FLYING-FOXES IN

FLYING-FOXES The Grey Headed Flying-fox provides important ecological services, pollinating and spreading seed of native flora, including endangered plant species and communities. They are protected under NSW National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974, and listed as vulnerable under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, and the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995.

HISTORY IN RAYMOND TERRACE Newbury Park has been home to a information sharing allowed the colony permanent, now Nationally Significant, to exist in a level of harmony with nearby Flying-fox camp since 2010. residents. In 2013, the Newbury Park colony Council undertakes monthly monitoring grew and began to over-flow into of the flying-fox population in Raymond neighbouring back yards. As a result, Terrace, namely in Newbury Park. developed Council works closely with the Office a Vegetation Management Plan for of Environment and Heritage (OEH) as Newbury Park and obtained a licence the lead agency on native animals to under section 95(2) of the Threatened manage the situation in accordance with Species Conservation Act 1995 to allow our approved Vegetation Management tree removal works to be completed. Plan and associated permits. Council also The works created a buffer between participates in a state wide Flying-fox Land the Flying-fox colony and the private Managers’ Network coordinated by the properties surrounding Newbury Park. OEH and collaborates with other Hunter This buffer and increased understanding region councils to develop strategic by neighbouring residents as a result regional management approaches.

WHAT’S CHANGED? Recently, the Flying-fox population at changes to Flying-fox seasonal migration Newbury Park has expanded into Ross patterns, most noticeably resulting in Wallbridge Reserve with odour and noise higher numbers in the Hunter Valley. FLYING-FOXES IN now impacting on surrounding businesses Flying-fox experts anticipate that normal PORT STEPHENS and residents in Alston Road. Odour seasonal patterns may be returned to In the Port Stephens Local has deterred users of the reserve and is once unseasonal local flowering stops. noticeable as you drive through the area, Government Area there are also The combination of warmer conditions with reports from the golf course and ephemerally populated camps and unseasonal flowering has attracted surrounds. Flying-foxes are venturing into called satellite camps located at: Flying-foxes to Ross Wallbridge Reserve backyards and impacting on residents from Newbury Park and elsewhere. As of • through noise and droppings. • Medowie late April, monthly monitoring established • Bobs Farm This change in behaviour is on the back that the local Raymond Terrace • Wallaroo of unseasonal conditions through NSW population has expanded from 10,000 to • Salamander Bay and south Queensland over the 2015/16 20,000 with a related increase in resident • Snapper Island summer. This rare natural event has and business enquiries. Council will resulted in a flush of flowers on Spotted- closely monitor the situation, particularly gums, one of the Flying-fox’s food sources, in relation to potential changes from throughout the Hunter, causing significant upcoming cooler conditions.

Flying-foxes in Raymond Terrace - May 2016 | Port Stephens Council | www.portstephens.nsw.gov.au FLYING-FOXES IN RAYMOND TERRACE

HEALTH CURRENT RESPONSE IN AUTUMN 2016 The NSW Government states that OEH have released a revised Flying-fox Council has been liaising with concerned human infections with viruses Camp Management Policy in December community members, particularly residents borne by Flying-foxes are very 2015 that empowers land managers, of Alston Road to provide updated rare and the Australian Bat primarily councils, to work with the information and details on the cross Lyssavirus is not spread through community in the response to Flying- governmental management approaches, Flying-fox urine or droppings. fox colonies. Port Stephens Council is as well as options for their own action and reviewing its Newbury Park Vegetation dispelling some common myths around Health concerns raised regarding Management Plan to conform to the Flying-foxes and human health. Flying-fox related disease such new template as well as investigating as Lyssavirus can be addressed measures to best manage the Flying-fox by NSW Department of Primary colony across the two parks. Industries (DPI), the state’s lead agency on biosecurity. The new plan will outline classes of, and the assessment of, available potential The DPI estimate only 1% of management options. It will also document the Flying-fox population carries application of the systematic decision Lyssavirus and NSW Health making process developed by OEH suggests all 3 cases of human to enable actions to be approved and contraction of Lyssavirus that implemented. have occurred in have been in QLD, with all three transmitted via a bite. Transmission of the virus from bats to humans can only occur FURTHER INFORMATION through bites or scratches, or by being exposed to infected To view Council’s Vegetation Management Plan – Newbury Park Flying-fox Camp animals’ saliva through the eyes, Raymond Terrace visit www.portstephens.nsw.gov.au nose or mouth. To view the OEH’s Flying-fox Camp Management Policy 2015 visit www.environment.nsw.gov.au/threatenedspecies/flyingfoxcamppol.htm The OEH also provides more information on living in close proximity to a Flying-fox colony, visit www.environment.nsw.gov.au/animals/flying-fox-measures.htm The DPI has information available relating to health concerns around Flying-foxes, for more information visit www.health.nsw.gov.au/infectious/factsheets/pages/rabies- australian-bat-lyssavirus-infection.aspx

Flying-foxes in Raymond Terrace - May 2016 | Port Stephens Council | www.portstephens.nsw.gov.au