A GILES Street park will remain closed until thousands of flying foxes that have made themselves at home in its trees are moved on.
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The flying foxes have been a common sight in the sky above Katherine North since the start of the month but Katherine Town Council made the decision to temporarily ban public access to Prior Park on March 14 at the request of Parks and Wildlife Commission NT.
Rangers have unsuccessfully used a range of measures – including stock whips – in an attempt to move the colony to the trees lining the Katherine River.
Council chief executive officer Robert Jennings told the Katherine Times that irrigating the park had inadvertently created a habitat attractive to the flying foxes.
Council was contacted by ... PWCNT suggesting the park be closed for public safety.
- Katherine Town Council CEO Robert Jennings
“Council was contacted on March 7 … to request whether we could … possibly turn off the sprinklers, as it was providing a conducive environment for them to remain,” he said.
He added that the closure had been based on safety concerns.
“Council was contacted by ... PWCNT suggesting the park be closed for public safety,” Mr Jennings said.
