A new strategy by the Downtown Orillia Management Board (DMB) could give new - and loud - meaning to the term ‘booming economy.’
Earlier this week, Orillia councillors granted an exemption to the municipal noise bylaw to allow the DMB to employ a bird scaring noise cannon to frighten off pesky seagulls.
The cannon would be shot off “not more than” once every two hours between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. to deter seagulls from nesting in the downtown area.
Coun. Jay Fallis said he fears the cannon will result “in some really angry people.” He said using the loud device has proven “quite controversial” in the Niagara region.
He tried to get council to postpone making a decision so that other options could be further investigated.
However, only Coun. Mason Ainsworth supported the deferral.
Coun. Ralph Cipolla, who has been a downtown merchant for 49 years, said multiple strategies have been used over the years to try to combat the seagull scourge.
He said the cannon was employed a few years ago “and it worked well.” He said the DMB then opted to shift gears and used a hawk to try to dissuade the seagulls from flocking to the downtown core.
Cipolla said that strategy is more expensive - a handler is needed - and he said “some people were scared of the hawk and didn’t want” to go downtown because of it.
Coun. Ted Emond noted the DMB’s letter to council said the merchants group would closely monitor the situation to see how it worked.
“I’m quite comfortable” with the proposal, said Emond. “Let’s try it out. If we get complaints, staff can do what they do” but any future action should “be based on evidence rather than speculation.”
In its letter to council, the DMB said it was imperative to start using the cannon as soon as possible.
“Preventing the seagulls from nesting downtown is not only good for business by preventing mess and damage to buildings, it is also safer for the baby seagulls who often do not survive falling off of the two- to four-storey buildings while attempting to learn to fly,” notes a letter from the DMB to council.
The DMB will continue to use “squawkers and visual deterrents” in addition to the “noise/loud bang” as a deterrent.
“The bird scaring noise cannon was deemed the best option, as they are used successfully in the Niagara Region by vineyards to protect their crops,” notes the letter to council.
The noise cannon emits a loud bang similar to that of a firework but is much safer, said the letter.
“The advantage to the noise cannon is the lack of flame, and therefore the risk associated with fire decreases significantly compared to the use of a ‘banger’ firework,” notes the letter.
“The unit can be set up with a timer on a roof with safe indoor access, eliminating the risk to our staff using a ladder.”
The DMB says the cannon would only be used as necessary.
“We will also be taking into account the timing of the coming and going of the Chimney swifts at the Orillia Opera House as to not disturb their habits,” notes the letter.
DMB staff consulted with both the Orillia Fire Department and the city’s Legislative Services Department about the noise cannon.
The noise cannon will not be used between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m., as per the city’s noise bylaw. However there is a chance the sound could carry to a quiet zone, such as the hospital, and that’s why the DMB required the exemption.
