2015-11-16 General Committee Agenda

GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                                              16 NOVEMBER 2015


REPORTS DIRECT TO GENERAL COMMITTEE
1                        WALLACE PARK FLYING FOXES - MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS
DOCUMENT INFORM AT ION




Author                              Principal Environment Officer, Peter Milne
                                    Planning & Infrastructure Department

Index                               ECM/Fauna/Wildlife

Attachments                         1.    Summary of Submissions


EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Not applicable.

RECOMMENDATION
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.


REPORT
At its Ordinary Meeting of 22 October 2015, Council resolved to commence public consultation
on the Wallace Park Flying Fox Management Options report completed by Ecosure Consulting.
This report provides a summary of the public submissions and makes recommendations on the
management of flying foxes at Wallace Park.

1.                       Summary of submissions
A total of sixteen (16) submissions were received from nearby residents, other residents, Ivory
Palms Resort, Bat Rescue Incorporated, Noosa Parks Association and Noosa Integrated
Catchment Association. There was a range of comments from the submitters, including:
    Support for Ecosure’s recommendations
    Want to see the flying foxes moved on
    Do not want the flying foxes disturbed in any way
    Only support some, but not all of Ecosure’s recommendations
    Thought the management options report was inadequate
    Identified technical issues with the report but supports investigating measures to re-
      introduce flying foxes to Goat Island
    Would like to see food corridors established for flying foxes
    Did not support wire/netting/flag deterrent trials
Submissions are summarised in Attachment 1, with a response to each submission provided.

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