CASE STUDY

Telstra Building

Symterra Pulse System – Site Assessment Report
Installation Date: 15 December 2024
Assessment Date: December 2024 - March 2025, with monitoring camera in place – pre and post-installation.
Location: Telstra Exchange, Dandenong, Melbourne
Prepared by: Certified Symterra Installer, Melbourne, Australia

1. Background

The subject site is a multi-level commercial building that had long served as a major roosting and nesting site for over 200 Silver Gulls (Chroicocephalus novaehollandiae). This ongoing avian pressure caused:

Damage to roofing and HVAC systems from droppings, carcasses, and nesting debris.
Severe Work Health & Safety (WHS) risks, particularly from aggressive gull behaviour.
A significant operational concern: HVAC contractors refused roof access due to repeated gull attacks, leading to disruption in maintenance schedules.

2. Installation Overview

To combat this infestation, three Symterra Pulse Kits were strategically installed across key congregation points. Each kit provided coverage of approximately 120–150 linear metres, and together, the system was deployed on:

Roof edges and parapets
Rooftop plant screens
Air conditioning equipment
A rooftop shipping container
Other prominent architectural ledges and surfaces

The system is powered, automated, and monitored via video surveillance for 24/7 deterrence and compliance assessment.

3. Performance Evaluation

Seagull deterrence—particularly during late nesting season—is notably difficult, with 100% exclusion rarely achievable due to their adaptability and site fidelity. However, Symterra Pulse has demonstrated exceptional deterrent performance, with key observations including:

An estimated 95%–98% reduction in Silver Gull presence
The roof area remains notably clean, quiet, and free of birds in live camera footage
Gulls rarely land, if at all, on previously problematic surfaces
No active nesting has been observed since the system was installed
Air conditioning contractors have resumed access and maintenance activities safely

4. Displacement Effects

An unintended but expected outcome is the displacement of the gull population to adjacent buildings within the vicinity. While the target site has benefited substantially, neighbouring facilities are now absorbing the pressure from the relocated birds.

5. Conclusion

The Symterra Pulse System has been highly successful in mitigating the seagull infestation at this location. The deterrence rate of 95–98% confirms the system’s efficacy even under challenging out-of-season nesting behaviours. The building is functionally restored, and the WHS concerns previously raised by contractors appear to have been resolved.