Bat colony causes Gympie council to consider property buyback scheme

ABC NEWS (Australia)

Flying foxes are wreaking havoc and tormenting residents in Gympie. The local council has floated an extraordinary plan to buyback affected homes near the growing colony but it needs state and federal support.

Transcript

00:00In the heart of Gympie, flying foxes have taken over.

00:08The hospital is right behind us, which has got to be a health risk.

00:13Residents living near Commissioner's Gully are sick of the noise, smell and mess.

00:18The bat droppings and their impact on our trees,

00:21because when they're hanging off the trees they actually weaken them and they start collapsing.

00:26While the protected species plays a critically important role in our ecosystems,

00:31the council says the local colony is getting out of hand.

00:35Residents have been putting up with this for a very long time.

00:37All dispersal attempts have had little impact.

00:40Residents, you know, they're trapped in their homes,

00:43they can't invite their friends or family over,

00:45they can't have their grandkids play out in their yard.

00:47In a drastic move, the mayor's calling on state and federal governments

00:51to fund a buyback scheme for affected properties.

00:54You need to buy out these homes, they are worthless.

00:57No one would go and purchase a home and have bad excrement, a noise, 24-7.

01:02State and federal governments say they are providing additional support

01:05to councils dealing with flying fox issues,

01:07but both declined to say whether they would fund a property buyback scheme.

01:11Our preference is not to see these sort of buybacks in circumstances.

01:16I hadn't heard flying foxes as one of those circumstances.

01:18For now, the battle continues.

01:24I'll see you again soon.

01:26I'll see you soon.

01:27I'll see you soon.

01:28I'll see you soon.

01:29I'm watching you soon.

01:30I'm hoping you find out the best etc.

01:33I'm hoping you'd come back in myESS and this is not even when you are on a train.

01:34In a minute, the first time I spoke, what you're going to do?

01:36I'm hoping you'll be happy about that.

01:37You'll be happy about this.

01:38Looks hard to see you sometimes.

01:39You'll be happy about this.

01:40Be quiet.

01:42You'll be happy about this.

01:43I'm hoping you'll be happy about these things.

01:44We have a little bit,

01:47you know,

01:48you're really happy about this.

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