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IN RESPONSE to the article titled 'Council sees red, and greys, in battling with bat species' on March 25.
I have lived in Ipswich all my life and I am aware that flying fox colonies have been in various parts of Ipswich.
Woodend comes to mind and a recent colony at Boonah was recently dispersed.
A big assumption, as the numbers have grown over the years, is they have all relocated to Yamanto. The residents did not ask for this and have no choice in the matter. The Council says it has the welfare of the residents as their first priority.
As I sat through a council meeting in Ipswich (not Rosewood), there was mention that the Draft Flying Fox Management Plan would put the health and wellbeing of the residents above the welfare of the flying foxes.
Councillor Pisasale wants the power to do something. You would be passionate about this, if they were in your backyard.
This council is planning to pressure the State Government for funding and talked about getting legislation changed.
These things take a long time and this council has known about this issue for four years after the 2011 floods.
There is legislation in place now that gives Local Authorities the ability to take action but this council does not want to fund it, mainly because these bats are on private property.
The residents will not be paying for it either.
At the end of that council meeting, there were recommendations to make contact for assistance with funding and legislation amendments.
No recommendations to make contact with the Yamanto residents to let them know the progress on the situation. If they can't do anything, then say it.
After the last meeting with the residents in April 2014, a person associated with the council was going to assist them with getting the permits to get things moving. That did not happen.
All contact with residents ceased after that meeting as this issue was put in the "too hard basket" and no contact has been forthcoming until January this year.
ICC has the ability to stand up and put these people before anything else.
They pay their rates and deserve more than this and should never be asked to pay anymore to disperse this large colony.
They deserve to be spoken to and given the respect they deserve as Ipswich ratepayers and residents.
This issue cannot go on any longer.
They need hope that one day they will be living without the dreadful smell, and ear-piercing noise and be free of this particular colony of flying foxes.
JULIE NESS, Churchill
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These things take a long time and this council has known about this issue for four years after the 2011 floods.
There is legislation in place now that gives Local Authorities the ability to take action but this council does not want to fund it, mainly because these bats are on private property.
The residents will not be paying for it either.
At the end of that council meeting, there were recommendations to make contact for assistance with funding and legislation amendments.
No recommendations to make contact with the Yamanto residents to let them know the progress on the situation. If they can't do anything, then say it.
After the last meeting with the residents in April 2014, a person associated with the council was going to assist them with getting the permits to get things moving. That did not happen.
All contact with residents ceased after that meeting as this issue was put in the "too hard basket" and no contact has been forthcoming until January this year.
ICC has the ability to stand up and put these people before anything else.
They pay their rates and deserve more than this and should never be asked to pay anymore to disperse this large colony.
They deserve to be spoken to and given the respect they deserve as Ipswich ratepayers and residents.
This issue cannot go on any longer.
They need hope that one day they will be living without the dreadful smell, and ear-piercing noise and be free of this particular colony of flying foxes.
JULIE NESS, Churchill
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