The event is planned for the Wingham Wharf, by the Manning River and Wingham Brush Nature Reserve, this Sunday as a way of promoting the natural asset that is the river.

The free event has been organised by the four Rotary clubs of Taree and Wingham.

John objects to holding the event adjacent to the Brush because he believes it has the potential to impact negatively on the fragile ecological environment.

He said amplified music, clapping and the sheer number of people who will descend on the area will threaten the natural wonder and its animal inhabitants.

This time of year is particularly sensitive for the reserve’s grey-headed flying-fox population as many of the endangered animals are carrying babies.

Loud noises and disturbances can cause the mothers to drop their babies to the forest floor where they cannot be recovered and almost certainly die.

Maurie Stack, president of the Taree on Manning Rotary Club, said it appears John Stockard has misunderstood the nature of the event. Maurie said music volume will be kept low and the speakers will be faced away from the Brush and its flying-foxes.

John has complained about a lack of formal consultation from the Rotary clubs to the Friends of the Wingham Brush and Coocumbac Island, a community support group for the area, and has now written to ports minister Joe Tripodi and environment minister Phil Koperberg stating his concerns. John said the event also breaches the Threatened Species Conservation Act.

A meeting was held at 1pm yesterday, after this paper’s printing deadline, at Wingham Library between Wayne Deer, John Stockard and Kevin Carter to further discuss the issues.