Flying Fox Management Plan

The Grey-headed Flying-foxes are listed as a threatened species both state wide and nationally.

Therefore Council must prepare a Camp Management Plan (CMP) before undertaking any management actions.

In August 2020, Council adopted a Camp Management Plan for the Tarban Creek Grey-headed Flying-fox camp and engaged Ecological Consultants Australia Pty Ltd to provide expert input into the Plan.

Extensive community consultation was also undertaken.

Grey-headed Flying-fox pose no direct health hazards to humans, unless you are bitten or scratched. The risk of acquiring a transmissible disease from the grey-headed flying fox is extremely low. If you do happen to come into contact with flying fox faeces or urine, you should immedaitely apply basic hygiene measures to the affected area.

Please never handle a flying fox. As they are liable to defend themselves vigorously, you may sustain injuries to yourself, or you may impart injuries to the animal.

If you find a flying fox that has sustained a serious injury, you should immediately call WIRES on 1300 094 737.

Flying Fox Action Plan

As of 1 December 2023:

Action	Started	Completed	Evidence
Pre-planning
Engage a (Ecological Consultants Australia Pty Ltd) to provide expert input in the Management Plan.	Jan-18	Jan-18	Ecological Consultants Australia prepared the CMP.
Community Consultation round 1, online survey.	Jun-18 and Jun-21	Jun-18 and Jun-21	111 online, 49 household, 49 park and 85 second online surveys. Another online survey was commissioned in June 2021 and will close on Friday 23 July.
Community Consultation round 2, online survey - exhibitions.	Jul-19	Aug-19	17 public submissions received.
Tarban Creek Flying Fox Camp Management Plan approved by Council.	Aug-20	Aug-20	Council adopted CMP.
HHC successfully applied for a Local Government NSW grant to implement some actions.	Aug-19	Mar-20	LGNSW Grant acquitted.
Arborist engaged to review trees for trim or removal.	Sep-19	Sep-19	Arborist inspected trees along reserve boundaries Richmond Crescent and Manning Road.
We applied and were granted a licence to remove 2 Camphor laurels approved by an arborist (level 2 action) and we replaced with Banksias to limit their spread, completed DPIE.	Sep-19	Sep-19	Two Camphor laurels removed and replaced with two Banksias adjacent to the Manning Road carpark.
Level 1
Some residents have taken up the option offered by letter to residents for odour/ screening and masking plants, that have been ordered and will be delivered shortly.	Apr-21	Apr-21	Plants have been ordered and delivered 22 April 2021. It was difficult to source appropriate plants hence the delay.
Community education and awareness is ongoing. Council has updated Councils Grey-headed Flying-fox webpage. A workshop was proposed at the Priory and a date to be determined.	Aug-20	Ongoing	Council's Flying-fox webpage which includes information on living with flying-foxes and links to the NSW Health webpage on flying-foxes and diseases.
Routine camp management e.g. trimming overhanging branches from pathways will be done in winter when the Flying-foxes are be absent or numbers are very low.	Jun-18	Ongoing	Council will reassess opportunity to trim or remove vegetation shortly.
Bush regeneration contractors are removing weedy understorey along the slopes as part of their annual contract. The strategy is to leave a strip of weedy understorey along the creek line to move Flying-foxes away from the boundaries and into the creek line.	Sep-19	Ongoing	Weedy understorey has been limited to the creekline to encourage Flying-foxes away from reserve boundaries.
Council to provide factual information on living near FF camps.	Jun-18	Ongoing	Council's Flying-fox webpage and brochures distributed during community consultation surveys.
Specifically on disease, as it was a top community concern.	Jun-18	Ongoing	Links to NSW Health webpage on Flying-foxes and disease on Councils website and information sheet distrubuted during community consultation surveys.
Council host Walks and Talks at least annually covering all aspects of ecology of the park including the FF.	Dec-17	Ongoing	Bat talk held December 2017 and further workshop planned.
Continue with routine maintenance.	Jun-18	Ongoing	Council staff continue with routine reserve maintenance.
Identify priority areas for planted vegetation – away from dwellings but within camp vicinity.	Mar-20	Ongoing	Buffer plantings of low vegetation installed along Richmond Crescent and rainforest plants along the creekline with grant funds.
Implement immediately, seek advice from ecologists for planting opportunities, species, costs, maintenance.	Mar-20	Ongoing	Advice sought. There is limited opportunity for further planted vegetation at the location, except for planting native grasses and low groundcovers to the reserve pathway as per Riverglade Reserve PoM. 140 Rainforest species planted along the creekline.
Develop action plan - Alternative habitat design, location, implementation strategy.	Mar-20	Not Completed	Artficial roosts such as old telegraph poles in the reserve have been proposed by the consultant. A REF and grant funding would be required.
Build on existing guidelines as required.	Jan-18	Ongoing	Council staff continue to be guided by Flying-fox Camp Management Code of Practice 2018 and NSW Flying-fox Camp Management Policy 2015.
Research should be implemented in conjunction with other management actions such as; alternative habitat creation and provision of artificial roosting habitat.	Mar-21	Ongoing	Council open to contributing in-kind to Flying-fox research. Installation of automatic irrigation system will be monitored for impact on Flying-fox camp and native vegetation.
Council can provide in-kind contribution to research. External funding from public and/or private organisations would be required for council to facilitate this option internally.	Mar-21	Ongoing	Council open to contributing in-kind to Flying-fox research.
Consider any proposed re-zoning within 100m of the camp.	NA	NA	There is no opportunity for rezoning. Church land is E2 zoning along the foreshore.
Recommendations for appropriate mitigation provisions in DAs.	Not Started	Ongoing	Require discussion with development section of Council to include provisions in updated DCP.
Level 2
Investigate and develop options paper for managing and reducing roost trees adjoining residence – ensure no net loss of habitat.	May-21	Ongoing	Vegetation trimming and removal is likely to be approved in winter months when FFs are absent or in low numbers.
Seek approval from DPIE for level two actions.	Apr-21	May 2021	Report to DPIE for level 1 actions has been submitted. Threatened Species Licence received with conditions for implementing use of sprinklers along Richmond Crescent i.e. level 2 action.
Investigate and develop action plan – identify buffers to be used and priority residence identified.	Mar-21	Jun-21	Action plan developed for use of automatic sprinklers along Richmond Crescent. Council has sought advice from DPIE and engaged successful irrigation contractor. Installation commenced 26 May and completed 11 June 2021.
Actions may form part of external funding - i.e. buffer trials and/or research.	May-21	Ongoing	Regular meetings held with DPIE staff and seeking advice from other Councils with Flying-fox camps. DPIE funding received to install automatic sprinkler system along Richmond Crescent.
Level 3
Investigate and develop action plan for when trigger point is reached.	Mar-21	Ongoing	Investigation and action planning is ongoing.
Implement level one and two actions prior.	Sep-19	Not completed	Level 1 actions have been considered and most implemented to date. Other level 2 actions e.g. vegetation trimming and/or removal are currently being considered.
Not recommended and it would require State and Federal government approval.	May-21	Not completed	Advice sought from DPIE on likely approvals and licencing for management action options. Currently Council must consider and implement where feasible, all level 2 actions before applying for a threatened species licence for level 3 actions e.g. noise.
Often ineffective.		Ongoing	70% of cases active dispersal doesn't work or Flying-foxes move within 1 km of the original site.
Option if other camps form in the Council area.	NA	NA	No new camps formed to date.
Securing funding and identify potential areas for where FF camps may naturally establish.	Jul-20	Jul-20	Potential habitat mapping has been completed and Council has received some external funds from DPIE and LGNSW.
HHC General Manager advocates in writing to DPIE to move to Phase 3.	May-21	May-21	Mayor has written to the Minister requesting assistance to move the level 3 actions.

The Grey-headed Flying-foxes are listed as a threatened species both state wide and nationally.

Therefore Council must prepare a Camp Management Plan (CMP) before undertaking any management actions.

In August 2020, Council adopted a Camp Management Plan for the Tarban Creek Grey-headed Flying-fox camp and engaged Ecological Consultants Australia Pty Ltd to provide expert input into the Plan.

Extensive community consultation was also undertaken.

Please never handle a flying fox. As they are liable to defend themselves vigorously, you may sustain injuries to yourself, or you may impart injuries to the animal.

If you find a flying fox that has sustained a serious injury, you should immediately call WIRES on 1300 094 737.

Flying Fox Action Plan

As of 1 December 2023:

Action	Started	Completed	Evidence
Pre-planning
Engage a (Ecological Consultants Australia Pty Ltd) to provide expert input in the Management Plan.	Jan-18	Jan-18	Ecological Consultants Australia prepared the CMP.
Community Consultation round 1, online survey.	Jun-18 and Jun-21	Jun-18 and Jun-21	111 online, 49 household, 49 park and 85 second online surveys. Another online survey was commissioned in June 2021 and will close on Friday 23 July.
Community Consultation round 2, online survey - exhibitions.	Jul-19	Aug-19	17 public submissions received.
Tarban Creek Flying Fox Camp Management Plan approved by Council.	Aug-20	Aug-20	Council adopted CMP.
HHC successfully applied for a Local Government NSW grant to implement some actions.	Aug-19	Mar-20	LGNSW Grant acquitted.
Arborist engaged to review trees for trim or removal.	Sep-19	Sep-19	Arborist inspected trees along reserve boundaries Richmond Crescent and Manning Road.
We applied and were granted a licence to remove 2 Camphor laurels approved by an arborist (level 2 action) and we replaced with Banksias to limit their spread, completed DPIE.	Sep-19	Sep-19	Two Camphor laurels removed and replaced with two Banksias adjacent to the Manning Road carpark.
Level 1
Some residents have taken up the option offered by letter to residents for odour/ screening and masking plants, that have been ordered and will be delivered shortly.	Apr-21	Apr-21	Plants have been ordered and delivered 22 April 2021. It was difficult to source appropriate plants hence the delay.
Community education and awareness is ongoing. Council has updated Councils Grey-headed Flying-fox webpage. A workshop was proposed at the Priory and a date to be determined.	Aug-20	Ongoing	Council's Flying-fox webpage which includes information on living with flying-foxes and links to the NSW Health webpage on flying-foxes and diseases.
Routine camp management e.g. trimming overhanging branches from pathways will be done in winter when the Flying-foxes are be absent or numbers are very low.	Jun-18	Ongoing	Council will reassess opportunity to trim or remove vegetation shortly.
Bush regeneration contractors are removing weedy understorey along the slopes as part of their annual contract. The strategy is to leave a strip of weedy understorey along the creek line to move Flying-foxes away from the boundaries and into the creek line.	Sep-19	Ongoing	Weedy understorey has been limited to the creekline to encourage Flying-foxes away from reserve boundaries.
Council to provide factual information on living near FF camps.	Jun-18	Ongoing	Council's Flying-fox webpage and brochures distributed during community consultation surveys.
Specifically on disease, as it was a top community concern.	Jun-18	Ongoing	Links to NSW Health webpage on Flying-foxes and disease on Councils website and information sheet distrubuted during community consultation surveys.
Council host Walks and Talks at least annually covering all aspects of ecology of the park including the FF.	Dec-17	Ongoing	Bat talk held December 2017 and further workshop planned.
Continue with routine maintenance.	Jun-18	Ongoing	Council staff continue with routine reserve maintenance.
Identify priority areas for planted vegetation – away from dwellings but within camp vicinity.	Mar-20	Ongoing	Buffer plantings of low vegetation installed along Richmond Crescent and rainforest plants along the creekline with grant funds.
Implement immediately, seek advice from ecologists for planting opportunities, species, costs, maintenance.	Mar-20	Ongoing	Advice sought. There is limited opportunity for further planted vegetation at the location, except for planting native grasses and low groundcovers to the reserve pathway as per Riverglade Reserve PoM. 140 Rainforest species planted along the creekline.
Develop action plan - Alternative habitat design, location, implementation strategy.	Mar-20	Not Completed	Artficial roosts such as old telegraph poles in the reserve have been proposed by the consultant. A REF and grant funding would be required.
Build on existing guidelines as required.	Jan-18	Ongoing	Council staff continue to be guided by Flying-fox Camp Management Code of Practice 2018 and NSW Flying-fox Camp Management Policy 2015.
Research should be implemented in conjunction with other management actions such as; alternative habitat creation and provision of artificial roosting habitat.	Mar-21	Ongoing	Council open to contributing in-kind to Flying-fox research. Installation of automatic irrigation system will be monitored for impact on Flying-fox camp and native vegetation.
Council can provide in-kind contribution to research. External funding from public and/or private organisations would be required for council to facilitate this option internally.	Mar-21	Ongoing	Council open to contributing in-kind to Flying-fox research.
Consider any proposed re-zoning within 100m of the camp.	NA	NA	There is no opportunity for rezoning. Church land is E2 zoning along the foreshore.
Recommendations for appropriate mitigation provisions in DAs.	Not Started	Ongoing	Require discussion with development section of Council to include provisions in updated DCP.
Level 2
Investigate and develop options paper for managing and reducing roost trees adjoining residence – ensure no net loss of habitat.	May-21	Ongoing	Vegetation trimming and removal is likely to be approved in winter months when FFs are absent or in low numbers.
Seek approval from DPIE for level two actions.	Apr-21	May 2021	Report to DPIE for level 1 actions has been submitted. Threatened Species Licence received with conditions for implementing use of sprinklers along Richmond Crescent i.e. level 2 action.
Investigate and develop action plan – identify buffers to be used and priority residence identified.	Mar-21	Jun-21	Action plan developed for use of automatic sprinklers along Richmond Crescent. Council has sought advice from DPIE and engaged successful irrigation contractor. Installation commenced 26 May and completed 11 June 2021.
Actions may form part of external funding - i.e. buffer trials and/or research.	May-21	Ongoing	Regular meetings held with DPIE staff and seeking advice from other Councils with Flying-fox camps. DPIE funding received to install automatic sprinkler system along Richmond Crescent.
Level 3
Investigate and develop action plan for when trigger point is reached.	Mar-21	Ongoing	Investigation and action planning is ongoing.
Implement level one and two actions prior.	Sep-19	Not completed	Level 1 actions have been considered and most implemented to date. Other level 2 actions e.g. vegetation trimming and/or removal are currently being considered.
Not recommended and it would require State and Federal government approval.	May-21	Not completed	Advice sought from DPIE on likely approvals and licencing for management action options. Currently Council must consider and implement where feasible, all level 2 actions before applying for a threatened species licence for level 3 actions e.g. noise.
Often ineffective.		Ongoing	70% of cases active dispersal doesn't work or Flying-foxes move within 1 km of the original site.
Option if other camps form in the Council area.	NA	NA	No new camps formed to date.
Securing funding and identify potential areas for where FF camps may naturally establish.	Jul-20	Jul-20	Potential habitat mapping has been completed and Council has received some external funds from DPIE and LGNSW.
HHC General Manager advocates in writing to DPIE to move to Phase 3.	May-21	May-21	Mayor has written to the Minister requesting assistance to move the level 3 actions.

Page last updated: 13 Dec 2023, 04:06 PM

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