Cockatoos target Torquay’s new hockey pitch

THE Torquay Hockey Club is growing increasingly frustrated as cockatoos continue to tear up sections of its new pitch in Torquay North.

The Banyul Warrri Fields surface has sustained repeated damage in recent months, with the birds targeting the eco-friendly synthetic turf.

Tornadoes vice-president Andrew Crowley said the issue had come to a head with the season beginning this weekend.

“Our lines continue to be attacked on the pitch, which is frustrating,” he said. “It’s a brand-new ground, and it means a lot to us.”

 

“It’s the same with all sporting grounds at the moment, as it is with local golf courses. It’s not just grass sports, it’s buildings too, including the Surf Coast Shire council offices.

“It may well be more of a summer issue than a winter issue, we certainly hope so.

“Luckily, it won’t affect us to play, but we need to continue to monitor it in the short term.”

The shire, which manages the facility, says it is working to address the problem.

“We have arranged for the contractor to fix the damaged sections of the pitch and we are continuing to look at options to deter the cockatoos,” a council spokesperson said.

 

Crowley said the club continued to have a strong working relationship with council and was confident a solution would be found.

“The Torquay Hockey Club has worked really well with council across the past few years with the construction of our new facilities and more,” he said.

“It’s certainly not their fault the cockatoos are hitting us.”