1. Purpose
McLeod Country Golf Club is located on private property at Mount Ommaney and has a roost
of flying foxes. Under the current Animal Care and Protection Act 2001, an RSPCA officer
may have a right of entry to a property where the owner has provided permission to enter.
2. Consistency with other jurisdictions
If a colony consists of grey-headed or spectacled flying-foxes any new flying-fox
management strategies may require approval from the Commonwealth under the
Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
Flying-fox populations are known to carry viruses deadly to humans: the Australian Bat
Lyssavirus which is closely related to common rabies lyssavirus; Salmonella;
leptospirosis; Sars; and Hendra virus.
3. Scope
This policy applies to situations whereby outside agencies, particularly the RSPCA have been
alerted to injured, sick or dying flying-foxes located on the private property owned by the
McLeod Country Golf Club as a result of unusual weather.
4. Policy Statement
McLeod Golf Club will ensure it manages of the risks associated with the flying-fox roost
located within the boundary of the property provided that:
• McLeod staff will not attend to injured, sick, dying or dead flying foxes on the
property as they have not been trained in their handling.
• The RSPCA or their delegated third party organisation may attend these animals
provided they accept all the risks associated with the health management of the
flying-foxes and their environment, including from other animals and the terrain.
5. Procedure
A. The RSPCA will call the General Manager on the mobile phone 0418989344 and request
permission to enter the property where there are a significant number of flying-foxes in
distress.
B. The RSPCA will advise if they intend to request assistance from a third party
organisation to assist with the management of the flying-foxes.
C. The General Manager will notify the Green’s Superintendent that permission has been
given for the RSPCA to enter the property and arrange to meet their representative at
the Westlake Drive gate to let them in.
D. The RSPCA officer will show the Green’s Superintendent or delegate their RSPCA
identity badge.
E. The Green’s Superintendent or delegate will then provide access the property via the
gate.
F. The RSPCA officer should contact the Green’s Superintendent to close the gate when
leaving the property.
G. Should the RSPCA wish to delegate care to another organisation then each organisation
must email the General Manager on manager@mcleodgolf.com.au advising the contact
details of the organisation that has been contacted by the RSPCA to assist with the
management of the flying-foxes and follow these procedures:
a. Send a scanned copy of the current insurance certificate with the email that
covers each organisation’s volunteers for any unforeseen circumstances,
including personal injury for whatever reason (including being hit by a golf ball)
and by animals.
b. provide a written undertaking not to damage the property in any way
c. to only enter and exit the property via the unlocked gate
d. the General Manager will then notify the Green’s Superintendent (or delegate)
that permission has been given for the organisation volunteers to enter the
property and arrange to meet their representative at the gate on Westlake Drive
to let them in.
e. the volunteers will meet the Green’s Superintendent or delegate at the gate to
access the property.
f. the Green’s Superintendent or delegate will check the name of the organisation
prior to opening the gate.
g. Where the gate is already open, organisations will still follow steps G + (a&b)
Should anyone be found on the property without following the outlined procedure they
will be asked to leave immediately as they will be considered to be trespassing.
At no time will cars be given permission to enter the fenced perimeter of McLeod
property due to the risk of stray golf balls hitting a vehicle.
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