THE City of Belmont plans to evict Monty the red-tailed cockatoo.
Monty’s owners Ben and Nadene Townend have been told to permanently remove the bird from their Rivervale property by Monday.
City of Belmont chief executive Stuart Cole said the City had received complaints from neighbours that the bird was causing them distress and annoyance by its repeated loud calling.
“An assessment and measurements of the volume of the bird’s call confirmed it is unacceptably loud,” he said.
But the Townends, who have had Monty for three-and-a-half years, said the bird did not make that much noise.
They got him when he was just 20 days old and they consider him a loving pet, in the same way many people think about their pet dog.
Mrs Townend said the cockatoo made no more noise than a dog.
“He gets excited and makes a bit of noise when we get home, just like a dog would, but he isn’t consistently loud,” she said.
The Townends have a licence which allows them to keep a native bird, but the City’s local laws on health require birds to be kept more than 15m from any dwelling or public business, unless the owner has approval from the City’s principal environmental health officer.
“That would mean most birds in the city, even budgies, should have a permit,” Mr Townend said.
As a result of a noise complaint, the council would not give the Townends approval to keep their cockatoo.
Mr Townend attended a council meeting at the end of last year when he asked the council to consider changing its local health law on birds.
After taking questions on notice, the City decided not to amend the laws. Mr Cole said this was because the City had confirmed the bird was causing a nuisance and it would be inappropriate to change its laws.
Mr Townend said this process was unfair.
“If it was a dog they would need to receive three separate letters, with a diary of times of the barking, and I would be given an opportunity to address the problem before any further action like this was taken.”
Mr Townend said he had requested the City supply full details of the noise measurements to prove Monty had exceeded noise levels.
He also sent the City letters from three of his neighbours, who said they had no problems with the bird.
Mr Townend said he planned to defy the City’s request to remove the bird.