Gympie reveals buyback plan for homes near controversial bat colony

Residents forced to endure years of stink, sound and disruption from a protected flying fox colony may finally see relief as Gympie council unveils dramatic new solution.

Residents living near a huge flying fox roost at Gympie may be able to have their properties bought back in the future as efforts to address the issue continue to roll on.

Residents living near a huge flying fox roost in the heart of Gympie may be able to have their properties bought back in an efforts to address the issue.

The possibility of a buyback scheme for affected homeowners was one of several options explored by the region’s council as it grappled with the issue, which has now been ongoing for several years.

The flying fox colony moved into the area around Commissioner's Gully, near the Gympie Hospital, in about 2021.

Its arrival proved a point of frustration for nearby residents and a headache for the council, caught between those residents’ anger and environment laws around flying foxes, which are protected under the Nature Conservation Act 1992.

On October 29, the council announced the creation of a new management and dispersal plan to manage the roost, which is home to several species of flying fox.

The possibility of a buyback scheme for affected homeowners was one of several options being explored by the Gympie council as it grappled with the issue, which has now been ongoing for several years. Photo Craig Warhurst / The Gympie Times

A council spokesman said the plan would help win government funding for vegetation management and dispersing the roost, pursue changes to the laws, and explore potentially buying back affected properties.

Mayor Glen Hartwig said in the statement the residents had been forced to live with “constant noise, smell, and disruption” from the colony.

“Meaningful progress, however, can only be achieved if all levels of government work together to provide the resources and support needed to help affected residents, who

continue to deal with significant impacts daily,” Mr Hartwig said.

“This case highlights the urgent need for higher levels of government to reform legislation so that people’s wellbeing and livelihoods take priority over flying-foxes, a key component of what council wants included in the proposed new plan.

“We’re aiming for outcomes that are environmentally responsible, financially realistic and most importantly, responsive to the needs of those residents who have been seeking a resolution for many years.”

The plan, and any efforts to address the issue, would still need to follow existing state and federal legislation on how flying fox colonies can be managed.