Bat splat
Bat numbers in Wallace Park are continuing to increase at an enormous rate.
Some of the animals are large and have taken to hanging over the pathway that many residents use.
The bats started to multiply and roost in their thousands a couple of years ago.
Residents do not know where they came from but they certainly arrived after human habitation and have taken over a large percentage of the wooded area in Wallace Park.
The noise they make can be heard on a 24 hour basis and is particularly disconcerting at night, to say the least, to residents surrounding Wallace Park. The noise is high pitched due to bats jostling for roosting positions on their return. Residents’ furniture, patios, cars, washing, roofs are all spattered with bat faeces as they pass in their thousands overhead and the smell is something else.
It is well documented by scientists and health professionals that there are five known bat-borne diseases, including Ross River Fever.
The current mayor was issued with copies of several scientific journals from the Queensland Department of Microbiology and the University of Queensland that substantiated this.
However, Noosa Hospital recently had a bat colony seek to establish itself in trees nearby and the health authorities were quick to disperse the bats in recognition of the public health risk to staff and patients.
The solution to the bat menace lies with council but, unfortunately, although kept well informed, the powers that be refuse to do anything about it and appear content to have residents upset or in danger of disease.
Kay Fielden,
Tewantin.
Stand up for us
I understand the council does not wish to voice their opinion in regards to marriage equality however does their resistance to join 35 other local councils in supporting marriage equality show their true colours?
My understanding is that only a signed letter by the council is needed to show their support, yet they are too busy to do this?
This is indeed a tokenistic yet important task as it shows the country that we, the community, want change. There are many people living in Noosa; young, old, gay, straight.
Why would the council not want to support its own community members in achieving equality?
Noosa residents carry a stigma of being old and conservative and there are rumours that the council is afraid of offending these residents if they were to show a united stand for equality.
Do these residents really exist?
If so, why are their views more important than other residents?
And why is it assumed that every older resident would be offended by the council helping community members to achieve equality?
It’s time to show your support, council, to your community and all of its members – especially those who are denied equal rights.
No more hiding behind rates, rubbish and ridiculous excuses.
The community and its members are your responsibility, stand up for what’s right.
Megan Morris,
Noosa Heads.
Muscles but no brains
Anyone watching the news of the accident involving those hoons at Yatala and the police putting their own lives at risk to save them, would have also seen the shirtless muscle-bound boy threaten and dare an officer to take his badge off.
It’s obvious the boy was sleep deprived after missing out on his afternoon sleep at the creche.
E. Wright,
Sunrise Beach.
Outdated prejudices
How sad that David Wilson of Noosa Waters is so busy defending what he defines as ’normal’ he fails to see the human cost of his bigotry (Not So Progressive, Noosa Today, 16 April).
Homosexuality is no more a ’lifestyle choice’ than Mr Wilson’s heterosexuality.
Children have a right to a stable home and loving adults to support them.
Study after study has determined that the gender or sexuality of parents is not an issue.
Stability is an issue and research suggests that marriage leads to longer term, more stable relationships.
If Mr Wilson’s real concern is the welfare of children he should support marriage equality.
Mr Wilson might also consider the weight of psychological research which shows his kind of narrow-minded condemnation is a key factor leading to higher rates of suicide and self-harm in gay and lesbian children.
I would rather live in a world in which love and acceptance of difference are normal; a world in which we care more about each other’s happiness and wellbeing than shoring up outdated prejudices.
Chrys Stevenson,
Mapleton.
Fair cut
Having informed readers the Federal Government has cut funding from important programs is not the answer because ultimately the cost of the community is too great and vulnerable people will fall by the wayside.
Lucy Stanton (Striking At Vulnerable, Noosa Today, 16 April) offers no suggestion as to the means by which the required funds should be raised.
(Taking a leaf out of Bill Shorten’s book, it would seem.) Ms Stanton’s concluding reference to “Labor’s proposal to get multinational companies to pay their fair share of tax” is misleading on two fronts.
Firstly, it has yet to be shown the companies concerned have acted illegally and, secondly, no action was taken by Labor when in government to establish what a “fair share of tax” would be and to ensure it was paid.
E.J. Ash.
Boreen Point.
Batty idea
In answer to Nora Lilley’s letter regarding the bats (Going Batty, Noosa Today, 16 April) I would like to point out a few pertinent points.
Firstly, Nora, the koalas you would like saved depend on the flying fox to keep the forests they need healthy.
Many of our hardwood trees are night pollinators and rather than depending on bees and insects, have evolved around the feeding habits of the flying fox.
So no flying fox, no tree and no koala.
In fact, it could be argued that the recent decimation of flying fox numbers is the reason so many species (including koalas) are disappearing.
Apart from koalas, let’s not forget the other plants and animals depending on the flying fox including the powerful owl for prey (another endangered species) and forest plants requiring the flying fox to carry their seeds.
However, you think we should get rid of these vitally important native animals because you think they smell and squawk?
I hate to disappoint you Nora but koalas have an odour and rather than squawk, they grunt and scream (like they’re being murdered).
If they were in your backyard, especially during mating season, you would no doubt find this quite unpleasant.
Unfortunately, the flying fox can’t just be moved.
They have been part of the local landscape for thousands of years and like most wild animals return to camps and breeding grounds of their ancestors for reasons including vegetation, genetic memory and water.
Don’t forget, you moved into their territory, not the other way around.
I realise ignorance breeds fear and contempt.
What I think needs to happen to fix the flying fox “problem“, apart from ensuring their habitat is protected, is the education of the humans who are failing to see their value.
The majority of people live near noisy transport, roads and other disturbances yet cope with the sounds, smell, etc because, rather than stressing, they accept it as part of life.
However, when faced with the sounds of nature they become distressed.
The local lorikeets not so long ago were also the target of a hate campaign.
As an aside, I have previously lived very close to a flying fox colony so am well aware of what it is like.
The difference was my attitude.
Kay Thornton,
Cootharaba.
