Brimbank could have its snake catching service back before the end of the year.
The council has said it will review its decision to dump the snake removal service when it starts preparing its 2017-18 budget, about two years after the service was axed due to “budget pressures”.
City development director Stuart Menzies said one of the problems of the service was that snakes are often not to be found once a snake catcher has been dispatched.
“Or in some instances, it was a lizard that posed no danger,” Mr Menzies said.
The former service was carried out by a licensed snake controller and cost the council about $40,000 each year.
Snake catcher Stewy Gatt, who runs his own business and is also employed in-house by Wyndham and Hobsons Bay councils, said he’s been called to relocate about 15 snakes in Brimbank within the past fortnight alone.
He said most call-outs were to Sunshine, St Albans, Deer Park and Caroline Springs and involved eastern brown snakes and tiger snakes, two of the most venomous species in the world.
Sunshine North resident Peter Thomson has called on the council to “at least” reinstate the council’s snake catching service for pensioners.
“Since the position of snake catcher has been finished, there have been so many problems of people having snakes either in their homes or on their premises,” Mr Thomson said.
“They now have to call wildlife officers, which incurs a cost.
“We have so many deadly snakes in the area, I worry that savings are being put ahead of people’s lives and safety,” he said.
