Shire of Waroona approves use of bird-scaring devices by two farms for another season amid practice contention

Two Waroona farming enterprises have had their requests to use bird-scaring devices approved by council, though one of them has been told it is on thin ice.

The Shire of Waroona voted at its meeting on October 25 to approve the use of gas guns by Fruitico Farms Pty Ltd and Capogreco Farms on their Buller and McLure Road properties, subject to compliance with conditions imposed.

While there were no issues among council with Fruitico’s conditional approval, there was debate on Capogreco’s request stemming from issues with its compliance with approvals in previous seasons.

Neighbour Vincent Piscioneri presented to council ahead of the vote and asked elected members to not approve Capogreco’s request on one on its land titles due to “three years of past behaviour”.

“It is still annoying that we need to keep coming back here because the gas guns are ruining our lives,” he said.

Mr Piscioneri claimed Capogreco Farms had been using the gas guns after sunset and more than once every six minutes, in breach of its approval conditions.

“They were not co-operative, they were non-compliant,” he said.

Mr Piscioneri said Capogreco Farms should not need its permits due to Frutico’s properties and respective gas gun approvals being located close by.

In debating the grower’s application, Shire president Mike Walmsley expressed some concern over the company’s past behaviour.

“I think there is still an issue if there are complaints,” he said.

Works and waste services manager Brad Oborn said there was only one formal complaint last season, but there may have been more.

“We thought the season was going well until mid-March,” he said.

“There were certainly issues in trying to find out if there have been complaints.”

Mr Oborn noted restrictions had been increased due to previous behaviour, including the council asking for the GPS coordinates of the guns to assist with monitoring.

“They’re aware we’re not happy and we can revoke their licences,” he said.

Chief executive Mark Goodlet said there would be improved measures for compliance this season.

“Getting on to the site with COVID (last season) was an issue,” he said.

The council has added conditions to this year’s approval to allow shire officers to access the grower’s properties unannounced.

The same conditions have been placed upon Fruitico’s approval, with both enterprises banned from using gas guns between sunset and either sunrise or 6am depending on the time of year, as well as between 11am and 2pm.

The gas guns must also be used to “the minimum extent necessary” to stop birds damaging crops, and be located a suitable distance away from neighbouring properties.

The approvals allow only for the use of the bird-scaring devices between December 20 and May 1 for Capogreco Farms and between January 2 and May 15 for Fruitico Farms.