2017-03-07 Planning & Environment Committee Agenda

PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                                         7 MARCH 2017



REPORTS FOR NOTING BY THE COMMITTEE
6                        WALLACE PARK FLYING FOX MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES
DOCUMENT INFORM AT ION




Author                               Flying Fox Management Officer, Tyron de Kauwe
                                     Planning & Infrastructure Department

Index                                ECM/ Subject/ Fauna

Attachments                          1.    Community Feedback Survey

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Not applicable.


RECOMMENDATION
That Council note the report by the Flying Fox Management Officer to the Planning &
Environment Committee Meeting dated 7 March 2017 providing an update on the implementation
of the Wallace Park Flying Fox Management Plan and the costs to continue to implement the
Plan which will be considered during the 2017/18 budget process.


REPORT
1.                       BACKGROUND
The Grey-headed Flying-fox (Pteropus poliocephalus) is listed as vulnerable under the
Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act), and
recognised to have a declining population across its range. According to the EPBC Act Policy
Statement, camps are considered nationally important if they have contained ≥ 10,000 grey-
headed flying-foxes in more than one year in the last 10 years, or have been occupied by more
than 2,500 grey-headed flying-foxes permanently or seasonally every year for the last 10 years.
Since the beginning of the year, the Flying Fox Management Officer has identified between 305
and 1865 grey-headed flying-foxes routinely roosting in Wallace Park.
Due to the high conflict between flying-foxes and residents adjacent to Wallace Park, Noosa
Council engaged Ecosure to develop a Management Options Report and a Flying Fox
Management Plan. Based on recommendations from these reports and experience of other
management programs, Council implemented four main strategies:
1.                       Creation of a vegetative buffer through habitat clearing around the perimeter of the
                         Western and Southern sides of Wallace Park.
2.                       Installation and trial of a sprinkler deterrent system. Eight sprinklers were installed in the
                         canopy along a trial area on the Western perimeter to disturb and deter roosting flying-
                         foxes a further 15-20 metres and extend the size of the buffer zone.
3.                       Provision of a subsidised services initiative to provide residents within the high conflict area
                         vehicle and clothesline covers, automatic air fresheners, two free professional solar panel
                         cleans and free loaning of high pressure water cleaners.
4.                       Employment of a Flying Fox Management Officer to liaise with residents and implement
                         strategies 2 and 3




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