Ten flying-fox management projects in nine local government areas across Queensland are set to share in more than $200,000 in funding to support the protection of flying-fox roosts while mitigating noise, odours and damage to crops.
Minister for the Environment and the Great Barrier Reef, Leanne Linard said local councils will use the grants to tailor their flying-fox programs to suit their communities and support projects including the development of long-term roost management plans, vegetation management and training for council staff.
“Flying-foxes play a vital ecological role. However, from time-to-time, negative flying-fox and human interactions can occur around urban roost sites, particularly when flying-fox numbers increase rapidly in a particular location,” the Minister said.
“The Palaszczuk Government recognises the need for flying-foxes to be managed in a way that addresses both community expectations regarding the need for local amenity and the long-term conservation of these species in the wild.
“These 10 new projects will assist councils in managing and enhancing flying-fox habitat, developing long-term roost management plans for their local government areas and providing localised grant schemes for residents and businesses impacted by individual flying-fox roosts.”
She said the Department of Environment and Science was working closely with the Local Government Association of Queensland to administer the grants program, to ensure that grant funds are targeted to the areas of greatest need and will provide the maximum long-term benefits for flying-fox roost management in council LGAs.
The State Government’s 2023/24 State Budget extended the local Government grants program for Flying-Fox Roost Management, with an additional $500,000 per year pledged for the next three years.
The successful projects include:
- Townsville City Council – $28,700 to develop a long-term roost management plan for the area;
- Douglas Shire Council – $42,000 to develop a long-term roost management plan for the area;
- Gladstone Regional Council – $37,769 for a localised invite-only grant scheme for residents and businesses directly impacted by flying fox-roosts in the region and to enable the purchasing of goods and services aimed at mitigating roost impacts;
- Sunshine Coast Regional Council – $17,000 for stakeholder engagement and creation of new flying-fox communication strategy to be included in the 10-year SCRC Regional Flying-fox Roost Management Plan;
- Logan City Council – $20,920 to revegetate 3,750m2 of an existing roost at Regents Park with 1500 mid-storey plants;
- Gympie Regional Council – $9,744 to revegetate a roost site at Widgee Crossing;
- Rockhampton Regional Council – $20,250 for a localised grant scheme for residents directly impacted by flying-fox roosts at the Rockhampton Botanical Gardens and Westwood and $9,000 for tree trimming at the Rockhampton Botanical Gardens;
- Noosa Shire Council – $12,914 for the provision of a flying-fox roost monitoring program and for a council staff training program in monitoring flying-foxes by an environmental consultant;
- Southern Downs Regional Council – $18,235 to undertake rehabilitation works of an alternative roost site.
