Flying fox relocation delayed

By Shona Kervinen

The proposed relocation of Sydney’s Royal Botanic Gardens flying-fox colony has been postponed.

Approved by Environmental Minister Peter Garrett in May, the proposed plan was to use loud industrial noises to encourage the 22,000 flying fox colony to relocate away from the Royal Botanic Gardens.

The Botanic Gardens Trust submitted a 500 page proposal for the relocation, outlining that the flying-foxes were killing significant trees and plants.

Last Tuesday the Botanic Gardens Trust released a statement saying that their proposed relocation of the flying-fox colony will be postponed until next year.

Botanic Gardens Trust Executive Director Dr Tim Entwisle said that it has been postponed until May-July 2011 due to the inability to tag enough flying foxes and complete the follow up action within the allowed time frame.

“The delay is regrettable in that more historic trees will suffer, but it will allow the Trust to assess the results of its research into the dynamics and composition of the camp in the Royal Botanic Gardens, and that of the wider population across Sydney and NSW,” Dr Entwisle said.

Liberal Councillor Shayne Mallard, who has met with the Royal Botanic Gardens Trust, believes that the relocation of the flying foxes needs to be fought by facts, not emotions.

“We need to look at all the facts and scientific information, we need to understand that the flying foxes are a protected species,” he said.

“We must be very careful of them; they are killing trees in the Royal Botanic Gardens that are scientific horticultural heritage of our nation.”

Last Tuesday’s announcement followed last Monday night’s Council debate regarding the relocation program.

Greens Councillor Irene Doutney brought to Council a motion that the Royal Botanic Gardens shouldn’t automatically remove any flying fox colonies that try to set themselves up in the city parks and gardens, without seeking scientific advice.

“The motion was slightly amended, but was passed by a majority of the councillors, there were two that voted against it, but it has gone through,” she said.

Councillor Doutney said that she was very pleased to hear about the postponement and hopes that the next year will enable them to get more information and talk to the Royal Botanic Gardens about forward planning to try and save the colony.

“We are hoping that we now have another year’s grace to try and do more to save the flying foxes from what was a very insecure and dodgy future,” she said.