Lissner Park - Flying Fox to be relocated in 2020

Charters Towers Regional Council has resolved to support a flying fox relocation program, which will be undertaken by the Department of Environment and Science, in 2020.

The decision comes after an extensive planning process and assessment for an alternate roost site.

The Department of Environment and Science (DES), the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) and Council assessed five sites to determine an ideal roost before recommending Young’s Block as the preferred location.

Mayor Liz Schmidt said the assessment considered distance from Lissner Park, the vegetation and if the area had been used before as a roost.

“We needed a site that the flying fox have used before and one that won’t take years to develop. Young’s Block is ideal as its within four kilometres (linear distance) of Lissner Park and has previously been used as a roost. We will need to undertake some enhancement of the area. This will include adding water and green grass to make it into an environment the flying fox will really like.

“The plan moving forward is to relocate the flying fox around mid-next year. Numbers will be low at this time and there won’t be any young in the trees. This will maximise our chances of success and hopefully discourage them from returning to Lissner Park.”

The relocation of the flying fox and the habitat works at Young’s Block will be undertaken by third parties which the State Government, through the Department of Environment and Science, released through a tender process.

The works and relocation will be funded by the $900K the State Government allocated to Charters Towers in 2018.

“As a Council we understand the frustrations of the community, especially those residents living around Lissner Park. We appreciate their patience, however the relocation of the flying fox is going to be a long-term project and not a knee-jerk reaction.

“We need a long-term, sustainable solution and Council will work closely with the successful tenderers, DES and CSIRO to develop a long-term management strategy for Charters Towers,” said the Mayor.

OGG 8 November 2019