2016-11-08 S&O Agenda - Item 1, Attachment 1 - Annual Report 2015-16

PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                         8 NOVEMBER 2016



5                        WALLACE PARK FLYING        FOX AND RESIDENTIAL SUBSIDISED SERVICES
                         INITIATIVE
DOCUMENT INFORM AT ION




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

Index                            ECM / Subject / Fauna

Attachments                      1.   Survey for Potential Subsidised Services Initiative


EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Not Applicable.

RECOMMENDATION
That Council note the report by the Flying Fox Management Officer to the Planning &
Environment Committee Meeting dated 8 November, 2016 and implement a Subsidised Services
Initiative to provide covers for cars and clotheslines, automatic air fresheners, professional
cleaning of solar panels and access to high pressure water cleaners at a total cost of $10,000
based on predicted subscription.


REPORT
1.                       Background
Flying-foxes are ubiquitous in forests across the country and have been so for centuries. They fill
an important ecological role of forest pollination and seed dispersal, but increased urbanisation
has encroached upon flying-fox habitat and increased human-wildlife conflict. Flying-fox numbers
are greatly influenced by food availability, and increase particularly when Eucalypt and Melaleuca
paperbark trees are in flower. Flying-foxes are a concern to some residents because of noise,
smell, property damage from droppings and potential infection. Queensland Health advises that
there are only 3 known cases of infection from Australian Bat Lyssavirus (ABLV) since records
began. In comparison there were 389 deaths from influenza and pneumonia in 2010 alone from
human transmission (Qld Health 2014). ABLV can only be transmitted to humans from saliva of
an infected bat penetrating the skin or contacting a mucous membrane. Therefore, it is advised
that bats should not be handled by the general public, to avoid potentially being bitten or
scratched. If bitten or scratched medical attention must be sought immediately and the bat sent
for ABLV testing.
Although flying-foxes appear plentiful nationally, populations are on the decline and they are a
protected species. Like other flying fauna (e.g. birds), flying-foxes are highly mobile. It is not
possible to control the movement of flying-foxes across the Noosa landscape and they can feed
and roost anywhere and anytime throughout the shire. It is unknown how long camps remain in a
particular location. They can last a few days or can stay for many years. Some residents may find
it difficult to accept that it is unlikely that flying-foxes will leave Noosa Shire.
A review of previous dispersal events by Roberts and Eby (2013) revealed that dispersal
attempts do not result in flying-foxes abandoning the local area. Furthermore, it was shown that
dispersal actions result in colonies splintering and establishing new camps nearby, with
numerous flying-foxes periodically returning to the original site. This showed that 71% of
dispersal programs resulted in unresolved conflict across larger areas and more camp sites,
requiring ongoing dispersal programs at large costs. The successful dispersals of flying-foxes
from the Royal Botanical Gardens at Melbourne and Sydney required over 6 months of separate
actions and cost $3 million and over $1 million respectively to perform. In both of these cases,
animals moved less than 6.5km from the dispersal site.

                                                                                            Page 58 of 70