SUTHERLAND Shire Council has declared war on possums, fitting trees at a Cronulla park with plastic barriers to force the native animals to relocate.
The move has angered wildlife experts, nearby residents and visitors to the park.
Cronulla resident John Woodger wrote to the Leader on January 7 to complain that trees in Gunnamatta Park were being fitted with plastic barriers to prevent possums from climbing them.
He said the move resulted in "sending the deprived possums that have been living there to the neighbouring residential properties".
"Is there a possum welfare group out there prepared to intervene? Or perhaps a ratepayer welfare group?" he asked, referring to the cost of the project.
A council spokeswoman said the possum population in Gunnamatta Park had been boosted by people feeding them at night.
"This has had a severe impact on the vegetation in Gunnamatta Park," she said.
"Many of the mature trees are relics of the original vegetation prior to the development of Cronulla and . . . are heritage-listed."
She said the possums' habit of "stripping the trees of vegetation" had caused a number of heritage-listed trees to die and many more were in danger if nothing was done.
She said plastic sheathing of tree trunks protected trees from defoliation and was used in the Melbourne and Sydney botanic gardens.
"The guards have been placed on a number of trees that look dead but are actually still alive and have been given a chance to resprout," she said.
"Some trees the possums use to climb to get access to other trees have also been sheathed.
"The process of installing the plastic sheathing is being done over a period of time to allow the possums time to relocate to other parks in Cronulla."
But WIRES South Branch chairman Michael Alesandro said as there were no other parks in the immediate vicinity the council's actions would force possums into residential areas.
He said he was not aware there was an overpopulation of possums in Gunnamatta Park and he was disappointed that the council did not consult WIRES before acting.
"From our point of view, you are causing conflict with the community because you are driving possums into residential areas," he said.
"Driving possums from an area where they have been inhabiting without issue to date is going to cause untold harm."
Mr Alesandro said possums which survived crossing Nicholson Parade in search of a backyard then had to contend with household pets — one of their biggest threats.
DEAD BRANCHES
John Woodger told the Leader he was confused by the council’s ‘‘contrasting’’ views on protecting native wildlife.
He said that several months ago he raised his concerns with the council regarding three dead trees in the park that had dangerous overhanging branches which he felt posed a risk to park users.
A council officer had told him the trees had holes cut in them for native birds to nest in and they therefore could not be removed.
Despite the intervention of a Sutherland Shire councillor, Mr Woodger was successful in having only some branches trimmed.
‘‘On one hand the council cuts holes in dead trees for birds but is stopping possums from climbing trees,’’ he said.
What do you think of the measures to move possums on?
