Redland City Council will remove bird exclusion netting from the ferry terminals servicing Coochiemudlo Island following concerns about birds becoming trapped.
The decision comes after repeated incidents involving swallows finding their way through the netting and becoming caught behind it. The netting has also been damaged several times since it was installed in June, creating further opportunities for birds to enter the enclosed areas.
Acting Mayor Julie Talty said Council had installed the netting to help maintain a clean and safe environment for ferry users while protecting the terminal structures from damage caused by bird droppings.
However, she said the approach had not been successful at the Coochiemudlo Island terminals and required reconsideration.
Council will remove the netting from the Coochiemudlo Island jetties for now and investigate alternative bird management methods. Similar measures have worked at other locations across the city, but Council said a different approach was needed at Coochiemudlo Island and Victoria Point.
The removal is intended to prevent further bird entrapments while a suitable alternative is developed.
Council officers have attended previous reports of trapped birds and safely released them.
Residents are encouraged to notify Council if they see a bird trapped at a ferry terminal and to respect officers and contractors working in the area.