Cairns fruit bats to peel off quietly and not with 'Rambo' moves
CAIRNS Mayor Bob Manning says he will not follow the lead of Charters Towers and adopt "Rambo" tactics in moving on the CBD's flying fox colony.
Council is expected tomove on the spectacled flying foxes once breeding season finishes early next year, after receiving final Federal Government approval.
Cr Manning said that would include trimming the mango and fig trees on Abbott and Aplin streets, and if necessary, using smoke, noise or other distractions.
But he ruled out using helicopters, paintball guns, lawnmowers or fireworks, all tactics employed by the Charters Towers Regional Council earlier this week.
"We're not going to do something silly and aggressive to try and get a quick fix ... We're going to be a darn sight more scientific than that," hesaid.
"We're not having the SAS coming in."
Cr Manning said council had developed their roost management plan in a "careful way" and had listened to the concerns of residents in the area.
"We've given due consideration to the flying foxes and they're getting a fairer shake out of us than anybody else," he said.
"We understand that people have strong feelings about this. We respect those feelings, but we know from where we sit that complaints and concerns have been expressed (about the colony) from a much greater number of people."
But Cr Manning remained adamant that the trees would not be chopped down.
Tree trimming is expected to costabout $40,000.
"We will establish a mobile dispersal unit, which will utilise existing staff who will be trained, vaccinated and educated in various methods of dispersal. They will be the first point of contact for resident inquiries," Cr Manning said.
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