Time to move on flying-foxes!

16 December 2022

Following nuisance concerns from the community, Southern Downs Regional Council is preparing to ease a roost of flying-foxes from an urban area in Stanthorpe in the week beginning Monday 19 December 2022.

Council officers have been closely monitoring a local roost on Lock Street and liaising with the impacted residents to explore management options.

Director of Director Planning and Environmental Services, Scott Riley said Council was committed to the practical and sustainable management of flying-foxes with due consideration to its obligation under the Queensland Nature Conservation Act 1992.

“While flying-foxes play a significant role in the healthy functioning of natural ecosystems as pollinators of many of our native trees and shrubs, managing roosts is a complex issue requiring careful consideration of a range of options to achieve a realistic balance between economic factors, public health and safety, animal welfare issues and ecological sustainability,” Mr Riley said.

“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 when managing the animals’ roosting activities.

“Most recently, Council has been working with a number of residents to ecologically manage a local roost, and in the coming days, we will engage qualified contractors to employ light and water tactics to ease the flying-foxes into a nearby reserve.

“Ultimately, 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 three flying-fox species that frequent the Southern Downs include the Little Red Flying-Fox (LRFF; Pteropus scapulatus); Black Flying-Fox (BFF; P. lecto); and Grey-Headed Flying-Fox (GHFF; P. poliocephalus).

While all three species often occupy the same roosts in urban areas, slight differences in their seasonal movements, behaviour and ecology can result in complex management issues and varying levels of conflict between flying-foxes and the community.

Going forward, Council will consider a review of the Flying-Fox Management Plan and the viability of establishing a permanent remote roost.

Based on scientific understanding, the purpose of the plan is to guide Council’s response to managing flying-foxes when and where they occur, particularly in residential and other sensitive sites in urban areas.