By Fatima Halloum
In the six years that Melissa Doherty has walked around McIvor Lake in Roxburgh Park, she’s witnessed numerous birds become trapped in the stormwater outflow pit.
She estimates the ditch is about three metres deep, making it difficult for the birds to fly out of the vertical shaft.
A metal cage rests atop the pit, and because of the wide space between the bars, animals often slip between the cracks where the birds end up stuck.
“You can hear the calls echoing out of the pit,“ she said.
“It’s just a death trap for these birds, and it’s really distressing to think of how many of them have died here.“
Ms Doherty says that two birds have died in the pit since the beginning of the year, and while she often reports incidents to Wildlife Victoria, and the Marine Rescue Unit from Zoos Victoria, the frightened birds run up the pipes before they can be caught despite best efforts to rescue them.
Hours upon hours have been spent at the ditch, while Ms Doherty uses sheets, builds wooden ramps, and does anything else she can think of to free the birds.
“There’s a really simple solution,“ she said.
“If they could just build a ramp up two of the walls, at least you’re giving the birds a chance to climb out.
“[Or] fix the cage on top of the pit, so birds can’t keep falling in.“
Melbourne Water head of waterway and catchments north west Victoria Penko said that Melbourne Water has heard the community’s concerns.
“Melbourne Water has been working to find a solution to this issue and has already modified the outlet twice to try and prevent birds from becoming trapped,“ Ms Penko said.
“We will continue to investigate other options, but any changes made need to ensure localise flooding doesn’t occur.
“Melbourne Water hears the community’s concerns and will keep them updated.“
