No quick fix for flying fox management

Flying foxes may not be flavour of the month but Sunshine Coast Council is committed to constructing strategies that will contribute to the successful management of the species locally.

Environment Portfolio Councillor Keryn Jones said council had adopted a short term strategy for considering response actions to customer requests about flying foxes, while a longer term strategy for the management of flying fox colonies would be developed in the future.

"Flying foxes are native to Australia and their roosts are protected under the Nature Conservation Act 1992," she said.

"The Department of Environment and Resource Management (DERM) is the primary agency responsible for the management of flying foxes and their colonies.

"So actioning complaints from residents about flying foxes locally is currently difficult for council as there are very strict government guidelines that determine what you can and can’t do."

Cr Jones said DERM records show that there are currently 11 flying fox colonies mapped within the Sunshine Coast.

"These colonies are located on a range of tenure from council managed, private property, state controlled land or a combination of property types," she said.

"The intent of council’s flying fox management plan for responding to customer action requests is to involve the relevant stakeholders (council, State agencies and the community) in determining the best management actions that are appropriate with consideration to the legislative framework, the level of risk and resources available.

"Developing a longer term strategy will require further investigation from council.

"The Gold Coast City Council is currently engaging in a cooperative project with DERM in relation to flying fox colonies and council will look to embark on a similar path in the near future."