MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire councillors have rejected a planning application for use of land for pigeon racing, keeping, training, and breeding.
At the 27 October council meeting, councillors voted unanimously to refuse the Balnarring planning application, which included a pigeon loft.
Roger Langley submitted the application for use of the land at his holiday house in Balnarring Beach, which subsequently received 14 objections from community members.
Cr David Gill, who submitted the motion for a Notice of Refusal, said it was one of the more difficult planning application decisions.
“Sometimes there are professional opinions, and sometimes there are other opinions that come into making a decision,” said Gill.
“For me, the main consideration is what is best for our community.”
Gill said the application was proposed in an “environmentally sensitive area”.
“The application is for a hundred racing pigeons to be homed in a residential area, with small blocks and a very sensitive environmental coastal area with adjacent foreshore,” said Gill.
He also noted the influx of bird flu and warned of potential consequences.
“Allowing large numbers of racing pigeons trained daily for hours in the context of bird flu… this is new, this is unknown, and the outcomes are unknown,” said Gill.
“I think precaution is the way we should treat this.”
Gill said the pigeons will travel up to 1000km in races, which “gives another meaning to the word carrier pigeons”.
“If they did carry this disease, that would be another element that we should avoid at all costs,” said Gill.
Cr Kate Roper said she likes pigeons and thinks they’re amazing animals.
She said she believed Langley has a strong connection to this hobby and cares about his animals.
“I am a bit concerned about the welfare aspect, if it is a holiday home and he’s not a permanent resident,” said Roper.
“I also am aware of the amenity concerns of the neighbours, and while 100 pigeons cooing wouldn’t bother me in the slightest, I wouldn’t like to hear barking dogs. I understand the neighbours and that it can bother some people.”
Cr Max Patton said he agreed it was a difficult planning application to consider.
“The comments around the nature of the operation being highly professional and really focused on positive pigeon racing, I definitely support, but in this location it’s been tricky to consider,” said Patton.
Patton said the material used to formulate a decision has been focused on VCAT case law, which mainly considers inland pigeon loss.
“There’s a distinction between those inland pigeon losses, versus something which is right on the coast, particularly so close to a coastal reserve and within the Western Port Biosphere and close to French Island, and really important nesting locations,” said Patton.
“Cr Gill’s comments around bird flu are relevant consideration for us to take on board.”
An odour assessment report was prepared, and the application included a written statement of support from Mornington Racing Pigeon Club President Andrew Demidowski.
His statement said racing pigeons do not interact with other animals or birds and will not have a detrimental impact on the environment.
“The noise that can be expected from racing pigeons is a low cooing sound mainly from the cock birds and an occasional sound of wing claps when the birds fly,” said Demidowski.
“From my experience, the local wild birds make a far greater sound than the pigeons in my loft.”
In his submission, Langley said he would clean the loft daily, which Demidowski said would result in no odour problems.
The application also included a letter of support from avian veterinarian Dr Colin Walker.
His letter of support stated pigeons fit well into a suburban landscape if cleanliness and common sense are used.
“I see absolutely no problems with a racing pigeon loft at this location,” said Walker.
The applicant now has 60 days to appeal the decision to VCAT.
First published in the Southern Peninsula News – 4 November 2026
