Hotel ‘complicit’ in plan Rooms used to disrupt bats’ CBD roost

A HOTEL group has been accused of supporting the dispersal of a Cairns bat colony by allowing its CBD hotel rooms to be used as elevated areas to help scatter the roost.

In early July Cairns Regional Council began the controversial removal of a 5000strong colony of endangered spectacled flying foxes after gaining federal and state government approval.

Amplified audio recordings and lights have been used to shift the colony to a new home at Severin Street in Parramatta Park.

Cairns-based conservationist Moriah Holland has set up a protest near the site of the roost on Abbott Street.

Signs blaming hotel group Crystalbrook for the dispersal have been erected in front of the Cairns Library.

“They are on the eighth floor pointing torches on the flying foxes; they are so welcome by Crystalbrook,” she said.

“They are really backing it, you would not let anyone be in your property if they are doing something you don’t support.”

A Cairns Regional Council spokesman confirmed a Crystalbrook property has been used by dispersal officers.

“To assist with deterrent activities, ecologists and council officers have used the Crystalbrook properties (with permission) as a vantage point,” he said.

The council has approval to continue daily deterrents under a permit granted in May by the federal Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment.

The spokesman said $510,000 was budgeted for the dispersal program but had blown out by about $53,000 this financial year.

“However, there will be long-term cost savings of about $20,000 each year through reduced high-pressure cleaning of the City Library building, paths and carpark areas,” he said.

Crystalbrook chief executive Geoff York declined to comment on the hotel’s involvement in the bat removal program.

A Change.org petition has tabled 50,000 signatures opposed to the bat colony’s dispersal.