2015-07-21 Planning & Organisation Committee Agenda

PLANNING & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                       21 JULY 2015


In 2014, the flying foxes followed a similar pattern, albeit earlier in the season.

It should be noted that it is not unusual for flying foxes to exist in the Noosa area. There is
normally a small population of 2,000 - 3,000 flying foxes, either at Wallace Park, Goat Island or
Weyba Creek. In 2007, a large number of flying foxes camped at Weyba Creek for three
seasons. Within the Shire there are flying fox camps at Cooran and Kinmond Creek, and there
are neighbouring camps in the Sunshine Coast and Gympie areas. It is highly likely that flying
foxes from these camps visit Wallace Park when food is locally available. Individual flying foxes
are known to constantly interchange camps across the east coast of Australia.

It is unknown whether large numbers of flying foxes will return to camps within Noosa, including
Wallace Park, in 2016. This will depend on the availability of their primary food source, the nectar
from flowering Eucalypt and Melaleuca trees.

2.    Information and Education

Currently customer requests concerning flying foxes are managed by the Planning and
Environment Branch. The majority of these requests concern the Wallace Park Bushland
Reserve flying fox colony and occurred in May/June this year when flying fox numbers were at
their peak. In 2015, ES had a total of 27 registered concerns/complaints from eleven (11)
residents. There are sixteen (16) residents that share a common boundary with Wallace Park
and are at times in close proximity to the colony. However the majority of the
concerns/complaints were generated by residents not living immediately next to the flying fox
colony. Complaints concerned noise, smell, droppings and risks of infection from the flying foxes.
In 2014 and 2015 flying fox fact sheets were letterbox dropped to neighbouring residents and
there have been multiple Council media releases on the issue.

3.    Widening of Buffers
As per the previous Council resolution of 26 June 2014, widening of buffers between residents
and the flying fox colony were initiated by the Natural Areas Team:

Northern pathway
In July 2014, vegetation overhanging the northern pathway on the road reserve was cleared to
increase buffers as flying foxes were overhanging the pathway and pedestrians were having to
walk under the bat colony. These works were largely completed and the $5,000 budget allocation
expended. The Noosa Parks Association and members of the local Wallace Park Bushcare
Group were consulted prior to works, but objected to the scale of these works, once
implemented.

Lewis Street and Sunrise Avenue, Tewantin
Further works are planned to widen and trim the fire trail buffer behind Lewis Street and Sunrise
Avenue, Tewantin subject to budget approval however the site is waterlogged. Under the State
Flying Fox Code of Practice, works cannot commence while the flying foxes are roosting on site.
Therefore, any works can only commence once the flying foxes have moved away. At times,
works can be undertaken at night when the camp is normally vacant. Night works are noisier for
residents and are more costly.

4.    Dead or Dying Bats

On occasion, dead or dying bats are reported to Council. With populations numbering 30,000 at
times, the occasional dead bat is not unusual. Dead bats are collected for disposal by Council’s
Natural Areas Team or ES, or Flying Fox Rescue. Sick or injured bats are managed by Flying
Fox Rescue which has been the recipient of Council grant funding for this service.



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