Council monitors flying fox numbers at known roosts in the region throughout the year, and the data is used to inform flying fox management. View Council’s monitoring data.
Council adopts a balanced approach to flying fox roost management that recognises the well-being of residents and the need for responsible management of wildlife. Council’s preferred approach is to create buffer zones between flying foxes and houses through modification of non-native vegetation within roosts on Council-managed land.
Council can provide advice to property owners but does not reimburse residents for work to mitigate impacts of flying foxes on privately owned land. Further information can be found in Council's Statement of Management intent to manage flying fox roosts(PDF, 943KB).
In 2021, the Queensland Government’s Department of Environment and Science announced the delivery of $2 million in grant funding over a four year period (2021-2024) to assist Local Governments to mitigate the impacts of flying fox colonies on the community.
Council has successfully obtained funding through this grant to contribute towards several projects to assist with mitigating the impacts of flying fox colonies in our region, including:
- Collaborative project between 12 Local Governments to develop a ten-year best-practice regional management plan for flying fox roosts.
- Roost habitat predictive modelling and analysis of historic roost sites.
- DNA analysis of urban flying-fox diets to inform landscape planning and guidance materials for residents, planners, developers, business owners and conservation groups on co-existing with flying-foxes.
- Develop an interactive, interpretative, and portable digital touch screen display which will educate the community about flying foxes, their role in the environment and how to co-exist with them.
- Relocate an existing footpath and park furniture away from a flying-fox roost and install associated interpretative signage at Sweeny Reserve, Petrie.
- Install interpretative signage and a cantilevered roof over a pedestrian path that is beneath a flying-fox roost at Shirley Creek, Bongaree.