BIRDS from the Albury tip are causing havoc for a nearby farmer.
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David Horn and wife Bronwyn Mills raise alpacas at their Amistad Alpaca Stud, on Pearsall Street, Lavington.
Mr Horn said up to 600 ibis and pelicans land in a field on his property each night, leaving rubbish from the tip strewn across his land.
He recently found a dead alpaca — and later discovered a plastic bag in its stomach — and is concerned by the diseases being brought by the birds.
“I know I built near a tip — I’m not worried about that — but the fact is the birds should be able to be transported out or culled,” he said.
“There’s just too many of them.
“The council has said they’re doing something about it, but they’re protected birds.
“Everything’s tied up in red tape.
“I just think it’s rude from the council point of view that they can’t do anything about the birds.”
All native birds are protected under the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974.
The couple started the business seven years ago and run a herd of about 60 alpacas.
Mr Horn said the birds were having a big impact.
“We’ve had to start worming our alpacas because the birds are bringing so many diseases,” he said.
“I just want the council to get rid of the birds, that’s all I need.”
Albury Council waste management team leader Andrea Baldwin said the organisation was addressing the issue.
“While a number of operational techniques are in place to reduce the number of birds feeding on site at the Albury Waste Management Centre — such as small tipping areas, high level compaction, regular cover — it is not possible to completely eliminate these birds or prevent them carrying product off site,” she said.
“Albury Council works closely with residents in close proximity to the landfill to ensure operations on the site don’t impact on their lifestyle.”
Ms Baldwin said the council aimed to reduce food waste going to the tip, improve recycling and introduce a new facility to further sort waste prior to it going to landfill.