Buffer to tackle flying fox menace

WALLACE Park residents are a step closer to peaceful nights with vegetation works near the Wallace Park flying-fox roost due to start early this month.
Noosa Council principal environment officer Peter Milne said council would selectively clear vegetation to maintain a 10-metre buffer between the roost and neighbouring homes.
Mr Milne said the work had to wait until April to comply with national environmental law.
“Works in or near a roost site are guided by environmental codes of practice to ensure there are no significant impacts on flying-foxes, which are protected under state and national law,” he said.
“Under the National Referral Guidelines, works cannot commence if there are dependant flying-fox young in the camp. We’ve recently inspected the colony to confirm that works can now proceed, weather permitting.”
Mr Milne said council appreciated the flying-foxes were a source of concern for some residents.
“Thankfully, the seasonal influx of little red flying-foxes has also headed north,” he said.
Mr Milne said consultants Ecosure recommended selective vegetation clearing to provide separation between the Wallace Park flying-fox camp and neighbouring residents.
Ecosure also recommended investigating the use of deterrents, such as a sprinkler system, to ‘nudge’ the bats further from residential boundaries.
“Council will be able to consider the use of boundary sprinklers at a future meeting once costs for such a system are finalised,” Mr Milne said.
The flying-fox colonies at Wallace Park have been an ongoing issue for residents who say the smell and noise of the animals have made living in the area almost unbearable.
Mr Milne said works were planned to commence on Tuesday 5 April depending on the location and numbers of the flying foxes at the time.
“The vegetation works will provide separation between the flying fox roost and neighbouring residents,” Mr Milne said.
“This will help provide some relief to residents immediately next to the roost.
“However, whenever flying-foxes are in very large numbers, then we expect noise, smell and droppings to continue to be a possible issue for some residents”.