Funding boost for local flying-fox management programs

• The Palaszczuk Government is providing more than $200,000 in funding for ten projects aimed at managing flying-fox roosts in communities across Queensland
• The funding will be shared by nine local councils and will support projects including the development of long-term roost management plans, vegetation management and training for council staff

Ten flying-fox management projects in nine local government areas across Queensland will share in more than $200,000 in funding to support the protection of flying-fox roosts while mitigating noise, odours and damage to crops.

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.

This latest round of funding has been made available as part of the Palaszczuk Government’s four-year, $2 million commitment to support local governments’ management of flying-foxes.

The Department of Environment and Science is working closely with the Local Government Association of Queensland in administering 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 Palaszczuk Government’s 2023/24 State Budget extends the local Government grants program for Flying-Fox Roost Management with an additional $500,000 per year for the next three years.

Quotes attributable to the Minister for the Environment and the Great Barrier Reef, Leanne Linard:

“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 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 ten 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.”

Further information:

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 $9000 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.

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

For information about living with flying foxes, visit: https://www.qld.gov.au/environment/plants-animals/animals/living-with/bats/flying-foxes/about-flying-foxes/living-near-flying-foxes

ENDS

Media contact: Scott Chandler – (07) 3719 7339