Tuesday, 16 May 2023

 Gaelle BROAD (Northern Victoria) (13:41): (162) My question is to the Minister for Environment regarding the bat population in Rosalind Park, Bendigo. Can the minister please explain what the government is doing to manage this issue? Rosalind Park is the jewel in the crown of Bendigo’s CBD and is being badly damaged by bats. The destructive colony of grey-headed flying foxes has been an issue for years, and it is getting worse. The bats fly over the park, they excrete everywhere, they are extremely noisy and the park smells. Important historic trees have been damaged. As reported in the BendigoAdvertiser, local residents are now avoiding the park. Community events like the Anzac Day dawn service were impacted, and so too are 1800 students who attend Bendigo Senior Secondary College. Local businesses and real estate values have suffered. It is an ongoing expense for council to monitor the situation, and council workers have increased their cleaning regime as the bat numbers have risen. I understand that bats are a protected species, but they do need to be managed.