Council’s bat plan doomed
A SCIENTIST claims Cairns Regional Council’s plan to disperse flying foxes from the city centre is doomed to fail and will be a waste of ratepayers’ money.
Cairns ecologist Dr Martin Cohen, who is the chairman of the council’s flying fox advisory committee, said dispersing the City Library colony would only result in the bats temporarily relocating elsewhere.
The council is expected to complete construction on its flying fox care and release enclosure at Arthur Strike Park, Edmonton, by week’s end.
It hopes the flying foxes from the CBD, which are to be dispersed at a later date, will be attracted to baby bats in the enclosure.
An application has been put for the proposed dispersal of the library colony to the Federal Government.
Dr Cohen said most members of the advisory committee were against the dispersal plan.
“The council is saying it’s in the flying foxes’ best interests, and it’s the best thing for the bats. But it’s not,” he said.
“No one knows where they will disperse to. No dispersal has been completely successful. It costs a hell of a lot – we’re talking in the millions.”
A council spokeswoman said the council consulted with the flying fox advisory committee (FFAC) on the proposal library roost relocation, before making an application for broad dispersal of the roost.
“We understand that the decision is not supported by some members of the FFAC, but that does not mean their input is not genuinely valued and considered,” she said.
“Council has a responsibility to make decisions in the best interest of the community as a whole and based on all available information.” A PEDESTRIAN crossing that vanished from Holloways Beach’s main drag has returned.
And this time it might be bringing with it a speed limit reduction along Oleander St.
Cairns Regional Council is planning on dropping the speed limit along the residential stretch, starting near Canna St, from 60km/h 50km/h.
It follows the reinstatement of the zebra crossing near Hickory St, after a council audit earlier this year found the crossing did not meet the criteria for a pedestrian crossing, as it was not used by a number of people over a set period of time, and it was removed.
Division 8 councillor Jessie Richardson said that with the to return of the crossing, under Australian standards, speed limits on the approach should be 50km/h or lower.
Cr Richardson said the council had asked Holloways residents for feedback about changing the speed limit.
“It’s really important to protect the community,” she said.
“People come off the highway, and forget they’re in an area with a lot of children.”