Cairns Regional Council slapped with $15,000 fine over bat tree trimming

Cairns Regional Council slapped with $15,000 fine over bat tree trimming

• Cairns Regional Council slapped with $15,000 fine over bat tree trimming

CAIRNS Regional Council has been slapped with a $15,000 fine over the trimming of bat trees in the CBD.

The Cairns Magistrates Court heard council did not properly comply with environmental and heritage laws relating to flying fox populations when it trimmed the trees on Aplin, Abbott and Lake Sts more than two years ago.

Department of Environment and Heritage Protection prosecutor Saul Holt said council’s control methods during the trimming were “inadequate”.

Council’s defence barrister Josh Trevino said the mistakes made were not a case of “deliberate disregard” but a process that wasn’t “completely complicit with the code”.

Council will also pay court costs of $1500.