TAKING FLIGHT: Tamworth MP Kevin Anderson has called for some huge changes around flying fox management in Tamworth. Photo: Peter Hardin
TAMWORTH MP Kevin Anderson says flying foxes should be culled when their populations become too big.
The town’s swollen flying fox popualtion has hit crisis point, according to Tamworth Regional Council who now applying pressure on the state government to come up with a solution.
Mr Anderson has called for an investigation into the endangered status of flying foxes.
“What we need to do is look at the category in which flying foxes sit in the endangered species space,” he told The Leader.
“I’d like to see a benchmark put in when the number of bats reaches a certain number, in terms of population, they should be able to be culled or the numbers should be able to be reduced.”
Mr Anderson said the bats were causing “significant destruction”, while also bringing “significant discomfort” for affected residents.
However, he said a statewide push would be needed to bring about some action.
“I would encourage every member of parliament that has a concern with flying foxes to step up to the plate and look at coming up with unified approach to controlling these bats,” he said.
Tamworth councillor Russell Webb said it was time to start “pushing a bit harder” on the matter given that local government’s hands were majorly tied in terms of taking action.
Look at what’s happening, it’s not working because we are so constrained.- Russell Webb on council's bat management plan
“It’s happened before and it will happen again unless we get a bit stronger on this,” Cr Webb said of the bat influx.
He said the council’s management plan wasn’t working.
“Look at what’s happening, it’s not working because we are so constrained,” Cr Webb said.
“You can have a management plan for anything, but it’s not going to work if it doesn’t give the flexibility.
Cr Webb has argued previously the flying foxes should be managed by state government, but cooperation from all levels of government would be needed.
“It’s federal legislation administered by the state government,” he said.
Juanita Wilson wants to see council take its plight to the Local Government NSW conference in December.
She called for a motion to be taken to conference seeking support for the bats to be managed by the state government.
Tamworth councillor Russell Webb said it was time to start “pushing a bit harder” on the matter given that local government’s hands were majorly tied in terms of taking action.
Look at what’s happening, it’s not working because we are so constrained.- Russell Webb on council's bat management plan
“It’s happened before and it will happen again unless we get a bit stronger on this,” Cr Webb said of the bat influx.
He said the council’s management plan wasn’t working.
“Look at what’s happening, it’s not working because we are so constrained,” Cr Webb said.
“You can have a management plan for anything, but it’s not going to work if it doesn’t give the flexibility.
Cr Webb has argued previously the flying foxes should be managed by state government, but cooperation from all levels of government would be needed.
“It’s federal legislation administered by the state government,” he said.
Juanita Wilson wants to see council take its plight to the Local Government NSW conference in December.
She called for a motion to be taken to conference seeking support for the bats to be managed by the state government.
COLLISION COURSE: A plane carrying then-Acting Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce was hit by a bat coming into to Tamworth last week.
TAMWORTH’S flying fox influx was taken indirectly to the highest political office in the land.
New England MP Barnaby Joyce took the reins as Acting Prime Minister last week and he inadvertently took his electorate’s flying fox issue head on.
Flying into Tamworth last Wednesday night, Mr Joyce’s plane was intercepted by a bat, a spokesman for the Deputy Prime Minister confirmed to The Leader.
The bat hit the plane, but didn’t cause any damage to the Acting PM’s special purpose aircraft, however he was delayed by 20 to 30 minutes.
It comes as Tamworth councillors expressed their frustration over the flying fox management plan not working.
Tamworth MP Kevin Anderson told The Leader the bats had caused significant damage and distress and called for more drastic measures.
Mr Anderson said an investigation into the native mammals’ endangered status was needed and called for culling to be an option when populations got too large.
WE MUST tackle the “potential time bomb” that is the flying fox influx in Tamworth to protect the region’s multi-million-dollar equine industry, a local man has said.
Sandy Allan has called for action to address the city’s unprecedented flying fox population – which has doubled to 100,000 over the last fortnight – to mitigate the risk of horses contracting the deadly Hendra virus.
While Mr Allan calls for tighter measures to deal with the virus-carrying pests, industry experts warn we should not be alarmist. It comes as Tamworth Regional Council (TRC) will create a buffer zone by lopping trees from today.
“Whilst Hendra virus has – to date – not made an appearance in the TRC area, this does not imply that it cannot and will not emerge,” Mr Allan said in a letter to the editor.
“The continuing presence of flying foxes in our midst is akin to a potential time bomb.”
Veterinarian Dr Jen Clulow, of Tamworth Equine Vet Centre, said we should be “alert but not alarmed” by the influx of flying foxes, but she reassured the likelihood of a Hendra outbreak in the region was minimal.
“There is a probability that Hendra virus could be brought into this particular area and although we haven’t had any outbreaks, it’s important that this does not imply it cannot or will not emerge at some point in the future,” Dr Clulow said.
CAUTIOUS: Equine vet Dr Jen Clulow says we should be cautious about the flying fox influx, but the likelihood of Hendra being detected is minimal. Photo: Peter Hardin
“It would be potentially disastrous for the horse industry here in Tamworth.”
Dr Clulow said it was at the owner’s discretion about whether to vaccinate a horse against Hendra, and to consider the risks of horses that are going off the property or competing away against other potentially-unvaccinated horses.
AELEC general manager Mike Rowland shut down any fears of Hendra being detected at the venue.
“In regards to equine events we hold at AELEC, event organisers need to meet the requirements of the NSW DPI,” he said. “Trees at our venue do not attract bats and the manner in which horses are kept on site would not see a horse contract the virus at our venue.”
NCHA GM Craig Young said their events adhered to the DPI industry standards.
The story Industry grounds Hendra concerns first appeared on The Northern Daily Leader.
RELATED STORIES:
- Tamworth business counts the cost with huge flying fox influx
- Tamworth flying fox population swells to 100,000
- A newly formed group has called for an investigation into whether flying foxes are still endangered
- Council has started removing non-native trees along the Peel River in a bid to help those affected by the town’s flying fox population.
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