Noise, filth and stench force council to buy back homes – realestate.com.au

Residents bombarded by daily screams, filth and a choking stench may finally get relief as an Australian council approves a plan that could lead to a dramatic government buyback of homes.

The shock plan would force the government to consider a radical overhaul of how protected species are treated if their behavior becomes unviable – or dangerous – to humans.

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A large Flying Fox colony that has taken over a street in Blackbutt.

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Gympie Mayor Glen Hartwig has set the ball rolling on changing the way protected species areas are tackled at a local level.

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Gympie Regional Council Mayor Glen Hartwig put forward the five-part proposal, which comes after years of residents being affected by a thriving flying fox colony that has virtually taken over the area.

In a statement, he said they had done everything from deterrents such as specialized sprinklers to “gently encourage flying foxes to move to less sensitive areas within the roost” to retrofitting buildings to reduce stench and noise from bats, cleaning and equipment, protective coverings for outdoor areas and tree management on private properties – none of which has made a dent in the daily misery for locals.

“I have visited residents living close to the roost on a number of occasions and have seen first-hand how difficult it can be to live with the constant noise, smell and disturbance that comes with a large colony of flying foxes.”

Mr Hartwig told Yahoo News Australia: “The droppings the bats leave behind make it impossible for them to open their windows and doors. They can’t have their friends and family visit, so they feel very isolated. And the constant noise has a significant impact on their mental health.”

Bats that have moved into the Gympie Creek area. Photo: Craig Wahurst/The Gympie Times

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It gives councils “by operation of law: the power to manage flying fox enclosures in urban areas, strictly non-lethal and according to a strict environmentally sustainable code of practice, and can apply for a management permit

The Gympie Flying Fox roosts at Commissioner’s Gully.

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Mr Hartwig said residents “continue to face significant impacts on a daily basis”, with the Mayor putting in place a coordinated five-step plan across all levels of government to tackle the situation, which requires not only council action but also a reconsideration by all levels of government simultaneously.

Native bats are a protected species under the state’s Nature Conservation Act 1992, with the Queensland Government stating: “It is an offense to kill, injure or disturb a bat or its roost and may be subject to significant penalties”.

“This case highlights the urgent need for higher levels of government to reform legislation so that people’s welfare and livelihoods are prioritized over flying foxes, a key part of what the council wants to include in the proposed new plan.”

His five-part Commissioners Gully Flying-Fox Roost Management and Dispersal Plan, which was adopted by council on October 29, includes requests for federal and state government funding to cover the costs of vegetation management and dispersal, extensive vegetation management and flying fox dispersal activities, state and federal legislative changes to reconsider the boundaries of flying fox management, broader community engagement on the issue and possibly paying residents to move through a massive buyback if governments refuse to touch the rest stop.

“We strive for results that are environmentally responsible, financially realistic and, above all, responsive to the needs of residents who have been looking for a solution for many years,” said Cr. Hartwig.

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