State and federal legislation will need to change for Yetman’s flying fox colony problem to be fully addressed, Inverell Shire councillors decided in their Wednesday meeting.
According to Councillor Kate Dight, a Yetman resident, the colony of Grey-headed Flying Foxes has grown to around two million.
“It’s a huge colony,” she said. “It’s affecting the residents, it’s affecting the whole town.”
Mrs Dight said locals were living with bat excretions on the streets, strong odors and a number of health risks as a result of the camp.
Yetman is not the only town with flying fox issues. Tamworth is struggling to disperse a 100,000-strong population.
Director of civil and environmental services Brett McInnes gave the council an update on the issue after an inspection from an Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH) senior operations officer.
Mr McInnes noted that as the colony live on Crown land, the council must negotiate with the Department of Industry, Lands and Forestry if they wish to modify any vegetation. A Crown lands officer will inspect the site on Monday.
Councillor Mal Peters noted that the flying foxes status as vulnerable under the NSW OEH creates further complications for the council, who are restricted in their mitigation measures under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act.
Although the OEH left the council with a list of possible mitigation measures including water quality testing, the installation of first flush systems, covered walkways to the school and tree lopping; Mr McInnes argued that the costs involved in dispersing the colonies were unrealistic.
He said the current legislation which required the local council to take the lead in addressing the issue was inadequate, and that state agencies have better resources to manage bat camps.
Cr Dight moved that the council discuss the matter with Member for Northern Tablelands Adam Marshall to seek further advice from OEH. The motion was passed.
“The community needs to ask Adam Marshall, what the hell’s the state government going to do about this - because it’s their problem,” Cr Peters said.
The council also agreed to call for a review of the legislation on bat management at the next local government NSW conference.
Mr Peters suggested the council discusses the EPBC Act with deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce in future.
Published on Mar 26, 2017
“The community needs to ask Adam Marshall, what the hell’s the state government going to do about this - because it’s their problem,” Cr Peters said.
The council also agreed to call for a review of the legislation on bat management at the next local government NSW conference.
Mr Peters suggested the council discusses the EPBC Act with deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce in future.
Published on Mar 26, 2017
The colony of Grey-headed Flying Foxes have been in near-constant residence along the Yetman township on the shores of the Macintyre River since about Christmas of 2016. This segment is just outside Iris and John Barry's backyard.
The sound hits you before the smell, which comes shortly, along with the arresting site of thousands of Grey-headed Flying Foxes in flight over the Macintryre River at Yetman.
“There they go. All day,” Yetman resident Iris Barry said, as the sky outside her back veranda blackened with a massive wave of the animals flying in sudden consternation.
“And it just drives us crazy. Literally.”
People don’t realise it’s not just a few bats flying around. It’s a total disruption of our way of life.- Iris Barry
The Grey-headed Flying Fox is listed as vulnerable under the NSW, and this colony of the protected species has historically roosted along Yetman’s riverbank.
They return for several weeks each year, but this time, their stay has almost doubled, and they show no signs of moving on.
Iris and John Barry have lived in their home on the riverbank for about 11 years, and run the caravan park next door. The Barrys anticipate the animals’ arrival, usually timed with the Mulberry season and their departure, after about a five to six-week stay.
Now the family watch as the foxes hang an arm’s length from their back veranda when they come into roost each dawn, and take roost on the power lines outside their home in the mornings.
“They trip the power something chronic,” Iris said, twisting the top off a bottle of water. She explained they drink and cook with the bottled water as the foxes roost over the house.
“We put in new rainwater tanks – we can’t drink our rainwater,” she said.
Caravan park visitors now abbreviate their stays to a day or two, due to the cacophony and the foxes defecating on their roofs and pegged-out laundry.
Iris said a visitor recently left, feeling unwell and intending to visit her GP.
“People don’t realise it’s not just a few bats flying around. It’s a total disruption of our way of life,” Iris said.
People don’t realise it’s not just a few bats flying around. It’s a total disruption of our way of life.- Iris Barry
The Grey-headed Flying Fox is listed as vulnerable under the NSW, and this colony of the protected species has historically roosted along Yetman’s riverbank.
They return for several weeks each year, but this time, their stay has almost doubled, and they show no signs of moving on.
Iris and John Barry have lived in their home on the riverbank for about 11 years, and run the caravan park next door. The Barrys anticipate the animals’ arrival, usually timed with the Mulberry season and their departure, after about a five to six-week stay.
Now the family watch as the foxes hang an arm’s length from their back veranda when they come into roost each dawn, and take roost on the power lines outside their home in the mornings.
“They trip the power something chronic,” Iris said, twisting the top off a bottle of water. She explained they drink and cook with the bottled water as the foxes roost over the house.
“We put in new rainwater tanks – we can’t drink our rainwater,” she said.
Caravan park visitors now abbreviate their stays to a day or two, due to the cacophony and the foxes defecating on their roofs and pegged-out laundry.
Iris said a visitor recently left, feeling unwell and intending to visit her GP.
“People don’t realise it’s not just a few bats flying around. It’s a total disruption of our way of life,” Iris said.
The NSW Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH) has a referral guideline for management of the species, investigated by Inverell Shire Council environmental compliance co-ordinator Phil Sutton earlier this year.
Iris said Phil arrived the day they thought the foxes were actually leaving.
“Four days later, they were back,” she grimaced.
Inverell council general manager Paul Henry said the matter has not been dismissed by council.
“It’s been revisited to be assessed and council informed of the present situation,” Mr Henry said.
The OEH said in a statement the office “works with councils to implement the NSW Flying Fox Camp Management Policy”.
“This Policy aims to help councils and other land managers where flying-fox camps are in close proximity to urban settlements and causing anxiety through noise, odour or health impacts,” a spokesperson for the OEH said.
Iris said Phil arrived the day they thought the foxes were actually leaving.
“Four days later, they were back,” she grimaced.
Inverell council general manager Paul Henry said the matter has not been dismissed by council.
“It’s been revisited to be assessed and council informed of the present situation,” Mr Henry said.
The OEH said in a statement the office “works with councils to implement the NSW Flying Fox Camp Management Policy”.
“This Policy aims to help councils and other land managers where flying-fox camps are in close proximity to urban settlements and causing anxiety through noise, odour or health impacts,” a spokesperson for the OEH said.
The spokesperson said a $1 million Flying-Foxes Grants Program is funded through OEH and administered by Local Government NSW to address identified flying-fox management issues facing NSW councils.
“In the situation at Yetman, OEH encourages the council to seek funds under Stream 2 of the Program to prepare a flying-fox camp management plan,” the spokesperson said.
“The maximum grant funding is up to $15,000, and councils are required to commit matching funds, which can include cash and in-kind contributions.”
They added the OEH is able to provide advice and guidance to the council on preparing the management plan.
“In the situation at Yetman, OEH encourages the council to seek funds under Stream 2 of the Program to prepare a flying-fox camp management plan,” the spokesperson said.
“The maximum grant funding is up to $15,000, and councils are required to commit matching funds, which can include cash and in-kind contributions.”
They added the OEH is able to provide advice and guidance to the council on preparing the management plan.
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