A MARIBYRNONG Council order for the removal of chickens that were the pride and joy of a Footscray street has ruffled more than a few feathers.
Omelette, Frenchie and Mayo have been a talking point that has brought together the mixed Eldridge Street community.
But the chooks have been given their marching orders because they are being kept in the front yard of a unit block.
Owners Dusk and Ben Liney say the demand for the chickens to go will leave a hole in the ‘‘fabric of the community’’.
“There are a lot of new migrants living here and it has been a real talking point that has brought people together,” Mrs Liney said.
“Eldridge Street is named a sustainability street. They should take down the sign if they’re not going to support this.”
Council regulations allow up to 10 poultry on a property, but none are allowed in a flat.
The Lineys argue that the chickens are being kept on a property and not within their flat.
The ‘general purposes local law’ also prohibits chicken houses within 18 metres of the front road or 15 metres of a dwelling, although the council may allow exceptions.
Mr Liney said these regulations were stricter than most councils and ruled out nearly every home in Footscray.
He finds it surprising the council promotes environmental sustainability on one hand but stops attempts at being sustainable on the other.
The pair were given until yesterday to remove the chickens and three new chicklets or face a $2800 fine.
But they’re determined to give it everything they’ve got to keep the chooks, collecting more than 130 signatures on a ‘Save the Eldridge Street Chooks’ petition that has attracted a host of supportive comments.
Mrs Liney said the reaction showed that the unity the chickens had brought in the street appeared to have been lost on the council.
‘‘It is such a densely populated street, there needs to be something like this for people to enjoy. I respect the law but the council needs to look at the benefit this has for actually building the community,’’ she said. “We have one woman who speaks no English at all, but she comes down here with her child and they feed the chickens.”
Neighbour Rinpal Patel said the neighbourhood wanted the chickens to stay. “I don’t have any problem with them. Everybody likes them, everybody wants them here.”
Maribyrnong mayor Catherine Cumming said the council stepped in following a complaint from the public.
She said the council’s policy makes a distinction between flats and free-standing homes because flats lack the yard space to adequately separate poultry and neighbours, dwellings and roads.
“These restrictions are to safeguard residents’ health and wellbeing in terms of proximity to noise, excrement and possible disease from any poultry including chickens and prevent poultry being kept in unsuitable conditions.
‘‘Council strongly supports sustainability measures but sustainability activities still need to meet local laws. The local laws exist for the welfare of the chickens and the amenity of residents. However we will look at the requirements for keeping chickens when we next review the local laws.”
