ABOUT 500 people want a council-funded snake catching service introduced in the City of Greater Bendigo.
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An online poll by the Bendigo Advertiser showed overwhelming support among the 556 respondents for the service to be available at no cost to residents in the event of a snake sighting at their homes.
Public demand was cited as the reason several Melbourne-based councils offered such a service.
Wyndham City’s Richard Maugaret said the council had provided a snake removal service for the past 25 years.
The council has contracted the services of a professional snake catcher, which are available free-of-charge to attend to snake sightings on private residential properties and on council-owned land.
“We allocate $50,000 in our annual budget to fund this,” Mr Maugaret said.
“We do not receive any grants from other tiers or governments to fund this program.”
The council received 323 requests for snake removal in the past financial year.
Meanwhile, there were 145 requests for assistance from the snake catcher in Melton.
Melton compliance manager Phil Lovelace said council had contracted the services of a professional snake catcher, as required, since 2016.
“This is now an ongoing council service,” he said.
He said council introduced the program in response to community concerns about the risk snakes on private property posed to residents.
The service cost Melton ratepayers $26,100 in the past financial year.
Hume City Council has been piloting a snake catching program since November.
Twenty residents have used the service in that time.
Hume sustainable infrastructure services director Peter Waite said council would evaluate the service in April to determine whether or not an ongoing program was viable.
“Snakes occur within suburban and urban fringe environments and, as a result, are often seen as intruding or conflicting with our lives,” he said.
“It is important to remember that snakes are part of our native wildlife and we need to exercise caution and a degree of tolerance and take steps to minimise any conflict.
“Residents can take steps to reduce the likelihood of snakes being present in their backyards by ensuring their grass is kept low and tidy and by removing any areas of potential harbour.”
Brimbank City Council introduced its snake catching service in October 2017.
“It is expected to continue, subject to annual budget process,” Kevin Walsh, of Brimbank council, said.
“The service is delivered via expert snake catching contractors and has been utilised around 135 times this financial year.”
In Victoria, harassing or harming snakes and other wildlife is illegal.
Licensed snake catcher Chris Page, of TZR Reptiles and Wildlife, called on the City of Greater Bendigo earlier this month to consider employing a licensed snake catcher.
He said there was sufficient demand for snake catching services in the municipality, in his experience, to warrant a council-commissioned service.
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