Club flags roo cull if army ignores players

Kim Waters
Queenscliff golfers fear they will have to take matters into their own hands if the Defence Department refuses to stop “out of control” kangaroos tearing up their Swan Island course.
Greens chairman Kevin Cameron said the club was at “its wits end” over damage from more than 400 kangaroos digging up the course every night.
“We’re losing members because of this and it’s costing the club a lot of money and time in extra maintenance,” Mr Cameron said.
“We fix the damage, wait a week and then it’s back again – the whole situation is heartbreaking.”
Mr Cameron said members had considered organising a “kangaroo steak association”.
“We feel like beating our heads against the wall.
“The army keeps telling us it will handle it but then it doesn’t do anything. “In the meantime the kangaroos are digging up our greens and costing us huge amounts of money.”
Mr Cameron said “greens” were standing in the way of a cull.
“I don’t care if the army comes in one night and shoots the whole lot of them but it would get into trouble from all the environmentalists.”
Mr Cameron said environmentalists had disputed the club’s claims that the island’s kangaroos were digging through the course.
“We try to explain the problem to visitors and members but we’re sick of making excuses.”
The army brought kangaroos to the high-security island, promising they were sterile. But the animals began breeding, leading to the club’s complaints.
Geelong Environment Council president Joan Lindros recommended a “thorough” investigation of the club’s claims.
“It’s very unusual behaviour if kangaroos are digging up the greens,” she said.
“I think an expert needs to be consulted to investigate why this is happening.”
Ms Lindros was confident the army would make the right decision on solving the issue.
“I personally think it’s very pleasant to have kangaroos on a golf course.
“It’s been suggested that it’s a big problem but I think they really need professional advice before they do anything to the kangaroos.”
The Defence Department did not return the Independents call for comment before the paper went to press.