Eleven flying fox projects across Queensland have been funded in the latest round of the state’s flying fox management grant program.
Environment Minister Meaghan Scanlon said the Palaszczuk Government’s third round of funding would provide $300,000 to ten councils to help protect and mange flying foxes in their communities.
“Flying foxes play a vital role in the local ecosystem, but when they congregate in large numbers at roosts, they can cause an issue with nearby communities due to the noise, smell and mess they generate,” Minister Scanlon said.
“Councils and Queenslanders told us they wanted help to lessen the impacts of flying-foxes on their communities while also making sure they can continue to play their important ecological role.
“That’s why we committed $2 million to help communities manage roosts and develop both immediate and longer-term programs that will promote a healthy co-existence. It’s about protecting the our environment and great lifestyle, while also helping councils provide better services and good jobs.
“These eleven new projects will increase flying fox habitat by dealing with short-term issues, such as weed control, and developing long-term roost management plans for several roosts across a local government area.
The projects include:
- Livingstone Shire Council – $23,800 to control the weed coastal morning glory at an Emu Park roost site and $45,500 to develop a flying fox roost management plan for four roosts in the Livingstone local government area
- Goondiwindi Regional Council – $15,400 to identify suitable areas in the region where permanent flying fox roosts could be developed
- Gympie Regional Council – $42,000 to develop a management plan for flying fox roosts in the Gympie local government area
- Ipswich City Council – $30,000 to update the 2014 Ipswich flying fox roost management plan to incorporate new long-term roost management strategies
- Noosa Shire Council – $5,000 to manage a roost at an aged care centre at Cooroy
- Sunshine Coast Council – $65,000 to develop a ten-year best-practice regional management plan for flying fox roosts in 12 SEQ local government areas.
- Rockhampton Regional Council – $30,360 to disperse flying foxes currently roosting in the Botanic Gardens
- Banana Shire Council – $5,026 to install educational signage to promote community understanding of flying fox conservation
- Logan City Council – $20,000 to conduct weed control at the Regents Park roost site
- Moreton Bay Regional Council – $18,900 for roost habitat predictive modelling and analysis of historical roost sites
“Of course, our strong environmental laws ensure that we continue to protect flying foxes, which helps maintain the biodiversity of our forests by dispersing seeds and pollen throughout Queensland.
“This funding has allowed the successful councils to develop projects to manage flying fox roosts in their communities, to reduce the impacts on nearby residents and promote co-existence with flying foxes.”
Information about the grants program can be found here: https://www.qld.gov.au/environment/plants-animals/animals/living-with/bats/flying-foxes/managing-impacts-of-flying-foxes/flying-fox-roost-management-local-government-grants-program
