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

PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                               8 NOVEMBER 2016


5.    Ongoing Costs
Estimate only        Frequency            Staff time (hrs)   Time period         Cost
Labour
Depot staff taking   Weekly               0.5 hrs per week   Annual              $1,170 ($45/hr)
identification and
storing pressure
cleaners and fruit
covers
Total operational                                                                $1,170
costs 2016/17


Previous Council Consideration
Ordinary Meeting 19 November 2015, Item 8, Page 17
That Council note the report by the Principal Environment Officer to the General Committee
Meeting dated 16 November 2015 and:
A.    Thank the submitters for their comments on the Ecosure flying fox management options
      report;
B.    Agree to implement the flying fox management actions as detailed in the report, including
      funding of $23,500 for buffer creation in priority management areas as well as interpretive
      signage (with funding to be sourced at the next quarterly budget review);
C.    Review the effectiveness of flying fox deterrent and camp re-establishment trials currently
      being undertaken by other Councils and research organisations and provide a future report
      to Council; and
D.    Continue to monitor the flying foxes and provide educational material for residents and
      visitors.


Finance & Risk
A budget request for staffing resources and the subsidy scheme will be considered in line with
Council’s budget guidelines. If additional uptake of the subsidised scheme arises then this will be
managed through future budget review processes.
There is a risk that the Subsidised Services Initiative may not achieve as great a positive
community outcome as has been achieved at Eurobodella Shire Council. If Little Red Flying-
Foxes return in large numbers again, the services offered may not be sufficient to address
residents’ concerns and improve their tolerance, and further services may need to be explored
through continued public engagement.
The flying-foxes may vacate the Wallace Park camp at some time, as they did previously at
Weyba Creek and Goat Island, and the Subsidised Services Initiative may not be required.
The current program has engaged 54 residential properties within a 75-metre high-conflict radius
of Wallace Park. Currently, the flying-foxes are located in the north-eastern corner of Wallace
Park and in numbers of less than 3000. Due to high tolerance from residents at the current
population size and location, it is recommended that the service not be provided until the flying-
foxes migrate to the Western boundary and reach a population of over 7000 individuals.
If substantial pressure arises to expand the boundary for access to the services, a 50-metre
extension could be considered to cover more properties.




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