Bin wars: Lorne’s cockatoos get a new rival

THE long-running battle between Lorne residents and the town’s clever cockatoos may have reached a turning point, with 500 specially designed “bin aprons” set to roll out across the township.

For years, the birds have treated wheelie bins as a personal challenge, learning to flip lids, defeat locks and scatter rubbish across the seaside town.

Now, after years of experimentation by members of the Lorne Men’s Shed, a deceptively simple invention could finally have the upper hand.

The oversized attachment fits over a bin lid, making it difficult for cockatoos to gain enough grip to pry it open.

“They’ve now been in place for over two weeks and we haven’t had any reports – that means they’re working,” Lorne Men’s Shed founder Allan Walls said.

Allan knows better than most just how difficult the birds can be to beat.

Having tested countless anti-cockatoo devices over the years, his own bins eventually became a favourite target for the cheeky birds.

 

“I tried everything, so we became a target. One day, before I’d even made it back to the front door, they’d already emptied my bin,” Walls said.

“Just about everything tried was mechanical, so it broke down over time and cockies kept finding a way in.”

The breakthrough came when Walls began thinking less about locking the birds out and more about preventing them from getting a grip in the first place.

“I thought what if we created something the cockies couldn’t grip – a kind of apron attached to the lid?” he said.

The first versions used rubber, but the birds quickly adapted.

“That’s when we realised we needed something stronger and more durable, so we moved to recycled plastic,” Walls said.

“We started with just 10 prototypes four or five years ago – and the idea worked.”

What followed was a five-year journey involving prototype testing, design registration and the search for a manufacturer willing to take on a relatively small production run.

 

“After five years of effort, we found a willing partner in Danbar Plastics in Horsham, who could assist with mould production and manufacturing using recycled plastic,” Walls said.

“They’re made locally from Australian recycled plastic – doesn’t get much better than that.”

The men’s shed funded the project from the outset and registered the design, persevering through years of development and setbacks.

“It required hundreds of hours of research, numerous setbacks, and persistence from a dedicated group of volunteers,” Walls said.

“My biggest hope is that it helps solve the cockatoo problem in Lorne. It’s been a great Lorne Men’s Shed initiative and a real community effort.”

The effort has now attracted support from Surf Coast Shire, which has ordered 500 bin aprons for installation on red-lid landfill bins where cockatoos are most active in Lorne.

Residents can request a bin apron through the shire if cockatoos continue to target their landfill bin.