"A death sentence": Bat pups on the Bass Coast lose out to NYE fireworks

Mating season for bats, and fireworks season for humans, fall around the same time of the year, and the diary clash is not working for the grey-headed flying foxes of Bass Coast.

When caught off guard by the explosions of light and the loud bangs and fizzes from a fireworks display, bats can become “disorientated by the lights and the noise”, according to a Phillip Island bat rescue facility.

“The main concern for us at this point is that it directly correlates with pup season, so the mums can become frightened and drop their pups. That's basically a death sentence.”

On June 28, Bass Coast Shire Council voted seven to two to continue New Year's Eve fireworks displays for the next three years at Cowes, Inverloch and Coronet Bay, overriding environmental concerns about threatened species impacts.

Voting in favour of fireworks, Bass Coast Shire Deputy Mayor, Brett Tessari said: “I know I’m a bit of a dinosaur, but I love fireworks.”

Tessari said people came from around Victoria to see the fireworks.

“It brings money into our community, they spend money while they’re here and they see such beautiful fireworks. It puts you in good spirits to start the year.”

Councillors Jon Temby and Mat Morgan were the only two councillors to vote against the motion.

Temby said he recognised the community importance of firework displays but was opposed to the fireworks being over water, particularly in wetland areas where waste cannot be collected properly.

Speaking to the Gippsland Monitor, Morgan cited concerns from local bat rehabilitation centre, Little Wing Bat Haven, about impact of fireworks on grey-headed flying foxes: “I know we all love fireworks, but we at least need to move them away from environmentally sensitive areas.

“I like fireworks generally but not in Cowes, it’s not the place and neither is Coronet Bay. The island in particular is a delicate ecosystem centred around our environmental assets and fireworks simply don’t belong on the island.”

Morgan said there were fireworks at the Cowes Christmas carol event and at private functions, and on Australia Day and New Year’s Eve. “It's a weekly event at this point. It's ridiculous.”

Little Wing Bat Haven

A representative of Little Wing Bat Haven, a volunteer-run rehabilitation centre for microbats and flying foxes on Phillip Island, said “there have been cases in Australia of bats becoming singed and injured from them”.

Speaking on the condition of anonymity, they said winter was quieter for the haven as bats migrate north for the warmer months, but that during the summer fireworks season the haven would make up to three rescues a day.

Grey-headed flying foxes, currently considered a vulnerable species under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, have been spotted feeding in the trees along the esplanade at Cowes.

This is about 100 metres away from where the fireworks will be deployed on New Year's Eve.

Grey-headed flying foxes are considered keystone pollinators, meaning they play a crucial role in dispersing seeds for many plants that keep Australia’s forests healthy.

Little Wing Bat Haven said community celebrations were important, but pointed to alternatives, including drones or light shows, as being more environmentally friendly.

Councillor Tracey Bell acknowledged the environmental dilemma, but said drone shows were too expensive and that she hoped council would have better solutions within the three-year timeframe.

The Gippsland Monitor has sought comment from Bass Coast Shire Deputy Mayor Brett Tessari.