Pigeon infestation forces SA Health staff out of Port Pirie office buildingBy Viki NtafillisABC North and West SATopic:Public Health51m ago51 minutes agoMon 5 May 2025 at 9:30pmThe Port Pirie Community Health administration building has been temporarily closed due to a pigeon infestation. (ABC North and West SA: Viki Ntafillis)In short:SA Health says about 100 of its employees have been relocated due to a pigeon infestation.It says employees had been raising the issue over the past six months.What's next?Yorke and Northern Local Health Network's CEO says testing will be carried out to determine which bacteria is present.abc.net.au/news/pigeon-infestation-port-pirie-community-health-building/105253394Link copiedShareShare articleAbout 100 SA Health employees have been moved from a building in Port Pirie due to a pigeon infestation. SA Health said the workers were moved from the Port Pirie Community Health administration building last Wednesday, and the building was temporarily closed. Yorke and Northern Local Health Network CEO Roger Kirchner said staff notified them of the problem, which was affecting multiple areas on the building's top floor.SA Health staff in the Port Pirie Community Health administration building have been complaining about pigeons for the past six months. (ABC North and West SA: Viki Ntafillis)"The tests have come back and certainly show … bacteria," he said."We've now engaged another group of independent testers. They were on site late last week to actually give us further tests on the first storey."We've actually asked them to do tests on the ground floor as well."We will have to look at how bad that is, whether or not we believe it is possible to stop them gaining access and if not we'll have to come up with a longer-term plan of what we're going to do with that building and the staff."About 100 staff have been moved out of the Port Pirie Community Health administration building. (ABC North and West SA: Viki Ntafillis)He said the staff affected had been moved to other offices around the hospital campus, but no services had been disrupted.Mr Kirchner said the health network was "hoping" the ground floor would be able to be used again "in the short-term future"."We've constantly tried to eradicate the birds from the building but it doesn't seem to matter how many spikes, bits and pieces you do," he said."The birds continually find access ... and get into the ceiling space."Problem for local businessesLocal bakery owner Emily Nguyen said the pigeons were more than an eyesore for her business, having taken a financial toll. "They [have broken] my solar panels and made them very dirty," she said. "[It cost] $30,000 for new ones, $700 to cover [the roof] and clean-up was $300."People come in here, and you see a lot [of pigeons outside] ... and it doesn't look nice."When you see [the pigeons] you can't eat."Emily Nguyen says it cost her $30,000 to repair her bakery's solar panels, which were damaged by pigeons. (ABC North and West SA: Viki Ntafillis)Ms Nguyen said there were often lots of pigeons in the early morning and again in the afternoon. "They make things very dirty and they're not good for the businesses," she said."I just want the council to clean it up."Pigeons perched all over the roof and solar panels of Emily Nguyen's business. (ABC North and West SA: Viki Ntafillis)'Nothing seems to stop them'Port Pirie Regional Council Mayor Leon Stephens said the problem had been brought to council about three years ago. He said over the last two years about 22,000 pigeons had been culled in town."Every time you put a spike on a curb or a peak of a building I think the pigeons use them as back-scratchers," Mr Stephens said."Nothing seems to stop them, unfortunately."Mr Stephens said the silos were a major attraction for the pest in any town due to being a source of food. Leon Stephens is calling on the state government to help fund the eradication of pigeons in councils that have silos. (ABC News: Che Chorley)He said the state government should help by giving money to councils with silos in their towns to go towards pigeon culling efforts. "Every time I go down to an LGA meeting with the rest of the mayors there's the same issue happening throughout South Australia and it's far too big for a little council to handle," he said."When something's in plague proportion like this it becomes a strain on our services. Something has to give."Pigeons can be seen perched on rooftops and verandahs at businesses all around Port Pirie. (ABC North and West SA: Viki Ntafillis)In a statement, a state government spokesperson said wild pigeons were the responsibility of landowners."As pigeons are not declared under legislation or regulation for control in South Australia the state government does not actively facilitate the management of this species," they said."The most effective management strategies for limiting the abundance of this species on buildings and structures include actions that obstruct or prevent access to roosting — perches protected from the elements — and breeding areas."The SA Health website contains some useful information about feral pigeons, including their impact on human health and techniques that can be used to reduce or remove the population."Posted 51m ago51 minutes agoMon 5 May 2025 at 9:30pmShare optionsCopy linkFacebookX (formerly Twitter)Top StoriesSea of solar gives a clue why Australians chose batteries over nuclear Topic:Energy PolicyPhoto shows Electricians place solar panels on roofAfter millions of dollars and texts, Trumpet of Patriots fails to deliverTopic:ElectionsPhoto shows Palmer scratches his head.Greens' Adam Bandt in danger as seat of Melbourne remains on knife's edgeTopic:ElectionsPhoto shows A composite photo of a brunette woman, brown haired man with glasses, blonde woman with glasses and dark haired man.Arthur Sinodinos says Coalition's campaign looked 'ad hoc' and 'reactive'LIVEPhoto shows Arthur Sinodinos gestures as he speaks during Question Time.The timeline prosecutors allege in the mushroom murder trialTopic:ExplainerPhoto shows A woman standing in front of her car.Related storiesCountry town furious over 'pigeon palace' poo problemTopic:BirdsPhoto shows photo taken through gap from inside building shows cars and the floor covered with pigeon excrement and feathersThe pigeon fanciers uncovering hidden secrets of a clever birdTopic:AnimalsPhoto shows A king pigeon with colourful feathers in a pigeon loft.Related topicsAdelaideClareEudundaGladstoneKadinaKimbaPest ControlPests, Diseases and Control MethodsPort BroughtonPort PiriePublic HealthWallarooTop StoriesSea of solar gives a clue why Australians chose batteries over nuclear Topic:Energy PolicyPhoto shows Electricians place solar panels on roofAfter millions of dollars and texts, Trumpet of Patriots fails to deliverTopic:ElectionsGreens' Adam Bandt in danger as seat of Melbourne remains on knife's edgeTopic:ElectionsArthur Sinodinos says Coalition's campaign looked 'ad hoc' and 'reactive'Topic:ElectionsThe timeline prosecutors allege in the mushroom murder trialTopic:ExplainerJust InIllegal campers dump toilet alongside rubbish at holiday hotspotTopic:Travel and Tourism18m ago18 minutes agoMon 5 May 2025 at 10:03pmStars arrive at Met for fashion's biggest nightLIVE37m ago37 minutes agoMon 5 May 2025 at 9:43pmZhao becomes China's first world snooker champion after comeback from banTopic:Sport39m ago39 minutes agoMon 5 May 2025 at 9:42pmGruelling 303km outback run shines light on mental healthTopic:Mental Health40m ago40 minutes agoMon 5 May 2025 at 9:40pmMore Just InBack to top