Flying Fox Committee Reports to Parliament

BY RACHEL STORER

The flying fox crisis continues. Image: theherald.com.au

Residents in the Hunter have long suffered the severe impacts caused by colonies of flying foxes.

Yesterday the Parliamentary Committee into the impact of flying foxes on urban communities tabled its report in Federal Parliament.

The inquiry was established last year by Hunter Federal MP, Joel Fitzgibbon in response to the ongoing issue of flying foxes throughout the Hunter.

The Committee put forward a number of recommendations to government including ways to address complexities associated with multiple levels of government and the confusing web of regulations and the call for more funding to aid research.

"The Committee has recommended that a working group be set up in the COAG framework and talk about how we help councils work their way through the web of dual responsibilities between the Commonwealth and the State," said Joel Fitzgibbon.

Mr Fitzgibbon says it is a balancing act to protect the endangered species and also correct the problem faced by local communities.

"The committee has done two things; it's recognised that flying foxes do play an important in our ecology and they are in decline and need protecting but it's also recognised that communities are being adversely affected", said Mr Fitzgibbon.

Mr Fitzgibbon says he hopes the government will take on board the recommendations for funding and better communication and gives local councils the tools to respond when communities come under siege.

Bats Return In Big Numbers to Maitland and Cessnock

BY IAN CROUCH

 As a federal government inquiry is about to begin into the Lower Hunter's bat problems, thousands of the troublesome creatures have returned to Maitland and Cessnock.

Hundreds of bats have converged on East Cessnock and Central Maitland  in the past couple of days.

The inquiry will look into the protected status of flying foxes and whether they should be de-listed.

Hunter MP, Joel Fitzgibbon has called for the inquiry and says affected residents need a workable solution.

"Well, I'm hoping to get everyone in the room together - those who are the scientists who have legitimate concerns about biodiversity and recommend protected species status for these bats and of course communities who are adversely affected to tease out the issues. I know there are challenges but as I've said in this 21st century, surely we have the wit to find a way through these problems," he said.

Joel Fitzgibbon

Community to Help Council Create 'New Look' Burdekin Park

BY GARY-JON LYSAGHT

Plans have begun to revitalise Burdekin Park after 40 dead and dying trees were removed because of a significant flying fox population.

Council are now looking to the community to help decide what the park’s next step should be.

“We’re going to go through a planning process where we engage with our community,” says Singleton Council General Manager Jason Linnane.

Council will seek community feedback through a number of different paths, including social media services Facebook and Instagram, as well as traditional workshops.

"We'll be looking at a range of mediums to engage with our community and make sure we get as much as possible about the views and diversity that exist around the site," Linnane says.

The community is divided, however on what the next step should be, with a number of ideas emerging.

“We are aware that there is conflicting views in the community,” Linnane says.

“There’s some that would love to see the historical trees returned to the park.  There’s other that would love to see it left more open.

“We’re going to work with our community and come up with a plan that tries to balance all those differing views.”

Council also have plans of their own, with hopes the park will move towards reflecting its historic, social and cultural importance.

The Burdekin Park Museum closed when the park became overrun by flying foxes.

Linnane also hopes the ‘new look’ park will “highlight the important historic monuments located there, such as the Historical Museum and War Memorials”.

Access to these historic monuments were restricted when Council closed the park in March, citing safety concerns from falling tree branches, as well as disease risks from the flying foxes.

Another key part of the new plans will be protecting the new Burdekin Park from the flying fox fate the old one had.

“Managing the interface between the bats and our community will be an ongoing issue for Singleton Council like it is for many other on the Eastern seaboard,” Linnane says.

“Our plans for the park will certainly take these factors into consideration.”

[Image Source: Gary-Jon Lysaght].

Environment Minister Questioned After Overlooking Hunter

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.

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.

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.