E-Petition

Queensland citizens draws to the attention of the House that threatened native wildlife will face irreversible impacts from the state government's ill-conceived plan to build a new primary school alongside the colony of federally threatened grey-headed flying fox bats at Perrin Park on Toowong Creek. To build a primary school next to a bat colony, with our current knowledge, is negligent and reckless.

We must save our Grey-headed flying foxes.

Grey-headed flying foxes are integral to a healthy functioning environment, being vital to the pollination of plant life and seed dispersal, supporting animal and plant biodiversity ensuring a healthy ecosystem. The indigenous wildlife relies on this critical wildlife corridor, connecting Mt Coot-tha State Forest to the Brisbane River, for roosting, dispersal, and raising their offspring.

Negative impacts from construction, and ongoing light and noise pollution once the building is in operation will cause bats to become highly stressed, in turn this can cause the flying foxes to become sick. The Australian Lyssavirus Bat Virus, normally poses a very minimal risk to humans if the colony is healthy; however, the government is unnecessarily causing a health risk by recklessly placing school children right next to the colony.

Learning to respect and safeguard our wildlife, our children and their environment should not be compromised.

Your petitioners, therefore, request the House build the new primary school at the alternate site of Indooroopilly, which provides all the necessary amenities and would result in less impact on wildlife, the Toowong Creek and public green space.