Grey headed flying foxes have set up camps in a few locations across Eurobodalla and the numbers in the Batemans Bay camps are estimated to have over 100,000 flying foxes this year. This is the highest ever recorded here in living memory and represents about 20 per cent of the entire national grey-headed flying fox population.
Residents and businesses near the camps are experiencing distressing levels of noise, odour and faecal droppings, and have raised concerns about health and amenity.
It appears that the flying foxes have arrived to feed on spotted gums, which are currently flowering, and are a favoured food source. It is unclear where the flying-foxes have come from, but they will have left areas where food is in short supply and come to the Batemans Bay and surrounding areas to take advantage of the food being provided locally and by the surrounding forests.
Flying foxes, often called bats, have been recorded in high numbers at the Batemans Bay Water Gardens since 2013.
Just like previous years, we expect the majority of the flying foxes will move north once the weather turns cooler and the food supply runs short. Recent weekly monitoring indicates that the camp size at Batemans Bay has peaked and is starting to decline in line with the flowering season.
Grey headed flying foxes are a threatened species under State and Federal legislation and while this region is seeing huge numbers, on a national basis they are on the decline primarily due to clearing and modifying of native vegetation.
Residents and businesses near the camps are experiencing distressing levels of noise, odour and faecal droppings, and have raised concerns about health and amenity.
It appears that the flying foxes have arrived to feed on spotted gums, which are currently flowering, and are a favoured food source. It is unclear where the flying-foxes have come from, but they will have left areas where food is in short supply and come to the Batemans Bay and surrounding areas to take advantage of the food being provided locally and by the surrounding forests.
Flying foxes, often called bats, have been recorded in high numbers at the Batemans Bay Water Gardens since 2013.
Just like previous years, we expect the majority of the flying foxes will move north once the weather turns cooler and the food supply runs short. Recent weekly monitoring indicates that the camp size at Batemans Bay has peaked and is starting to decline in line with the flowering season.
Grey headed flying foxes are a threatened species under State and Federal legislation and while this region is seeing huge numbers, on a national basis they are on the decline primarily due to clearing and modifying of native vegetation.
Draft dispersal plan on exhibition until 27 May 2016
Dispersal was carefully considered as an option when the Water Gardens flying fox camp management plan was developed in 2015. In response to the unprecedented growth in the flying fox population since the original plan was developed, we are re-assessing and expanding this Management Plan.
At its meeting on Tuesday 10 May 2016, Council agreed to present a draft flying fox dispersal plan to the community for their feedback.
It is important that we inform community members of the potential risks and factors affecting the likelihood of success before deciding if dispersal should proceed.
The plan outlines costs, timeframes, methods, risks, and alternative actions.
Please read the draft plan and consider the independent assessments and recommendations below and tell us if and when you think dispersal is suitable. You can give us your feedback through our online form, by email, or by post.
As required by NSW and Australian government legislation, any final plan will be submitted to the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage for assessment and approval.
- Recommendations agreed to at the 10 May 2016 Council Meeting (182KB)
- Draft dispersal plan (5.2MB)
- Read a summary and key points of the draft dispersal plan
Independent assessments and recommendations
Two independent scientific reports both recommend against flying fox dispersal in Batemans Bay.
Council commissioned the assessment reports in conjunction with the draft dispersal plan to make sure the community and Council have as much evidence as possible when considering whether or not to proceed with an active dispersal of the flying foxes.
The first report from Ecosure strongly recommends against dispersal and describes the Batemans Bay scenario as the highest risk dispersal they have assessed.
The second report is by EcoLogical, who prepared the Water Gardens flying fox camp management plan for Council in December as well as the draft dispersal plan. It states that any type of dispersal or disturbance is high risk and unlikely to succeed because of the likelihood of the flying-foxes relocating to other unsuitable or inappropriate sites.
The EcoLogical report considers a wide range of actions that have been implemented or considered at other flying-fox camps, or that have been suggested by the community. Each action, many of which overlap with recommendations made by Ecosure, is costed and has recommendations.
We encourage you to review the draft dispersal plan and to consider the advice in the independent reports before commenting about if and when a dispersal is the best approach.
- Batemans Bay flying fox camp assessment - Ecosure (4.1MB)
- Batemans Bay flying fox management options - EcoLogical (2.2MB)
Find out more
- Get answers to frequently asked questions about flying foxes, including:
- Why are there so many flying foxes in Batemans Bay?
- Why doesn't Council just get rid of them?
- Can I get sick from flying foxes?
- What about my pets?
- Can I drink the water from my rainwater tank?
- Can I get a car or clothesline cover from Council?
- Read some tips from residents about living near flying foxes.
- Find out about the grey headed flying fox species.
Expressions of interest for casual or volunteer flying fox dispersal officers
Council is seeking expressions of interest from people who may have the ability and willingness to assist with dispersal activities should Council decide to proceed with dispersal.
Help for residents
We have worked with the community to develop a management plan to address the concerns of residents near the Water Gardens and the broader community, while not creating conflict between people and the flying foxes elsewhere, and managing the camp consistent with statutory requirements.
As part of this plan, we will maintain the buffer zones created last year where we pruned and removed some vegetation between the dwellings at the Water Gardens and provide practical help to eligible residents, including free rental of a high pressure cleaning, car cover, clothesline cover, and removal of cocoas palms - which attract flying foxes - from their yards.
Eligible residents include:
- residents living within 250 metres of the Batemans Bay water gardens
- Batemans Bay residents living on South Street, Pacific Street, High Street, Short Street, Old Princes Hwy, Bent Street, Bavarde Avenue and Orient Street
- Catalina residents living on Heron Road, Country Club Drive, Albatross Road, Sandpiper Place, Penguin Place, Crane Court, Gull Close, Ibis Place and Gannet Place.
To apply for these subsidised services, complete the application form below and return it to us.
Downloads
- Application form for subsidised services (360KB)
- Answers to frequently asked questions about flying foxes in Eurobodalla (294KB)
- Water Gardens Grey Headed Flying Fox Camp Management Plan (4.5MB)
- Mayor's report to 10 May 2016 Council Meeting (358KB)
- Draft flying fox dispersal plan, May 2016 (5.2MB)
- Batemans Bay flying fox camp assessment - Ecosure (4.1MB)
- Batemans Bay flying fox management options - EcoLogical (2.2MB)
More information, research, NSW Health fact sheets
There is a lot of research underway to try and understand the behaviour of flying foxes so we can better manage their interaction with people, particularly in urban areas.
- NSW Health fact sheet: Australian Bat Lyssavirus.
- NSW Health fact sheet: Hendra virus.
- Listen to independent ecological expert Dr Peggy Eby's interview on ABC South East NSW radio recorded on 21 April 2016.
- Dr Eby was the lead author on the Australian Government's 2009 National Recovery Plan for grey headed flying foxes.
- visit the Office of Environment and Heritage website
- phone Lorraine Oliver from the Office of Environment and Heritage on 02 6229 7120
- phone Council's Natural Resource Officer, Courtney Fink-Downes on 02 4474 7493.
If you would like to find out more:
Council's latest updates
We have been sharing information about the impact flying foxes are having on the community and Council's actions via local media outlets, in our online newsletter, Council News, and on our facebookand twitter accounts.
- 17-05-2016 - Mayor welcomes Federal Government flying fox assistance
- 13-05-2016 - Independent reports recommend against flying fox dispersal
- 11-05-2016 - Community has two weeks to comment on flying fox dispersal plan
- 06-05-2016 - Council to consider draft flying fox dispersal plan on Tuesday
- 06-05-2016 - Flying fox taskforce chairman appointed
- 02-05-2016 - Joint statement on Batemans Bay flying fox colony
- 29-04-2016 - Dispersal plan by next Friday, say Mayor
- 26-04-2016 - Council acts in community interest on flying foxes
- 21-04-2016 - All welcome at Council’s community meetings
- 15-04-2016 - Flying fox dispersal too risky for now
- 12-04-2016 - Flying fox fight goes on
- 25-01-2016 - Practical help for residents affected by Bay flying foxes
- 21-12-2015 - Flying fox management plan adopted
- 27-10-2015 - Flying fox management plan on exhibition
- 01-09-2015 - Have your say about flying-fox camp
- 25-08-2015 - Flying fox buffer and steering committee underway
- 17-08-2015 - Flying fox buffer for residents
- 04-08-2015 - Community help needed for flying fox plan
- 29-06-2015 - Works may bring flying fox relief
- 09-06-2015 - Mayor moves on flying foxes
- 18-05-2015 - Batting around flying fox options
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