BAT TREES INCLUDED

Council set to vote on CBD resort plan to upgrade landscaping

A CBD resort plans to significantly update its landscaping to enhance its tropical appeal but it will mean the removal of 13 trees destroying the homes of hundreds of flying floxes. Cairns Regional Council is expected to sign off on the Novotel Cairns Oasis Resort plan today but warns state and federal approvals will still be required. Resort general manager John Armstrong said a consultant would be on site during the process.

regional councillors are expected to approve the cutting down of 13 trees around a CBD resort today but conservationists fear the decision could destroy the homes of hundreds of flying foxes.

Councillors will vote on a development application from Novotel Cairns Oasis Resort to remove 13 “significant” trees from the property’s surroundings, including along Abbott and Lake streets.

A council report says that it was “considered reasonable” to approve the operational works application for the proposed action.

However it says state and federal approvals would still be required to be submitted to the council by the proponent to support the application.

Novotel wants to upgrade its tropical image and street presentation by undertaking major landscaping, including refurbishing vegetation – some of which was planted in the 1990s and has since matured.

“The reasoning put forward is that the trees have grown beyond their amenity and present poor vigour and vitality and are incorrectly located or suited for the purpose,” the council report says.

“The established large trees are detracting from the Novotel resort appeal and from the Cairns city streetscape.”

About 30 significant trees within the property are to be retained as part of the landscaping process.

More than 900 plants are scheduled for planting within the Lake and Abbott streets frontage of the property, including 10 native and tropical significant trees and three palms.

Novotel Cairns Oasis Resort general manager John Armstrong said all relevant applications had been lodged with local, state and federal governments.

“The safety of our guests, the local environment and the spectacled flying fox is of the utmost importance,” he said.

“If approved, the tree lopping will take place from May to October when the spectacled flying foxes are not roosting.

“Cairns Regional Council will be notified before works commence and an authorised consultant will be on site for the duration of the process.”

Maree Treadwell-Kerr, from newly formed group the Bats and Trees Society of Cairns, said the lopping could displace much of the resident flying fox population with the bats shifting themselves to nearby vegetation.

“The flying foxes are usually in every tree (around Novotel),” she said.