Microbats plan to lure tourists
A bold idea to home millions of microbats in the new Barron River Bridge could become the region’s newest and most unique tourist attraction.
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A bold idea to home millions of microbats in the new Barron River Bridge could become the region’s newest and most unique tourist attraction.
Bat-friendly designs with slats or designated nooks have been proposed to provide habitat for the region’s 35 flying mammal species in a hope to recreate a world-famous spectacle in the United States.
Cairns Regional Council Jabiru volunteer Denis Moeser has spent years building and installing nest boxes for gliders, microbats, owls and possums in Cattana Wetlands.
He said he believed small, inexpensive design inclusions could unlock huge potential for the region.
“The rub-off effect to the community would be extraordinary,” Mr Moeser said.
“Where this has been done, it has become the place’s largest tourist attraction ... people come from all over to see it.
“And it would save millions for farmers in lost crops. They (microbats) can eat 40 per cent of their body weight in mosquitoes each night.”
The proposal would mirror the success of Congress Bridge in Austin, Texas, where concrete slats have become an ideal habitat for 1.5 million microbats that live underneath.
The daily spectacle has become the region’s largest tourist attraction, bringing in about $30 million dollars each year and about 140,000 visitors.
Paronella Park co-owner Mark Evans has successfully grown a microbat colony from about 300 to a few thousand since taking ownership.
Mr Evans said people were fascinated by the animals, which had become a hidden gem and natural pest controller for the popular location.
“It’s definitely a hidden surprise and we probably haven’t taken full advantage of it ... when I tell people about it, the interest level is huge,” he said.
“It’s absolutely the most wonderful natural controller of mosquitoes.
“People go in without repellent on and come out two hours later and say, ‘That’s amazing, there was not a mosquito down there’ ... there’s no reason why this can’t happen across the whole Cairns region.”
Design planning for the new bridge is expected to start in early 2026, with construction to begin in 2028.
A Transport and Main Roads Department spokeswoman would not confirm if bats would be considered in the bridge’s design, but said environmental studies were underway.
“Pre-construction work has commenced on the Kennedy Highway (Cairns to Mareeba), Barron River Bridge (Kuranda) replacement project,” the spokeswoman said.
“Current activities include geotechnical investigations and environmental and cultural heritage studies.
“Environmental requirements, including those related to native wildlife and habitat, are considered at all stages of the project.”
Assistant Tourism Minister and Barron River MP, Bree James did not make clear whether she supported the proposal but said any ecotourism idea would require careful planning.
“Any wildlife tourism initiative would need careful consideration of environmental impacts, community benefits, and how it fits with our existing tourism strategy and impacts State infrastructure,” she said.
Mr Moeser believed bat designs would cost very little but they needed to be included from the beginning.
“If you do this from the start it shouldn’t cost anything extra,” he said.
“They will come. It’s just a matter of time... build it and they will come.”
Originally published as Microbats plan to lure tourists
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