Outgoing MP Tim Smith labels government ‘bats--t crazy’ over flying fox plan

Tim Smith has slammed the government for splurging on a plan to help keep flying foxes cool in summer but Lily D’Ambrosio has bitten back at the outgoing MP’s “lack of care”.

The Andrews government will splash $180,000 on 12 sprinklers to help flying foxes stay cool in summer, in a move that’s been dubbed “batshit crazy”.

Environment Minister Lily D’Ambrosio announced a custom-built sprinkler system will be installed to protect Kew’s grey-headed flying fox colony — the largest in Victoria — in the face of climate change.

But outgoing Kew MP Tim Smith — who has previously called for the bat colony to be removed from the area — slammed the project.

The new sprinkler systems will be installed at Yarra Bend Park, across two sites that have been identified as important refuges for the grey-headed flying foxes.

The hoses will help to cool the animals on days of extreme heat.

Temperatures above 38 degrees can prove fatal for the flying foxes. Picture: Josie Hayden

Temperatures above 38 degrees can prove fatal for the flying foxes, according to Parks Victoria’s area chief ranger Brendan Sullivan.

“Bats regulate their temperature like we do and they can maintain their body temperature up to 38 degrees,” he said.

“Anything above 38 degrees and they start getting very, very hot. It’s not until we get to about 41-42 degrees that we start seeing high mortality in the grey headed flying fox, so the idea with this irrigation system is to keep that ambient temperature below 40 degrees.”

The sprinkler system, which will be installed by summer this year, will cover 3.5ha and run for 750m.

About 25,000 bats make up the colony, but up to 50,000 animals have been seen during the summer period.

Environment Minister Lily D’Ambrosio said the project was part of ongoing work to protect the threatened species, which play a “vital role” in pollinating and dispersing seed for native forests across the east coast of Australia.

“The flying fox population at Yarra Bend are an iconic part of Melbourne’s environment and this funding will give them the best chance of success in the face of climate change,” she said.

Outgoing Kew MP Tim Smith has slammed the bat project. Picture: Stuart McEvoy

But Mr Smith branded the Andrews government “batshit crazy” for funding the project.

In 2020, Mr Smith led calls for drastic action to be taken to remove the animals from Yarra Bend Park, stating “these bats are not constituents that I’m happy to have”.

“These bats are a nuisance, they spread disease, and now the government is going to spend almost $200k to hose them down when it gets hot over summer,” he said on Monday.

“Yes, as everyone knows, I dislike bats, and many other locals hate them too.”

Ms D’Ambrosio fired back at Mr Smith’s jibe.

“I think every Victorian would be very concerned about the lack of care that people like Tim Smith have actually applied to a number of very serious issues,” she said.

“Tim Smith is obviously not spending too much time doing what he’s paid to do as an elected member of parliament.

“He seems to be very much auditioning for a future career as a shock jock but at the end of the day, there’s a lot of serious work that’s got to be done by governments.”