Australia's Gold Coast mayor slams city's geese for being "too fat"

Teeming with wide-eyed travelers, surfers and bikini-clad beachgoers, Australia's Gold Coast has earned itself a reputation as one of the most idyllic, sun-drenched cities in the world.

But not everything is perfect in the glamorous oceanside community.

Tom Tate, the mayor of the Gold Coast, said on Thursday that the city's goose population are "too fat!"

"Bread makes the geese fat, makes them lazy and sees them breed more as they know there is an abundance of food."

"Get them off the carbs!" Tate urged members of the public.

The harsh statements from the mayor come just one day after an announcement by the Gold Coast Council to capture and remove at least 50 geese from Waterhen Park and the surrounding Oxenford area.

In recent years, the number of geese have skyrocketed sparking some concerns from members of the community.

But in order to save local ratepayer funds and any relocation costs, Tate believes there is an easier answer.

"Bread is bad for them, it can actually kill them so the simple solution is - stop feeding them bread," he said.

"We did the same with some black swans at Robina and their numbers settled down again," he added.

But while the obese geese and their lazy lifestyle does not appear to be winning them any friends in the city council's office, some residents told local media the birds are being unfairly targeted.

"They're too fat, is that really why?" local bird-feeder Bradley said.

"Why would they have to move, there's a big pond here. Isn't that where geese are supposed to live?"

Fellow resident and keen bird-feeder Brian Davis, who walks to the park everyday also agreed.

"Some of them are a bit greedy," Davis admitted. "But they've been here as long as I can remember."

"They can't get rid of them, they're like family."