This $1 million program is funded through the Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH) and is administered by Local Government NSW to address identified flying-fox management issues facing NSW councils. A combination of competitive and non-competitive funding is available.
Applications for funding are now open.
How much is available?+
A total of $1 million in funding has been made available to NSW councils under the Flying-foxes Grants Program.
Funding is available under three streams:
Stream 1 – Implementing emergency flying-fox camp management measures where there are significant community impacts.
Maximum grant size: $50,000
Applications can be made any time up to 30 April 2018 and will receive funding if they are for eligible activities and meet the assessment criteria (subject to funding availability).
Stream 2 – Preparing flying-fox camp management plans.
Maximum grant size: $15,000
Applications can be made any time up until 2 February 2018 and will receive funding if they are for eligible activities and meet the assessment criteria (subject to funding availability).
Stream 3 – Implementing approved actions in flying-fox camp management plans.
Maximum grant size: $50,000
Applications will be assessed on a contestable basis against other applications using the assessment criteria
The fourth funding round is open and closes 3 November 2017
Additional funding rounds will be called if funds are available.
NSW Local Government Flying-fox Forum and the National Flying-fox Forum+
The National Flying-fox Forum, Sydney - Wednesday 25 October
The NSW Local Government Flying-fox Forum - Thursday 26 October
Council officers working on flying-fox management issues are encouraged to attend the national event and the NSW Local Government forum the following day. The LG Forum will be a chance for councils to share experiences and identify further opportunities for managing Flying-foxes. Registration to the Local Government Flying-fox Forum is open here, which is a free event for councils. We are also keen to hear from councils who would like to give a short presentation about their experiences and/or projects under the Flying-fox Grants Program.
Further information contact: Rod Hardwick, Flying-fox Project Officer rod.hardwick@lgnsw.org.au or Susy Cenedese susy.cenedese@lgnsw.org.au
Are you aware of upcoming changes to wildlife licensing?
The Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 is scheduled to commence from 25 August 2017.
Existing wildlife licence classes, conditions and fees will remain in place after the Act begins.
Proposed changes to wildlife licensing under the new Act will be exhibited for public comment in the second half of 2017. These changes are expected to be taken up during 2018.
Learn more about the wildlife licensing reforms.
The Flying-fox Camp Management Policy 2015 empowers land managers, primarily local councils, to work with their communities to manage flying-fox camps effectively. It provides the framework within which the Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH) will make regulatory decisions. In particular, the policy strongly encourages local councils and other land managers to prepare camp management plans for sites where the local community is affected.
Management of flying-foxes also requires recognition that, as native animals, they are protected in NSW under the Biodiversity ConservationAct 2016
(BC Act) and the Grey-headed flying-fox is listed as a threatened species under the BC Act and the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act 1999 (Cwth). The Australian Government provides guidance on whether management actions at a flying-fox camp are 'controlled actions' under the EPBC Act.The Flying-fox Camp Management Policy 2015 differs from the previous 2007 policy in its focus on minimising the impacts of camps on people; its longer-term approach to camp management and streamlining of licensing; and its acknowledgement that camp dispersal may be a successful way of removing impacts on local communities.
Resources
This policy is supported by resources addressing management options including disturbance, licensing and flying-fox ecology, case studies of camp management and information on health issues. This page will be updated with resources as they are finalised.
Revised Flying-fox Camp Management Plan Template 2016 (DOC 4.5MB)
Threatened Species Licence
General flying-fox information
Fact sheets
Why the Grey-headed Flying-fox is listed as a threatened species
Working with communities living with flying-foxes
Cocos palm impacts on flying-foxes
Routine camp management (Level 1) actions
Creation of buffers (Level 2) actions
Camp disturbance or dispersal (Level 3) actions
Responding to heat stress in flying-fox camps
Monitoring, evaluating and reporting on management actions at flying-fox camps
Data sheets
Creation of buffers (Level 2) actions - Monitoring data sheet (DOC 861KB)
Camp disturbance or dispersal (Level 3) actions - Monitoring data sheet (DOC 1MB)
Responding to heat stress in flying-fox camps - Monitoring data sheet (DOC 90KB)
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