Residents driven to despair by inaction

BAT CRAZY & BARKING MAD

A GOLD Coast family plagued by thousands of bats is inviting the Environment Minister Leeanne Enoch to spend a day in their shoes.

But it seems doubtful she will take up the invite, ignoring the question when responding to the Bulletin yesterday.

Coombabah’s Harlow family have had their quality of life destroyed by a thriving bat roost on the edge of their property which they say results in ear-piercing screeching and unbearable odours.

Peter Harlow is at his wits’ end after writing letters to the Gold Coast City Council since last year urging its removal.

The council maintains it has done all it can without risking prosecution.

Ms Enoch has said councils are entitled to manage roosts.

But the Department of Environment and Science has stated councils must use non-lethal methods and given bats are protected, it is an offence to “interfere” with roosts.

A new letter from the council to Mr Harlow has further frustrated him.

Council bureaucrat Tim Robson wrote on May 2 he visited the site and 6000 flying foxes were at the park, a “large increase”.

But Mr Robson said while state legislation allowed councils to manage the roost, it did not allow tree clearing.

“The city has limited capacity to undertake further action as without the ability to remove roost trees, dispersal is a high-risk option not likely to be successful.”

Mr Harlow responded by bulk emailing councillors: “This has become farcical, the bureaucratic bull, the continual blame game back and forth between local and state levels, I understand why politicians are so very much disliked.

“While lives of ratepaying residents are disrupted and impacted so profoundly by a roost well in excess of 6000 in a reserve that cannot sustain such numbers, those in their glass towers sit there and do nothing with no regard for residents whose lives are destroyed.

“Happy to invite Leeanne and would like to meet and host her.”

Ms Enoch (pictured) said the council either did not understand its authority or was misleading residents.

“Council have a range of measures available to manage this roost. This includes air guns, smoke and pruning the trees,” she said.

“If council chooses not to use the tools available to them to manage the flying foxes, they should be upfront with their community about the reasons.

“Clearing of native vegetation is a separate issue, not the jurisdiction of the Department of Environment and Science.”