Mayor honours flying fox commitment to community
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Eurobodalla Mayor Lindsay Brown has honoured the commitment he made to the community at Monday night’s meeting in Batemans Bay to immediately progress plans for dispersing the flying fox colony.
“On Tuesday morning I briefed my fellow councillors about the meeting and I am pleased to let the community know that all councillors are in agreement that this Council will do everything possible to attempt a dispersal this winter.
“I have written to Federal Minister for Environment Greg Hunt and he has now issued the National Interest Exemption. While this has paved the way forward in terms of the Australian Government, Council continues to work closely with the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage to address the NSW Government legislation requirements. In the short term, this means fast tracking approval to remove vegetation around the Water Gardens and the Catalina area to increase the buffer zones between the flying fox roosts and people’s homes,” the Mayor said.
“All councillors are absolutely resolute that the ratepayers of Eurobodalla will not be forced to bear the financial burden of managing this unprecedented situation. Since the flying foxes are protected by NSW and Australian government legislation, we will keep pressing for financial commitments from both levels of government to fund the actions we need to bring relief to our community. We aren’t waiting for this, however, we are moving ahead at full speed to finalise the dispersal plan and then seek approval.
“Councillors have also unanimously committed to allocating whatever Council staff resources we have available to get this dispersal plan approved and ready to start this winter.
“I want to assure the community that this Council will have done as much as we possibly can to be ready to go in winter. We will be ready to start attempting dispersal as soon as we have the approvals and finance in place.
“If the dispersal doesn't happen in winter it certainly won't be because of this Council.”
“I’d like to thank Member for Gilmore Ann Sudmalis and Member for Bega Andrew Constance for working with Council to help the communities we all serve. I look forward to their ongoing support.”