Feral goats and their invasion of properties on Doolan Crescent in East Griffith have resulted in a number of residents complaining to council.
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A lack of water is believed to be responsible for the goats venturing into suburbia.
Residents of Doolan Crescent said that they had seen one or two goats in previous years, but now they were seeing up to 30 at a time wandering the street.
They are most often seen after dark, with roses and hibiscus being their favourite delicasies.
Shireen Donaldson, manager of executive services for Griffith City Council, said a petition had been tabled at the last council meeting and they were in the process of doing something about it.
“They’re a feral animal and they’re on Crown land so we’re going to put out an Expression of Interest (EOI) for qualified musterers and then there will be a process to trap the goats and remove them,” Ms Donaldson said.
“The goats are experiencing lack of water and are coming down into the gardens to eat the green plants and they’re escalating their activity and they’re not as intimidated anymore.
“They’re being driven by desperation to come down into people’s gardens.
“They come down the vacant block at the top of Doolan Crescent and that's how they get into the front yards,” she said.
Councillor Pat Cox was concerned about the vegetation on the hill at the top of the street, and the impact that recent rains would have.
Ms Donaldson said the variables were why it was important to have a solid plan of action.
“There has to be a procedure around this and that's why we need to do the EOI because there’s a methodology for treating the goats humanely,” Ms Donaldson said.
“We need to protect the native hill area as well as the goats and persons as well, we can’t just send someone up randomly.”
The solution was not as simple as a shotgun.
“There’ll be no shooting allowed it will be trapping, an entrapment then removal.”
Council is expected to advertise the EOI shortly.