A group of residents living on Riverine Street in Bairnsdale have welcomed the works currently being undertaken in the controversial bat habitat area.

Vegetation has been cleared and a walking track in the form of a concrete path snakes its way down from the top of Riverine Street to the riverside pathway.

Employees from East Gippsland Shire have placed weed matting across the embankment and are now busy planting native shrubs.

John Glynn who heads up the Riverine Bat Cluster group, which advocates for the safe relocation of the riverside bats, told the Advertiser that the bats took off in June and have not been seen since.

“This is the longest period in 10-15 years that they’ve been away,” Mr Glynn said.

“It represents the greatest opportunity for the shire to get rid of these remaining and dead and dangerous poplar trees, which are leaning precariously.”

Mr Glynn says the group was informed that the trees couldn’t be removed while the bats were still there, but now that they’ve gone he’s wondering why the works can’t be completed.

On June 26, prior to the start of the walking track construction, council said it would not be undertaking works that will see the removal of vegetation used by the colony as part of the works. There may be an opportunity to trim vegetation over hanging footpaths where council’s usual maintenance and clearance regime have not been met.

“As the land manager for this section of the Mitchell River corridor, council appreciates the environmental sensitivities of the site,” East Gippsland Shire Chief executive officer, Anthony Basford said.

“Any future actions taken to modify the existing vegetation will need to be considered in the context of council’s decision to explore a more strategic approach to the way that the area traditionally occupied by the grey-headed flying fox colony is managed into the future.”

Council this week confirmed this remains the approach to the site.

Mr Glynn fears the remaining trees are being strangled by vines and could topple at any time.

“Just imagine if someone was killed by a falling tree,” he said.

He suspects intense lobbying from the pro-bat lobby has prevented the dead poplars from being removed from the Riverine Street site.

“It’s a bit frustrating for everyone really,” he said.

Mr Glynn, who lives on the street, says handrails are also due to be erected on the new walking track and has urged authorities to do that as soon as possible now that the bats have flown away.

PICTURED: John Glynn, of the Riverine Bat Cluster group, says now is the perfect opportunity to remove the dead poplar trees on Riverine Street with the bats having flown away.