Council moves on Rosalind Park native inhabitants

A NEW management plan developed by the City of Greater Bendigo – primarily aimed at dealing with Rosalind Park’s Flying Fox and Ibis colonies – has been made available for viewing on the Let’s Talk Greater Bendigo website.

Since 2010 the park has been home to native protected Grey Headed Flying Foxes, who’ve established a breeding and maternity camp there, and more recently White Ibis have taken up residency in the (currently closed) fernery.

The Rosalind Park Management Plan: Coexistence with Flying Fox and Ibis includes a range of short, medium and long-term actions to reopen the historic fernery, reduce nesting and numbers of ibis in the park, foster co-existence with flying foxes and ibis, and prepare for future large influxes of flying foxes.

City presentation and assets director Brian Westley said the plan, developed by consultants Ecosure, was informed by the results of a community survey on the City’s Let’s Talk Greater Bendigo website that was completed by over 300 people.

“While the City already has a master plan that guides the future development of the entire Rosalind Park precinct, the development of a management plan is about meeting the day-to-day management requirements of the park and ensuring we are fulfilling our obligations under the Wildlife Act for (both) protected species,” he said.

“Rosalind Park is one of Greater Bendigo’s premier parklands for recreation and major events and the City is obligated under legislation to ensure we are not doing anything that impacts the animals, which means finding a balance between people and the native animals.”

The Grey Headed Flying Fox is protected under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Commonwealth), the Wildlife Act 1975 (Vic) and the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 (Vic), while the White Ibis is protected in Victoria under the Wildlife Act 1975.

The City doesn’t have the authority to remove or relocate the bats as they are a protected species.

It is also illegal to scare, harm or disturb them without permission or a permit from the relevant responsible authorities.

The management plan can be viewed on the Let’s Talk Greater Bendigo website until 30 November.