Bid to halt shifting of flying fox CBD roost

TRADITIONAL owners who consider the spectacled flying fox their totem have joined a chorus of residents urging Cairns Regional Council to abandon plans to shift a healthy colony from the CBD.

Days are numbered for a flying fox roost outside the Cairns City Library, with the council planning to start its noisy relocation program as early as Saturday next week.

Environmentalist Geoff Holland was handed a microphone at yesterday’s council meeting after delivering a petition signed by more 630-odd people opposing the dispersal program.

Mr Holland said two local Aboriginal custodian groups had signed the petition including the traditional owners of the site in question, the Gimuy Walubara Yidinji people.

“For three out of four tribes in our area, the flying fox is their totem,” he said.

“None of the tribes have been consulted in this process.

“I think council needs to look hard at the necessity to engage and consult properly with traditional owners.”

Mr Holland warned miscarriages among pregnant bats would skyrocket if the program went ahead.

“Why are we dispersing these spectacled flying foxes?” he asked.

“Because some people say they are noisy and smelly.

“The mums are already four months pregnant and six months and we will increase that abortion rate.”

The state and federal governments have deemed the process safe and granted approvals to the council.

Ratepayers have already spent about $540,000 on the process so far this financial year – more than $122,000 over budget. That figure included $338,000 on outside consultancy fees.

It is unclear how much the actual dispersal will cost as, in the interest of expedience, tenders for that work are not being called.