An estimated 125,000 flying foxes took residence in the reserve during March and April making life a misery for residents who are desperately hoping that Great Lakes Council can secure state funding for a plan to manage the increasing population.

The Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH) has advised council that a Flying Fox Management Plan is the only way to meet requirements stipulated by the four pieces of legislation that protect the flying foxes. Council resolved in last month’s ordinary meeting to begin its own interim flying fox management plan in the hope continued attempts to secure state funding for the plan will be successful. 

A report tabled by council’s parks and natural assets officer, Andrew Staniland, said that preliminary investigations indicate that the cost of creating a flying fox management plan is approximately $50,000, and that council’s attempts to secure state funding have thus far been unsuccessful. 

Council first applied for funding for a management plan in June 2011 after receiving a petition from the residents of Burrawan Street Forster, requesting the removal of Flying Foxes from the reserve. The request was unsuccessful.

The increased number of flying foxes has seen a renewed push from residents to have the animals removed. 

Mayor Jan McWilliams and general manager Glenn Hanford met with community representatives on April 16 to hear the issues of living next to a flying fox camp and the distress many of the residents were feeling with the expansion of the flying fox numbers. 

They also accepted a petition with 117 signatures requesting the removal of the camp.

Though they have recently left, Mr Staniland indicated that there was no way of knowing if they’ll return and in what numbers.

“In past years the number of animals in the camp reduces greatly over the winter period. This has occurred again this year. Flying Foxes are transient animals and it is impossible to predict if, where, or when they will return and how many animals may use the reserve in the future.”