Flying fox Management Plan for the region

Last week’s meeting of The Southern Downs Regional Council was told that Black, Little Red and Grey-headed Flying-Foxes are native species that are seasonal visitors to the Southern Downs.

The animals typically arrive in the Southern Downs in spring, occupying three roost sites until the onset of cooler weather in late autumn/early winter.

The known roost sites are currently on Council managed lands in Allora (Dalrymple Creek Park), Stanthorpe (Gleeson Park) and Warwick (McCahon Bridge Park / Cooks Park).

The population of flying foxes at each roost site varies throughout the season ranging from several hundred to 10,000 plus animals.

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 developed by the Queensland Government when managing the animals’ roosting activities.

Southern Downs Councillor Stephen Tancred said the draft plan is part of Council’s ongoing commitment to the practical management of flying-foxes and encouraged the community to have a vested interest in the conversation.

“Flying-foxes play a significant role in the healthy functioning of natural ecosystems as pollinators of many of our native trees and shrubs,” Councillor Tancred said.

“We have many popular and picturesque National Parks across our region, however we can’t cherry-pick where we want flying-foxes to roost.

“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 draft Management Plan was presented to the Pest Management Advisory Committee on 27th November 2020 and has now been developed to the point where broader community input is required prior to further consideration and formal adoption by Council.

The Council has decided on a 30 day consultation period to enable residents to peruse the 60-page document.

A copy of the plan is available on Council’s website at Flying-fox Management Plan – Southern Downs Regional Council (www.sdrc.qld.gov.au/living-here/have-your-say/flying-fox-management-plan)

This article appeared in the Allora Advertiser, 17 August 2022.