By Hollie Harris
COUNCIL is focused on implementing a flying fox management plan which will include $10,000 into their budget to help residents who live within a 75-metre radius of Wallace Park service their properties.
Councillor Ingrid Jackson and flying fox management officer Tyrone de Kauwe performed face-to-face interviews with residents of 54 households and surveyed their responses.
They were met with an enthusiastic response from residents in the area which is most heavily affected by the foxes.
They discussed the plans to use the funds to provide covers for cars, pools, clotheslines and furniture.
Roof cleaning and discounts on double glazing glass, water pressure cleaners, air fresheners and solar panel cleaning were all on the list of inclusions.
The doorknock survey showed a positive outcome and most residents were happy to hear council was working hard to push the management plan through.
“They were happy that something was happening. It was a great response,” Mr de Kauwe said.
“There was early resistance initially, with regard to the offerings getting out of hand. The initiative will see the funds getting spent wisely and the feedback was very helpful,” he said.
The key issues for 66 per cent of residents could be lessened with the service with the main concern from residents said to be smell, droppings and noise from the Wallace Park flying foxes.
The program recommends that the service be provided if the flying foxes migrate to the Western boundary of Wallace Park and reach a population of over 7000.
Council’s management accountant has been advised that his project will be the focus of the next Budget Review.
