Fauna support grows

LOCALS have shown overwhelming support for the Bayles Fauna Reserve, with nearly 15 new volunteers signing on to help out at the park at a recent meeting.
But according to the park’s committee president Bruce Bell, Bayles Fauna Reserve will need funding from Cardinia Shire if it is to continue running.
About 50 people turned up to the public meeting held last Wednesday to discuss the park’s future management options, including Cardinia Shire Port Ward councillor Doug Hamilton, chaired by the Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE).
Mr Bell said the excellent turnout at the meeting had shown that the future of the park was not hopeless but there was “still a way to go”.
“Initiating discussion is always a good thing and it was great to see people come along and the DSE put in so much effort,” Mr Bell said.
“The new volunteers are definitely needed.
“But it won’t solve the problem of having someone there to feed the animals and maintain the park.”
He said caretakers who had been living on the site would not be able to stay, making it difficult to keep the park maintained.
He said they had always known that the caretakers, along with the temporary house currently on the site, were shortterm under an agreement with the DSE, and would soon have to go.
Mr Bell said he would be moving to Narre Warren East soon, and while still fulfilling his duties as president, he would not be close enough to feed the animals, while people who lived nearby, such as treasurer Pat Whittle and volunteer Vic Walker were not physically able to do the task.
Mr Bell said they would now be looking at asking the council to assist by providing a parttime position, such as a ranger, at the park.
He said the Golden Kangaroos that lived at the park and were the only ones of their kind in Australia, would have to be moved out of the Shire if the park could not be maintained, which he said would be a sore loss for Cardinia.
He also said the small fee of $2 for adults and $1 for children over 10 would not be raised.
“Those fees help with feed for the animals and so on but we would not want to put that up.”
Mr Bell said the committee would be having discussions with the Shire in coming months.
Cardinia Shire governance and communications manager Doug Evans said council would consider any funding submission made by the Bayles Fauna Reserve committee on its merits.
He said the park, which lies on DSE as well as council land, also should approach the DSE for funding.