BAT CRAZY & BARKING MAD
Family driven out of home and council hounded over howling dogs
NOISY pet dogs and a giant bat colony are destroying the quality of life of Gold Coasters.
An exhausted family living next to thousands of flying foxes say the stench is almost unbearable and the ear-piercing screech makes sleep impossible. Their tale of woe comes as new figures show hundreds more residents are dobbing in their neighbours’ dogs for barking.
A GOLD Coast family are being driven from home by the stench and ear-piercing noise of a huge bat colony as city and state politicians bicker about whether it can be moved.
The Harlows at Coombabah escape any chance they get on weekends and holidays, saying living with the bats is virtually unbearable.
The family have lived on Burrendong Rd for 10 years but the roost established four years ago and has grown to the point it has destroyed their quality of life.
Owner Peter Harlow said screeching at night was like nails down a blackboard and he also believed it was so big it posed a risk to nearby Coombabah State School pupils.
He has been writing to Gold Coast City Council Parks and Recreational Services since last year trying to get the bats removed.
In a recent missive, Mr Harlow explodes telling council’s natural area co-ordinator Tim Robson: “This is not personally directed at you, I have tried to stay articulate and civil through the past three or four years but the whole process is bulls---!”.
“The continual finger pointing and blame game between state and local government levels is just a cop out.
“There is a place for flying fox roosts but it is not 20 metres off the back of residential properties and a state primary school fence line.”
The Harlows and their two kids, aged 13 and nine, spent Easter in Sydney, rarely host guests and relocate to in-laws on weekends.
Opposition Member for Broadwater David Crisafulli has stepped in to try to get action, raising it in Parliament. In a letter, Mr Crisafulli last week implored Minister for the Environment Leeanne Enoch to urgently consider relocating the colony.
“The situation for residents adjacent to Chiba Park is absolutely dire,” he wrote. “The roost is home to several thousand flying foxes.
“The stench from fecal matter is overwhelming,” he wrote, adding bat poo was wrecking belongings and residents could not sleep due to incessant noise. Quality of life has been destroyed.”
Mr Crisafulli added the proximity to a school posed a “significant health risk” to 800 students.
“Residents are being held to ransom by an attitude out of George Street where quality of life for animals is worth more than people,” he said.
Gold Coast councillor Cameron Caldwell said council had undertaken “what works it can lawfully”.
“Ultimately we are constrained by a State Government that protects the species. I’m advocating strongly for changes to State legislation to enable council to take stronger action.”
Ms Enoch said: “Local governments have an as-of right authority to manage flyingfox roosts, and can manage roosts themselves without needing a permit.
“Mr Crisafulli has forgotten to mention this approach was brought in by the LNP. Is he now saying LNP got it wrong?”
A Department of Environment and Science spokesperson confirmed council had authority to manage roosts using nonlethal methods but it noted bats were protected and it was an offence to take, injure or interfere with roosts.