Adelaide Hills residents lose appeal after arguing Lennane Orchards’ anti-bat netting over cherry trees would ruin their views
Adelaide Hills residents – including a former mayor – attempted to stop a Montacute orchard from erecting a gigantic anti-bat net over 5500 cherry trees because they thought it would destroy their views.
Adelaide Hills
Don't miss out on the headlines from Adelaide Hills. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Concerns a net approved for a Montacute cherry farm to protect 5500 trees from bats would “adversely change the landscape” has failed to block the development.
Adelaide Hills Council approved Lennane Orchards’ request to install “flat top netting”, strung from 5m-tall steel poles, over 5.8ha of the farm in June last year.
Worried the netting would destroy views from Montacute Rd, five local residents – including former Adelaide Hills mayor William Spragg – appealed the approval in the Environment, Resources and Development Court.
They argued Montacute Rd was a scenic route, often used for cycling and car events such as the Tour Down Under and Classic Adelaide, and its views should be protected.
“Such a structure … would dramatically and adversely change the landscape,” they told the court.
However, Lennane Orchards owner David Leonard argued local bat numbers were increasing each year, and that without the netting his orchard had “no future”.
“In very recent times both the trees and fruit were experiencing an additional threat from bats,” Mr Leonard told the court.
“Damage to fruit, from all sources, is presently in the order of 40-50 per cent of the total cherry crop.”
Mr Leonard, who is vice president of the Cherry Growers Association of South Australia, said his loquat trees were once completely stripped of fruit in one night by about 40 bats.
He said netting would also protect against damage from birds and hail.
Adelaide Hills cherry growers have reported being under siege from increasing bird and bat populations in recent years.
South Australian Apple and Pear Growers Association chief executive Susie Green has previously said long-term solutions were needed to protect future crops from damage, such as a subsidy for nets.
MORE NEWS
TTG Council rejects funding bid for youth suicide support group
Plans for $30m accommodation for cancer patients could be binned
Revealed: The reasons why Burnside CEO Paul Deb was fired
Commissioner Jennifer Nolan dismissed the residents’ appeal, saying the netting warranted consent.
“The existing character of the land and locality is predominantly horticultural in nature – it will remain so if the proposed development is to proceed albeit that character, in part, will change from that presently experienced by those external to the land,” Commissioner Nolan said.
A spokesman for Lennane Orchards said the netting, which would be light on top and black on the sides, would be installed in June.