2022-08-09 Planning & Environment Meeting Agenda

PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA   9 AUGUST 2022




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PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                              9 AUGUST 2022

           COUNCIL POLICY -— Flying-fox Statement of Management Intent

           Flying-foxes rest and socialise during the day in roosts or camps, leaving each night to forage. They
           appear to be more frequently roosting and foraging in urban areas, likely due to a combination of
           habitat clearing, human encroachment and drought, combined with the opportunities presented by
           year-round food availability from native and exotic species in urban areas. Conflict between flying-
           foxes and humans can arise from issues such as noise, odour, and mess.
           POLICY CONTEXT

           All flying-foxes are native species protected under the Queensland Nature Conservation Act 1992
           (NC Act). The grey-headed flying-fox is nationally threatened due to population decline, affording it
           additional  protection  under   the  Commonwealth     Environment Protection     and   Biodiversity
           Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act).

           Under the NC Act, the Queensland Government provided local government with an ‘as-of-right’
           authority to manage flying-fox roosts within designated Urban Flying-Fox Management Areas
           (UFFMAs; see map below). This authority allows local governments to undertake non-lethal actions
           to manage flying-fox roosts within UFFMAs in accordance with the Queensland Government Code
           of Practice — Ecological sustainable management of flying-fox roosts (Management COP). It is
           important to note that this authority does not obligate Council to manage flying-fox roosts, or provide
           exemptions to other legislation and policies.

           To undertake roost management activities outside designated UFFMAs, or for any action not
           authorised under the Management COP, Council is required to obtain a flying-fox roost management
           permit (FFRMP) from the Department of Environment and Science (DES). A non-council applicant
           is required to obtain a FFRMP to undertake any activity under the Management COP, irrespective
           of the location of the roost. A separate Code of Practice — Low impact activities affecting flying-fox
           roosts (Low Impact COP) details activities that anyone can undertake at or near a flying-fox roost
           without a FFRMP. Any activities that have the potential to destroy a flying-fox roost, drive away flying-
           foxes, or disturb flying-foxes in any way (e.g. impacting roost vegetation or intentionally disturbing
           flying-foxes) are not permitted under the Low Impact COP and cannot be undertaken without
           authority to do so. Any action with the potential to impact on the nationally significant grey-headed
           flying-fox (or a nationally important roost) must also follow the Commonwealth framework pursuant
           to the EPBC Act.

           Anyone authorised by Queensland Government to undertake roost management actions must do so
           in compliance with the Management COP.

           Responsibility for managing flying-foxes under this policy framework will depend on where the roost
           is located. Council's primary obligation is to undertake management actions of flying-fox roosts on
           Council-owned or managed land, and Council will not undertake management actions on State or
           Commonwealth controlled land. Council does not undertake management actions on private land,
           however, Council is committed to providing advice and assistance to occupants affected by a flying-
           fox roost, including landowners, residents, businesses, schools, health care facilities, and other
           commercial operations. Where a roost crosses Council and non-Council land, Council will work
           cooperatively with the affected occupants to develop mitigation actions. The dispersal of flying-foxes
           or destruction of roosts is not supported by Council. Attempts to disperse flying-fox roosts are usually
           unsuccessful and can cause further issues by shifting flying-foxes into other residential areas.

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