Hartsuyker calls on lower Clarence community to maintain pressure and ensure bats are removed and don’t come back

March 9, 2010

Federal MP Luke Hartsuyker has called on lower Clarence residents to maintain the pressure on both the Federal and State Governments to ensure the Maclean bats are dispersed.

Mr Hartsuyker was commenting on media reports that Federal and State Departments were now likely to consider an application to have the bats removed without the need for environmental study.

“The change of heart by the bureaucrats is a direct result of public pressure,” Mr Hartsuyker said. “All the Federal and State bureaucrats on the flying fox working group took the Maclean residents and the school community for granted. They thought they could get them on board, silence them and do absolutely nothing.

“I cautiously welcome the bureaucrats’ decision to now consider an application without the need for a lengthy and expensive environment study. However, it is premature to think the matter is now resolved. We must continue to advocate for the removal of the bat colony plus any vegetation which will encourage them to return.”

Mr Hartsuyker said both Federal and State Labor Government’s were feeling the heat of this issue.

“My office has been inundated with thousands of signatures supporting my Private Members Bill to have the bats removed. The Federal Member for Page Janelle Saffin has even back-tracked on her support for the bats co-existing with the school. I believe that is a direct result of constituent outrage because Ms Saffin has failed to represent them. As everyone knows half of the school community lives in the Page electorate.

“Ms Saffin now needs to end the uncertainty over the future of the Maclean High School by ruling out her plan to relocate the campus.  Such commentary is extremely irresponsible and out of whack with reality. The real concern with Ms Saffin’s comments is that both Federal and State Governments will be reluctant to invest any new funds in school infrastructure because the intention is to demolish it in the long term.”

Mr Hartsuyker said despite there being some movement on the licence application for bats dispersal process his Private Members Bill would still be tabled in the Parliament.

“The Bill aims to provide the Federal Environment Minister with emergency powers to approve the relocation of a species which poses a public health risk. Under my Bill the Minister will no longer be able to hide behind a web of environmental considerations which are fundamental to the Act. Importantly, it will also relieve him of his legal requirement to do so.”