Draft Flying-Fox Management Plan Open for Community Feedback

Council, in conjunction with Ecosure Environmental Consultancy, has developed a draft Flying-fox Management Plan to address the challenges posed by flying-fox populations in the Charters Towers Region.

Over many years, the state governments preferred method of flying-fox management has revolved around learning to live with flying-foxes in a sustainable way, and this has proved challenging.

There is a delicate balance that must be found between meeting community and business expectation, preserving our delicate ecosystem and funding flying-fox initiatives in a fair, considered, and responsible way.

Mayor Liz Schmidt said flying-foxes and their habitat are protected under Queensland and Australian law and their management is a very complex issue.

“Development of this plan has taken into consideration various legislation and policy on the national, state, and regional levels, as well as the community’s needs, and we’re hoping we’re somewhat close to getting the balance right,” said Mayor Schmidt.

To ensure the draft is reflective of the community’s priorities while balancing environmental and legal considerations, Council sought public input via a survey and workshop in September - October last year.

Primary impacts identified by the region’s residents included loss of amenity, noise, smell, property damage, health concerns, impacts to sleep, damage to property from faecal droppings, and disruption caused by management actions.

The draft plan provides a framework for managing flying-foxes in urban settings within the Charters Towers region.

“We’re now asking the community to provide feedback on the draft Plan through Council’s Have Your Say portal before it is finalised,” continued Mayor Schmidt.

The draft plan is open for public comment until Thursday, 16 January 2025 and can be viewed at haveyoursay.charterstowers.qld.gov.au/.  Hardcopies are also available at Council’s Administration Centre and Excelsior Library.

This Strategy is being developed with the support of the Queensland Government Flying-Fox Roost Management Local Government Grant Program.

For more information on this project, please call Council on 07 4761 5300.