Opinion: Building new vertical school next to roosting site batsh-- crazy

The Brisbane site chosen for Queensland’s first vertical state primary school is next to a major bat colony, writes Des Houghton.

It was like a scene from a horror movie with dead bats mysteriously dropping from the sky. They landed on a Brisbane park where the State Government has foolishly decided to build Queensland’s first vertical state primary school for 900 students.

The photos were sent to me by a doctor, who says the decision to build the school beside a major bat colony next to Toowong Creek at Perrin Park in Toowong was, frankly, batsh-- crazy. I agree.

Biosecurity Queensland has confirmed that bat colonies in Queensland carry the lyssavirus, a deadly virus in the same family as rabies.

And there are increasing reports of medical emergencies, especially at the Gold Coast, where 10 people were treated for bat scratches and bites in the past three weeks alone.

A scratch or bite from a bat can be a death sentence unless the victim is treated swiftly.

Right now in Toowong, in Brisbane’s inner west, the bats live in relative harmony with their human neighbours, but experts warn the four-storey school would be an unwelcome obstacle in their flight path.

I think it is inevitable that more bats will drop from the sky if the school goes up.

I am on the side of the bats, and I don’t think their colony should be disturbed by a four-storey building.

I was delighted to see a wonderful letter from Julie Lloyd of Brisbane’s Chelmer defending the bats, which was attached to a petition to Parliament calling for the project to be halted.

“Endangered native wildlife will face irreversible impacts from the state government’s ill-conceived plan to build a new primary school alongside the colony of federally threatened grey-headed flying fox bats,” Lloyd wrote.

Bats at Perrin Park, Toowong, on the site of proposed vertical state school. Picture: Des Houghton

“To build a primary school next to a bat colony, with our current knowledge, is negligent and reckless.

“We must save our grey-headed flying foxes.

“Grey-headed flying foxes are integral to a healthy functioning environment, being vital to the pollination of plant life and seed dispersal, supporting animal and plant biodiversity ensuring a healthy ecosystem.

“The indigenous wildlife relies on this critical wildlife corridor, connecting Mt Coot-tha State Forest to the Brisbane River, for roosting, dispersal, and raising their offspring.

“Negative impacts from construction, and ongoing light and noise pollution once the building is in operation will cause bats to become highly stressed, in turn this can cause the flying foxes to become sick.

“The Australian lyssavirus bat virus normally poses a very minimal risk to humans if the colony is healthy.

“However, the state government is unnecessarily causing a health risk by recklessly placing schoolchildren right next to the colony.’’

There is another good reason not to build on the site.

It floods regularly, causing raw sewage from a nearby tank to spill on to the park.

Bat Conservation and Rescue zoologist Mel Brennan wants the project abandoned.

“We are opposed to it and have highlighted our concerns,” she said.

The Education Department didn’t have the courtesy to reply.

Brennan said the vibrations and noise during construction would cruelly disturb the colony.

Her warning: Don’t touch bats. Don’t attempt to rescue them even if they appear wounded. Call the bat rescue hotlines 0447 222 889 or 0488 228134.

Bat rescue members have been immunised against lyssavirus.