By VANESSA CHIRCOP
AT least two swans a week are being found dead or injured after flying into power lines across Laverton Creek in Altona Meadows.
Electricity company Powercor has come under fire for not immediately acting by adding bird deflectors to the lines.
Wildlife rescuer Mandy Hall said she was horrified by the number of swans and other water birds she has found dead at the creek.
“It could be up to a hundred,” she said.
Star attended the site last week, where the carcass of a black swan, swan feathers, wings and bones were scattered across the creek embankment.
Ms Hall described the scene as distressing especially when considering swans pair for life.
She claims Powercor’s response to the problem has been equally distressing, with the wildlife rescuer phoning and emailing the company about the problem in August last year.
“They’ve failed to do anything and they’ve been aware of this for months and months,” she said.
The volunteer said she finally received a response from the company who, to her horror, addressed a quote of $9,095 to her for works to fix the problem.
“If you wish to proceed with this project please sign the acceptance form below and return to the above address,” the quote read.
A spokesperson for Powercor told Star they were only made aware of the problem a couple of weeks ago with the first email Ms Hall sent being incorrectly addressed.
In regards to the quote being sent to Ms Hall, the spokesperson said this “was an administrative error” and should never have been sent to the volunteer.
The spokesperson added Powercor were taking the swan deaths very seriously and were seeking a solution.
“We’ve just been made aware of this issue in the last few weeks and once we were made aware of this issue we started the process to work out possible solutions,” he said.
Ms Hall told Star if her initial email did go astray it was incumbent upon the person she first phoned and made the verbal complaint to follow it up.
“He was expecting my email, if he didn’t receive it, he should have phoned me back to tell me,” she said.
Ms Hall is calling on residents who drive across the Queen St bridge to report any birds they see flying into power lines.
BADGER Wildlife rescue group are a not-for-profit organisation, who receive no government funding and is run solely by volunteers.
If you find wildlife injured or sick or wish to make a donation to the group call 1300 223 427.
