But after extensive backlash was received from the public, Wagga City Council announced in a statement on Friday that some of the geese that were removed from the location, are now returning.

"A number of the geese that were very recently re-homed from the Wollundry Lagoon will be returned due to extensive public feedback," the statement said.

"Wagga Wagga City Council senior staff made the decision to return some of the waterfowl to the lagoon and will commence a review of the management of the animals in consultation with relevant stakeholders.

"An informative campaign about the inappropriate types, and excessive amount, of food being fed to the geese on a regular basis, which is detrimental to their overall health, will also be undertaken."

IN OTHER NEWS:

Reports were that workers turned up last Wednesday morning at the location dressed in plain clothes in order to not spook the geese.

The geese were then subsequently caught in nets and moved to an unknown location.

This left resident Josh Radley outraged, as the community was not alerted.

"These geese have been in the area for decades that I am aware of," he said.

"There's a large community that goes out there and feeds them for a number of reasons. I go out there and feed them for mindfulness and I am sure a lot of other people do as well.

"At not one stage were members of the community engaged to discuss what impact this would have."

The council statement acknowledged that every one to two years, staff relocate geese from the area, following an Expressions Of Interest (EOI) process to find adequate habitats for the birds.

This is in line with the Wollundry Lagoon Plan of Management.

"While some of the birds will return to the lagoon, the remaining geese have been relocated to the successful applicants from this most recent EOI and will remain in this safer environment," the statement said.

"Council assures the public that the welfare of the geese is its primary concern."

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