Batemans Bay flying fox survey records resident distress

Water Garden graffiti

A community action group has taken the time to survey residents affected by the flying fox camps and the results are distressing.

The group said many residents cried after volunteers asked them to share their stories. 

Bat Action Group volunteer Brooke Miljenovic spoke at the June 14 Eurobodalla Shire Council meeting and presented 235 surveys. 

“Some people cried. These people were so grateful that we cared enough to listen to their story of long-term suffering,” she said.

“(They) thought they had been forgotten, despite being most affected. No-one from the council has visited them,” she told councillors.

“We were the first people to ask them about the situation.

“The impact it had on us personally was catastrophic; to see with our own eyes the suffering and feel the emotions these residents were forced to endure everyday will forever be etched in our minds.”

The survey covered homes closest to the Batemans Bay Water Garden and Catalina camps.

Mrs Miljenovic said many reported mental and physical heath problems, which they believed the bats had caused.

She said 8.9 per cent of residents surveyed were suffering with respiratory illness, 2.5 per cent had pneumonia, 10.2 per cent reported increased asthma symptoms, 1.7 per cent had newly-diagnosed asthma, 6.4 per cent suffered from aggravated sinus and 3.0 per cent reported new allergies.

“These residents also pointed out that they were fit and healthy and very rarely sick, apart from the last few years; 87 per cent of cases required treatment from their GP or hospital,” Mrs Miljenovic said.

“The most alarming part is the mental health effects reported. This is a ticking time bomb; 13.2 per cent of those surveyed mentioned they were suffering from severe anxiety or depression requiring treatment. One person said they had contemplated suicide.” 

“44.7 per cent said they felt trapped inside their homes and isolated from the outside world, 21.3 per cent stated their children could no longer play outside and 2.6 per cent have started taking sleeping tablets to help with severe insomnia,” Mrs Miljenovic said.

Mrs Miljenovic said ignoring the situation would result in a larger problem.

“The worst thing you can do about a situation is nothing,” she said.

“The flying foxes have invaded homes, are hanging in yards (and are) directly violating people’s rights to live safely in their homes.

“(The) Batemans Bay (flying fox camp) is not only one of the largest in Australia, it is also one of a very few camps that is in a close proximity to homes.”

Meanwhile, a Batemans Bay doctor on June 17 said he had not noticed any increase in patients reporting respiratory symptoms nor had he heard complaints that respiratory symptoms were related to flying foxes.

However, he said patients were reporting depression and anxiety as a result of living in such close proximity to the colony. Full story in Wednesday’s Bay Post.

The Southern NSW Health District has been approached for comment.