Cairns flying fox relocation budget blowout costs ratepayers $1m

A massive flying fox relocation budget blowout has cost ratepayers an astonishing amount of money – and the costs are still piling up.

A MASSIVE flying fox relocation budget blowout has cost ratepayers an astonishing amount of money – and the costs are still piling up.

A new Cairns Regional Council report shows bat dispersal efforts have gone almost $1 million and three-times over budget so far.

The massive financial overshot has been largely spent on consultants, with the report admitting council officers “were not aware of the extent of required activities and/or the duration of these activities”.

The report goes on to say “significant consultancy costs have been incurred” to obtain the necessary approvals and to provide guidance and support in establishing relocation teams.

Flying fox relocation efforts have already cost almost $1 million more than budgeted with three months left in the financial year. Picture Mike Batterham

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The council had budgeted $510,000 towards the effort in 2020-21.

It has already spent $1.4m and counting with three months left in the year.

Unfortunately, the spending spree is not over yet.

“It is anticipated that whilst actual expenditure has already exceeded budget allocation for this financial year, the rate of expenditure will reduce for the next financial year as operations are downscaled,” the report stated.

“As indicated, deterrent activities will continue and based on this current financial year’s activities, learnings and regulatory requirements, a more accurate operating forecast will be provided for 2021-2022.”

Flying foxes in the trees at the Cairns City Library. PICTURE: ANNA ROGERS

The report will go before the council’s community, sport, events and cultural services committee on Wednesday.

The council is writing the effort off as a “successful operation with nil injury or deaths to the animals as a direct result of the activities” despite the massive financial cost and the fact that bats have not shifted to the Severin St swamp as hoped.

Minutes of last month’s flying fox advisory committee meeting reveal about 400 bats had begun roosting in the trees outside the Port Authority offices on Wharf St – within the approved deterrent zone and “east to move in the mornings”.

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Numbers at the Cairns City Library were sitting at about 100, which was deemed to be normal seasonal behaviour, but three contractors were working to move the mammals on each morning.

A shift to permanent flying fox dispersal infrastructure at the site has been ruled out.

“Fixed options at the City Library to assist deterrent operations such as netting, fixed light and fixed audio outlets are currently not feasible mainly to the tree structure and integrity,” the report said.

Originally published as Cairns flying fox relocation budget blowout costs ratepayers $1m