A humane and sustainable plan has been drafted to strike a balance between the ecological management of flying foxes and our community’s protection.
Southern Downs residents are invited to provide feedback on the guidelines ahead of the animals’ annual spring migration to the region.
While their presence on the Southern Downs can cause health and safety concerns for nearby residents with noise, smell and mess, flying foxes are a protected species under Queensland Nature Conservation Act 1992 and council is obligated to follow guidelines and codes of practice developed by the Queensland Government when managing the animals’ roosting activities.
Southern Downs Councillor Stephen Tancred said the draft plan is part of council’s ongoing commitment to the practical management of flying foxes and encouraged the community to have a vested interest in the conversation.
“Flying foxes play a significant role in the healthy functioning of natural ecosystems as pollinators of many of our native trees and shrubs,” Cr Tancred said.
“We have many popular and picturesque National Parks across our region, however, we can’t cherry-pick where we want flying foxes to roost.
“We need to accept a certain level of cohabitation and balance the potentially conflicting issues of the environment, our urban residents and our fruit farmers.
“The draft plan is based on a scientific understanding of flying-fox ecology and management and was guided significantly by the Queensland Government’s Flying-Fox Roost Management Guidelines.
“I encourage residents and farmers to read the draft plan and give us feedback before we consider the final document.
“Council would also like to acknowledge the draft plan was developed with funding support from the Queensland Government’s Local Government Flying-Fox Roost Management Grants Program.”
The objectives of the draft plan are:
• to ensure Council’s flying-fox management activities meet legal obligations and are based on scientific knowledge of flying-fox ecology and management
• to enable Council to address community concerns relating to flying-foxes whilst ensuring Council’s obligations for flying-fox welfare and conservation needs are met
• to enable Council to make sound management decisions that mitigate current flying-fox impacts on local communities and minimise the risk of future impacts arising
• to ensure flying fox management activities do not transfer and/or exacerbate flying fox problems
• to promote community understanding of flying-fox conservation, ecology, and health risks and encourage improved community engagement in flying-fox management.
Management opportunities in the plan include routine actions such as removal of tree limbs, whole trees, noxious weeds and leaf litter; education and awareness programs; property modifications; and buffer creation and protocols to manage incidents.
A copy of the plan is available for review at www.sdrc.qld.gov.au/living-here/have-your-say/flying-fox-management-plan or from Council’s administration centres in Warwick and Stanthorpe.
Community consultation will began on Monday 15 August and will close at 5pm Thursday 15 September 2022.
Please submit feedback in writing to mail@sdrc.qld.gov.au.
