Bats v Council: The war for Lissner Park continues

The long-running war between a flying fox colony and Charters Towers Regional Council will boil over into another loud relocation, to start at 4am each morning.

2021: Flying foxes roosting in Lissner Park, Charters Towers. Picture: SUPPLIED

The long-running war between a flying fox colony and Charters Towers Regional Council will boil over into another loud relocation attempt, with the first blow to be struck at 4am each morning.

Loud noises, smoke and lights will be used between approximately 4am and 8am every morning for weeks.

The removal attempt will begin on Wednesday, April 16, and run for three weeks (excluding Anzac Day).

Mayor Liz Schmidt said she was confident this dispersal will produce results, due to it being carefully planned.

“Our priority is the health and safety of our community,” Mayor Schmidt said.

Read more: The real secret to Ingham’s flying-fox-free success story

Council has requested residents do not disturb any flying-foxes that may temporarily roost in their yards during the dispersal period, as doing so may cause them to return to Lissner Park.

Biodiversity Australia has been contracted to complete the work.

Water hoses were used in 2002 to help disperse flying foxes from the trees in Lissner Park, Charters Towers

The environmental management consults were also contracted for the expensive, but effective, removal of the flying fox colony from Lissner Park in 2022 - prompting then-mayor Frank Beveridge to declare Lissner Park flying fox free for the “first time in living history”.

Relocation attempts can cost up to $200,000.

A community update meeting will be held on Monday, 28 April at 5:30pm in the Local Disaster Coordination Centre, next to Council’s Administration Centre on Mosman Street, Charters Towers.

Originally published as Bats v Council: The war for Lissner Park continues