On the lookout: Colonial Golf Club owner Paul Jones and resident cockatoo four-month-old Charlie keep a constant lookout for wandering emus, including frequent visitor Mango, who hasn't been seen for a week. Picture: Gary Warrick
COLONIAL Golf Club owner Paul Jones doesn't mind kangaroos and emus making themselves at home on his newly restored club grounds in Werrington.
In fact, he encourages it.
"We want to conserve wildlife and create a sanctuary," he said.
"Animals would have access to permanent waterways and people will be able to see them."
Mr Jones spoke at Monday night's Penrith Council meeting, when Greens councillor Michelle Tormey called for a report on the recent escape of emus from the former ADI site.
Lend Lease, which manages the site, has been working with National Parks & Wildlife Service to return the emus, which continue to escape.
Mr Jones welcomes emus on his golf course but is concerned for their safety.
"They often walk across the road," he said. "There have been a few near misses. People stop to take photos and because the emus' natural instinct is to run away, it pushes them onto the road."
He suggests soundproof fencing between the former ADI site and the land owned by the Department of Planning, where emus and kangaroos can wander as they please without threatening traffic.
An emu Mr Jones has named Mango has been a regular visitor to the golf course.
A male emu had accompanied her but died from stress after being recaptured and returned to the ADI site.
"She's been coming and going each day for some time," Mr Jones said.
"She knows where to find food and comes up to the shop. She's very placid and isn't shy with the customers."
Mr Jones has 60 kangaroos which stay in the back paddock, where most are from their natural habitat and haven't been tagged or sterilised.
"They know when we're closing, which is when they come onto the fairways," he said.
Mr Jones had this plea for motorists:
"By all means, slow down and have a look but keep in mind they're wild animals.
"They are intelligent but if they're surrounded by roads and suburbia, they will get hit."
What do you think of Mr Jones' ideas? Comment at penrithstar.com.au.