Destruction of Lake Seppings bird hide labelled ‘wanton vandalism’ as City of Albany commits to swift action

The City of Albany has committed to “swift action” to rebuild the Lake Seppings bird hide after it was burnt down in a fire last week. The hide on the western side of the lake was reduced to a pile of ashes and scrap metal after a fire on Thursday morning that the city has labelled “vandalism”. Albany Bird Group member Shaun Welsh makes daily trips to Lake Seppings to photograph wildlife in the area. He was among the first to hear of the hide’s destruction after a friend sent him a photo. Mr Welsh said the “wanton vandalism” left him “devastated”. “Bird watching and bird photography are two of the biggest pastimes in the world,” he said. He said he regularly met tourists “from all over the world” at the lake who visited to see rare wildlife. “Now they are going to say ‘what do we do now?’,” he said. Two firefighting crews were called to the fire about 8.10am on Thursday and quickly extinguished the fire but could not save the structure, which Mr Welsh believed had been there since the late 1990s. Reserves manager Jacqui Freeman said the city was “disappointed” by the vandalism. “This act of vandalism not only undermines the beauty of our natural landscapes but also impacts the entire community’s ability to enjoy and appreciate our local environment,” she said. “The bird hide has served as a cherished spot for residents and visitors, offering a quiet spot to observe and connect with the rich diversity of wildlife in the area. “The city is committed to taking swift action to rectify this situation and plans are underway to rebuild the bird hide and restore it to its former glory as soon as possible.” The timber walkway leading to the remains of the bird hide has been taped off.