Kirwan resident Tony Olditch calls for bats at Dan Gleeson Memorial Gardens to be permanently moved

The “deafening” noise and putrid smell of flying foxes roosting in a Townsville park is driving nearby residents batty. They are calling for them to be moved out for good.

THE “deafening” noise and putrid smell of flying foxes roosting in a Townsville park is driving nearby residents batty.

Fed up homeowner Tony Olditch wants more to be done to relocate the flying fox colony away from Dan Gleeson Memorial Gardens permanently, and give residents some peace and quiet.

It comes as Townsville City Council restarts its attempts at relocation of the bats from the main areas of the Kirwan park into the rear corner this week, now that breeding season was over.

The council will use smoke, noise and water to move the bats, starting at 5am every day for the next three weeks.

Mr Olditch said the “nudge” tactic didn’t work, and bats were back in the main trees within a few hours.

Bats at Dan Gleeson park. Picture: Shae Beplate.

“I just thought what a joke (when I found out),” the 64-year-old said.

Mr Olditch has lived in the same property, which is about four houses away from the gardens, since 2003, but he said things had become worse over the past few years.

While speaking to the Bulletin via phone, the screeching noises of the bats were audible in the background.

“It’s deafening,” he said.

Mr Olditch said the once beautiful and “magnificent” garden was a shadow of its former glory.

“My kids used to play in that park, people used to get their wedding photos taken there.

“Now it looks like a war zone, and I’m sure old Dan (Gleeson) would roll in his grave if he saw the state of it now.”

He said his property had also copped the worst of the bat droppings.

A letter was sent to locals regarding the bats at Dan Gleeson park. Picture: Shae Beplate.

Bats at Dan Gleeson park. Picture: Shae Beplate

“When you have thousands flying over the house in the morning and at night you end up basically covered in bat grub.

“So I have to hose my driveway off most days, the caravan is parked underneath a car port and I have to cover that.

“It means that I have to have my windows closed because of the stink and the noise. I worry it’s affecting my property value as well.”

Mr Olditch has gone into bat with the council over the issue, and believes the solution is relocating them altogether.

“Surely, if you have councils all over Queensland with the same problem they could get together and find a solution.

“I don’t understand why the power of 10 councils, or more, can’t get together and say to the government this can’t go on, because none of the people that make the rules live next to the park.

“I don’t think we are doing the bats any favours by leaving them in that park anyway … they’ve got no shelter.”

Bats at Dan Gleeson park. Picture: Shae Beplate.

Experts say flying foxes have been in Australia for millions of years and are protected under the Nature Conservation Act, as they play an important role in the ecosystem, and dispersing seeds and pollinating plants far and wide.

Mayor Jenny Hill said she understood the animals were frustrating for residents.

“Council acknowledges that they also cause disruption to residents with noise and odour pollution as well as extreme damage to some of our beautiful botanic gardens

“Council officers continue to work closely with NQ Wildlife, the Wildlife Preservation Society of Queensland and Stone Deaf Wildlife to manage flying foxes to ensure we get the balance right.”

There are three types of flying foxes within the Townsville area – the spectacled flying fox, black flying fox and little red flying fox.

Originally published as Kirwan resident Tony Olditch calls for bats at Dan Gleeson Memorial Gardens to be permanently moved