INGHAM is the latest North Queensland town to come under siege from a colony of flying foxes, with the bats invading a park dedicated to decorated war hero Keith Payne VC.
The colony has taken up residence at the Keith Payne Memorial Park at the Botanical Gardens, which is close to schools, businesses and a bus stop.
Mr Payne said he was saddened by the state of the park, which had no visitors during his recent visit and called for the colony to be dispersed.
“I don’t like it – it stinks… I can’t believe nothing has been done about this,” Mr Payne said.
“I’d like to see the Government come up to Ingham and have a meeting, from dawn until dusk, under the tree of my choosing.”
“The younger generation has forgotten that parks were created for people, not animals.”
He said trees which he had planted with local school children had been destroyed and he was concerned that farmers would have crops destroyed.
Hinchinbrook Chamber of Commerce President Rachael Coco said while local government was responsible for the management of the protected species, they were impeded by State Government laws that fail to empower council with effective dispersal methods.
“We don’t want to hurt the flying foxes, but we certainly don’t want them roosting in residential areas,” Ms Coco said.
“Our council needs the Queensland Government to approve dispersal techniques that actually work, because everything that the locals find offensive about the roost, including the smell, you can guarantee tourists find offensive. It’s counterproductive for a community working so hard to establish a tourism industry.”
Hinchinbrook MP Nick Dametto said immediate action needed to be taken to reclaim the park.
“We are being held to ransom by a pest that plagues out towns, city centres, parks and schools,” Mr Dametto said.
“The state government has issued health warning with the threat of humans contracting Hendra indirectly and Australian-Bat-Lyssavirus (ABLV) directly from infected bats.
“The roost, in my opinion is too close for public safety, positioned in between Ingham State Primary School and Our Lady of Lourdes.”
It comes after tens of thousands of flying foxes invaded Lissner Park in Charters Towers last November, sparking mass protests in the town.
The invasion forced the closure of two parks and the swimming pools amid concerns for health and safety.
Charters Towers Mayor Liz Schmidt said council had last week resolved to form a Flying Fox Advisory Committee (FFAC), to which she was appointed chair.
“This committee will allow us to work together to provide advice, community feedback and recommendations to council and council officers,” Cr Schmidt said.
“We can inform Council about the community’s aspirations and expectations and engage with the broader community during the development of future policies and management strategies.”
Cr Schmidt said a survey conducted last year showed residents were concerned about disease, smell, noise and facility use being hampered.