Margie Maccoll
Noosa Council is preparing a document on flying fox management to set out the legislation surrounding the protected native animals, council’s management capabilities and advice and assistance available to people impacted by colonies.
The Flying Fox Statement of Management Intent (SoMI) sets out council’s approach to flying-fox management within the Noosa Shire, and provides guidance to staff, contractors, and private landholders.
The wildlife which is protected under state and Australian government legislation provides critical ecological services, particularly through its seed dispersal.
The SoMi sets out council’s obligation to take management action on council-owned or managed land and its commitment to assist all residents.
“We have a number of flying fox roosts and issues like noise, odour, droppings on peoples’ assets,“ a council officer told council’s Planning and Environment committee meeting on Tuesday.
“It’s good to get a document out there for residents to have. It provides guidance for all stakeholders.
“It’s difficult to communicate what management actions there are in phone calls. Being able to provide this document as a first point of contact allows residents to understand the legislation and then they can come back to council to receive assistance.“
The officer said council does not disperse flying fox colonies with scientific research showing dispersal only splits a colony resulting in several colonies impacting other residents.
Flying fox management processes available to council include the use of sprinklers to discourage the animals from an area, vegetation trimming to clean a small buffer for residents and through a subsidy program providing assistance to residents such as car covers, air fresheners or pressure cleaners.
Under the subsidy program support may be offered for those living within 100m of a roost site, the roost should be at least partly on council-managed land, flying-foxes will have been at a location in significant numbers for at least six weeks and a significant number of the flying-foxes must be Black or Grey-headed Flying-foxes, rather than Little Red Flying-foxes.
Council has three flying fox colony management plans underway at Wallace Park, Noosaville, Keys Creek, Kin Kin and in Cooroy and 4-6 identified flying fox colonies around the shire.
After approval by councillors the draft Flying Fox SoMI will be released for community consultation through Your Say Noosa on council’s website then a report prepared for a future council meeting.
