January deadline for flying foxes

VEGETATION at a flying fox colony in Gatton will not be removed until the young bats are able to fly by themselves - which is not expected until January.

THE Department of Environment and Resource Management has approved Lockyer Valley Regional Council's application to change the vegetation at a Gatton flying fox colony – but not until the young bats are able to fly by themselves, which is not expected until January.

The council will be able to remove branches of trees where about 19,000 grey-headed and black flying foxes roost.

DERM conservation strategy and planning general manager Clive Cook said the species present in Gatton was protected.

“Flying foxes are protected under State and Commonwealth laws, and deliberately interfering with their roosts can incur heavy penalties,” he said.

“(Branch removal) will commence once all young flying foxes have the ability for independent flight, which for black and grey-headed flying foxes is around January.

“Removal of the branches will take place while the flying foxes are away from the roost foraging, to enable modification of parts of the roost site to reduce the impacts on nearby residents.”

Mr Cook said long term plans would be developed to control bat colonies in the future.

“In addition DERM will work with council to develop a longer term management plan that will enable the council to actively manage flying foxes roost sites over a three year period without recourse to DERM for further permits.”

The Gatton colony will also be included in a wider research program on flying foxes.

The program will monitor and investigate the impacts of control measures on colonies and the risk of hendra virus.

The research scheme is being funded through the Queensland and New South Wales governments' $12 million commitment to researching the virus.

Mr Cook defended the process of controlling flying fox colonies.

“This is consistent with advice from Biosecurity Queensland that damage mitigation permits must be thoroughly investigated before being issued.”

Originally published as January deadline for flying foxes