Facebook/Vickie Jenkins

“Every day since Tuesday birds have been found dead – a nearby resident even fished out dead birds in the canal in front of his house. A lady called in the other day and told me I should go home and print off warnings to put around the park – is that not council’s responsibility?”

Witnesses who have watched the birds die claim their last moments were filled with pain and agony as they struggle to breathe.

“We’ve had this one ibis at the shopping centre for eight years and we called him Donald,” Ms Harvey said.

“We call him Donald because he quacks like a duck and wags his little tail as he chases dogs around the centre and quacks at them. We haven’t seen Donald all week.”

Dead birds found in the park.

Both Ms Harvey and Sorrento Shop’s SE. 1 Hair International owner Debbie Ryan said if council were “quick enough” to fine parked cars in the area, why are they “so slow” on erecting signs to warn the public of the ongoing matter.

“It is a council problem,” Ms Ryan said.

“What if a child picks something up, or a dog – this is a problem.”

A City spokesperson said council would rely on DETSI to erect signage based on their findings.

“City officers inspected the park on Saturday to retrieve any remaining dead birds, however, none were found,” the spokesperson said.

“We will continue to work with DETSI as the investigation continues.”