MOUNT Isa residents hopeful for a bat -free start to spring may have to wait a bit longer before problem suburbs are rid of the pesky vermin.
Environment Minister Andrew Powell said yesterday he was currently consulting "widely" on the matter, but had no set date to enact the permit changes.
"When those consultations are finalised we will then move the legislative changes through the property processes so it is difficult for me to give a set time as to when these changes will be enacted at this stage."
He said the changes included a faster approval process and longer permits for councils to move flying foxes on using "non-lethal" methods.
"We have said that we will work with local councils to use non-lethal means of moving nuisance colonies of flying foxes on, there is no intent to issue lethal DMPs to councils."
Mayor Tony McGrady said the Environment Minister had not contacted his office for a consultation.
"We welcome his statement and would be delighted to sit down with him and his offices to work out a strategy to deal with bats in Mount Isa," Cr McGrady said.
"It's a new government and a new minister so they're probably trying to find their feet, but I've got every confidence that at the appropriate time it will be handled.
"If we don't hear in the near future we'll be knocking on his door."
Plagues of bats caused residents in Sunset and surrounding suburbs widespread problems late last year and earlier this year, roosting in hundreds of back yard trees and creating terrible smell and noise issues.
