Flying-fox Management Strategy 2019-2029

Research has revealed that the presence of flying-foxes in urban areas is a polarising issue. While some people in the community recognise the ecological values of flying-foxes and support them, others report only negative impacts associated with roosting and foraging flying-foxes (Ecosure 2014).

Engaging and providing information is therefore critical to ensuring that the community understands the ecological importance of flying-foxes, whilst alleviating community concerns associated with health and amenity impacts.

Outcomes

1.1  Develop school-based educational resources in partnership with regional and State partners

1.2  Develop and maintain Council's flying-fox information webpage and social media communications

1.3  Develop and produce flying-fox educational signage in priority locations

1.4  Develop and provide fact sheets and information about flying-foxes and their critical ecological role and ways to mitigate potential health and amenity impacts

1.5  Provide support and advice on what residents can do to manage the impact of flying-foxes on their property

1.6  Continue to promote the importance of flying-foxes at Council workshops, forums and events

1.7  Undertake periodic surveys to gauge community views and perceptions of flying-foxes as part of the implementation of the Flying-fox Management Strategy.

Where residents are significantly impacted by a consistently used roost, Council will work to maintain suitable buffers from property boundaries where possible and practical on Council-owned or managed land (as assessed on a case-by-case basis), and in accordance with the State's Code of Practice.

The average temperature in Australia has increased by nearly 1°C since the beginning of the 20^th Century, with seven of the ten warmest years on record having occurred since 2002 (Australian Academy of Science 2015). Extreme weather events such as heat waves, not only can cause distress to family pets but can cause heat stress in our native wildlife, and in particular flying-foxes. For example, a heat stress event in January 2014 resulted in the loss of 45,500 flying-foxes across south-east Queensland (Welbergen et al. 2014), including the City of Logan. It is important to be prepared and facilitate measures which aim to reduce this occurring and thereby minimise the likelihood of human / pet exposure. To assist this, Council is registered to receive alerts via the national Flying-fox Heat Stress Forecaster, and has contributed to the South-east Qld Flying-fox Heat Event Response Guidelines (Bishop and Lyons 2018).

Outcomes

2.1  Identify, assess and prioritise management actions on flying-fox roosts based on level of risk

2.2  On a case-by-case basis undertake vegetation management works and/or habitat restoration on Council-owned or managed land in accordance with best practice to minimise risk to employees and impacts on the flying-fox roost habitat

2.3  Provide advice to landholders regarding active management options for roosts on private property in accordance with the Code of Practice - Low Impact activities affecting flying-fox roosts

2.4  Collaborate with the RSPCA, relevant government departments, and wildlife organisations to proactively manage heat stress impact on flying-foxes and associated impacts. 

Our knowledge about flying-foxes is constantly developing, and Council is proactively working with regional partners to build local knowledge in order to be better informed. Flying-fox roosts and foraging habitats cross all tenures and government area boundaries. Management of any one site or species often involves various landholders and Council seeks to work collaboratively with our neighbours.

Outcomes

3.1  Collaborate with State, Commonwealth and other local governments on all matters relating to the management of flying-foxes, including community safety, compliance, conservation and recovery planning

3.2  Participate in and link to external flying-fox management working groups, relevant forums and work with other stakeholders

3.3  Establish partnerships with universities and reputable flying-fox conservation and research groups

3.4  Access research information and data on flying-fox population numbers and movements to proactively manage local roosts.