"The geese have not been euthanised," a council spokesperson confirmed on Tuesday. "Council understands that the geese have all settled into their new homes."

Though an initial response from council promised some of the geese who were removed in early August would be returned, they have now confirmed none of the original birds will be brought back and instead three new birds were introduced to the area last week.

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The removal of the geese prompted widespread community backlash, though council has stated the geese are relocated every one to two years in line with the Wollundry Lagoon Plan of Management and were openly seeking new habitats for the birds as early as January 2020.

Council has stated the original gaggle were relocated to three properties owned by residents who participated in their expression of interest process. They are unable to reveal the location of their new homes because of privacy obligations.

"Council contacted each of the new owners to enquire if they would be interested in returning some of the geese," the spokesperson said. "All the owners have stated that they did not want to return the geese which were now enjoying their new surrounds."

Members of the community remains dissatisfied with the handling of the matter by council however, says Dr Sam Bowker who has lived nearby the Lagoon for almost ten years.

Dr Bowker is part of a group of community members concerned for the welfare of the birds and unhappy with the "cruel" removal of the birds from their natural habitat.

"To me, it is the fact that this has been their home for longer than anyone else's home,' he said. "That's what I care about - the geese having a right to be there."

He said while they understand the need to keep the population of geese under control, he and fellow neighbours object to council's decision to remove the entire population of birds, bar one who escaped, with no community consultation.

"We felt the heavy handed attitude of the geese removal was excessive on the council's part," he said. "The general attitude in this area is that people feel council was cack-handed in the matter. If they had taken three, four or even seven geese, no one would have noticed and we wouldn't have kicked up the stink we have."

Dr Bowker said they have recently discovered the single goose who escaped the removal is sitting on a nest of eggs.

Council has reiterated the importance of the community not hand-feeding the geese going forward with the new population.

"Council has previously identified that the hand-feeding of the geese has caused them to develop an illness associated with inappropriate and excessive amounts of food," a spokesperson said. "Council is pleading with the community to be mindful of this issue and refrain from hand feeding the new geese."

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