BY GARY LYSAGHT
Hunter MP Joel Fitzgibbon has slammed Environment minister Greg Hunt for providing assistance to Eurobodalla Council on the State’s south coast with their flying fox infestation.
Minister Hunt has been accused of largely ignoring the same calls from the Hunter, with Fitzgibbon saying it’s unfair its residents have been left out.
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| Flying foxes have destroyed the trees of Burdekin Park. |
“The minister must extend the same consideration to Hunter Councils as he has to Eurobodalla.
“The problem goes as far up as Muswellbrook. We need assistance here too and the minister shouldn't be focussing just on those regions where he has a local sitting Liberal member.”
Fitzgibbon has been lobbying for assistance from the minister to help ease the significant problem of flying foxes facing the Hunter.
Eurobodella Council has invested $100 000 in their plan, which is said to have led to minister Hunt providing assistance.
“The inability of local Councils to invest large amounts of money in a strategy document should not be a barrier to government assistance,” Fitzgibbon said.
Fitzgibbon has called on the minister to provide “the same consideration and courtesy’s to local communities here in the Hunter”.
Singleton’s Burdekin Park is one of the hardest hit parts of the Hunter by flying foxes, with parts of Blackalls Park and Cessnock also being effected.
Eurobodella is located in the Federal Division of Eden-Monaro, which covers much of the region surrounding the ACT and the Victorian boarder.
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| Eden-Monaro - held by Liberal MP Peter Hendy. |
The seat has been held by the Liberal Party since 2013, and is known to flip-flop between the two parties, never having an MP that isn't in government.
Fitzgibbon is expected to speak at the Raymond Terrace Community Bat Forum on Thursday evening, in an effort to address increasing concerns over the bat infestation.
