A call has been made for Bega Valley Shire Council to commit to undertaking a full Environmental Impact Statement before proceeding any further on the Cuttagee Bridge project following the discovery of a threatened bat species at the site.
The threatened Fishing Bat species has been discovered living within the 134-year-old Cuttagee Bridge environment.
The Restore Cuttagee Bridge Group has described the find caught on video and confirmed by two bat experts as a very important and incredibly exciting discovery.
Fishing Bats are a threatened species, listed as vulnerable and protected by legislation.
The Group said Cuttagee Bridge and surrounds provide the perfect habitat for these bats, so a detailed survey of the bridge structure will now need to be undertaken by trained ecologists using specialised equipment.
The council is currently preparing a less detailed Review of Environmental Factors as part of preparations to constructing a new $30-million two lane concrete replacement.
A member of Restore Cuttagee Bridge Group Stuart Meagher, using specialist infrared technology, managed to capture the Fishing Bat on video in February this year and just released.
He said he’s had the footage verified by ecologist and bat expert Dr Anne McConville as the threatened species.
“I sent that to a bat expert and ecologist to review the footage. She’s had a lot of experience with these Southern Myotis or Fishing Bats,” Mr Meagher said.
“She reviewed the footage in detail and has come back with a confirmation letter saying in her opinion they are definately the fishing bat which is a threatened species,” he said.
Mr Meagher has also told the Far South Coast newsroom he has also confirmed the presence with a local bat expert.
The Fishing Bat was also discovered nesting within the nearby Wallaga Lake Bridge which was restored by Transport for NSW in the last few years. A management plan was subsequently developed and put in place before the work proceeded.
Restore Cuttagee Bridge claims the current Review of Environmental Factors currently being prepared by Bega Valley Shire Council does not go far enough in light of the bat discovery.
“Finding this bat could have major implications for any work undertaken on the Cuttagee Bridge, “Fishing Bats love fishing and they love timber bridges, something a lot of us have in common.” Mr Meagher said.
“If the bats are found to be roosting or breeding within the bridge a Bat Management Plan (BMP) will have to be developed before any work is allowed to commence. This could have a major impact on the complexity and cost of the Cuttagee Bridge project, he said.
The Restoration of Cuttagee Bridge Group is now calling on the Bega Valley Shire Council, Local Member Dr Micheal Holland and Regional Transport Minister Jenny Aitchison to insist on an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Cuttagee Bridge project.
“The current Review of Environmental Factors being conducted for the bridge project is superficial and lacks the detail that Councillors need in making informed decisions about the project. Our group has no confidence in an REF to address the serious impacts likely to occur on the environment, biodiversity, fisheries, tourism, community safety and cultural heritage,” Mr Meagher said.
“Section 5.7 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act (EP&A Act) states that if an activity “is likely to significantly affect the environment” an EIS must be prepared,” he said.
“Only an EIS is adequate under these circumstances and our local member Dr Michael Holland and Regional Transport Minister Jenny Aitchison should be backing our calls for one.”
