The Canberra White Eagles football club has been forced to abandon its home ground, Boomanulla Oval, due to extensive damage caused by hundreds of cockatoos. The birds have been attacking the grass roots, creating deep divots and patchy areas that have rendered the pitch unplayable.
League referees have repeatedly deemed the ground unsuitable for play in recent weeks. The club's senior and junior games have been relocated, most recently to Hawker's synthetic pitch and previously to Greenway Oval. This season alone, the White Eagles have already utilized five different grounds for their home matches as they grapple with the ongoing pitch issues.
Mark Stoya, president of the White Eagles, explained that the problem is not overuse but rather a pest issue. He described how hundreds of cockatoos descend from surrounding gum trees for eight to ten weeks, digging up the grass roots. "The cockatoos rip out grass from the roots, and they dig very deep, so you could be excused for thinking it was rabbits," Stoya said.
The club has initiated a petition seeking permission from the Legislative Assembly to use an ACT sportground as their primary home ground. Their proposal involves taking on the costs and responsibility for maintenance, suggesting that it would not incur additional expense for the government. However, they are seeking assurance that the ground would not be reallocated after they invest in upgrades.
Adding to the club's challenges, Boomanulla Oval lacks approval for floodlights, which has already necessitated the relocation of NPL night fixtures. Stoya expressed concern that the constant upheaval places a significant strain on the club and its members, fearing last-minute cancellations due to the pitch conditions.
