Flying fox management plan causes strong debates in council meeting

Several councillors didn’t hold back their frustrations in regards to a proposed plan to combat the effects of flying foxes in residential areas of Townsville, with one councillor saying residents of her division are suffering “24/7”.

Alice River residents Barry Turville, Helen Townsend and Tony Townsend pictured in one of the back yards which has been infested by flying foxes. Picture: Shae Beplate.

Several councillors didn’t hold back their frustrations in regards to the effects of flying foxes in residential areas of Townsville, with one councillor saying residents of her division are suffering “24/7” and are at their wits end.

The Townsville Flying Fox Roost Management Plan was put forward in Wednesday’s Ordinary Council Meeting, with a recommendation that the council endorse the plan with a five year review cycle.

The plan outlines measures including canopy-mounted sprinklers and “nudging techniques” including smoke, noise and fog devices, as well as the trimming of vegetation and installation of LED light towers.

Alice River residents Barry Turville, Leanne Moore, Wade Moore, Helen Townsend and Tony Townsend pictured in one of the back yards which has been infested by flying foxes. Picture: Shae Beplate.

It focuses on five urban roosts including Dan Gleeson Memorial Gardens, Morstone Park, Riverside Garden, Palmetum Botanic Gardens and Alice River, with several councillors bringing up the “hundreds” of complaints they have received from residents in their suburbs.

The Townsville Bulletin met with residents of Alice River in January, who described the situation as “out of control”.

Homeowner Helen Townsend shared how she can’t go outside due to black flying foxes roosting just metres from her veranda, blood sucking lice falling from the sky and crawling through her lawn, and being unable to open her windows due to the smell.

She and her neighbours light fires, bang pots and pans together, play noises over a loudspeaker and smack pool noodles against each other every day in an attempt to ward off the animals.

Townsville City Council meeting on December 4, 2024. Cr Suzy Batkovic. Picture: Evan Morgan

The proposed five-year review was blasted by Division 6 councillor Suzy Batkovic saying changes must be made now and that it seemed the Council’s plan was to put the issue in the “too-hard basket”.

Cr Batkovic shared experiences of residents in her division, saying some were experiencing declining mental health and unable to sleep due to the noise and stress the issue had caused.

A flying fox pictured in one of the back yards which has been infested by flying foxes in Alice River. Picture: Shae Beplate.

“I feel for these residents,” she said.

“I don’t agree with the proposed plan.

“I can’t emphasise how bad it is …. They can’t have their grandkids outside.”

The ongoing issue around flying foxes is marred by environmental laws in the Nature Conservation Act 1990 which protect them, with Australian councils to follow strict guidelines on attempts to disperse the animals.

Attempts to disperse the animals are not always successful and a study in the Australian Journal of Zoology in 2021 revealed only 23 per cent of dispersal attempts for flying foxes were successful and none under $250,000.

Flying foxes pictured in one of the back yards which has been infested by flying foxes in Alice River. Picture: Shae Beplate.

Following back and forth discussion between councillors and the presenting officer, a decision was made to endorse the Townsville Flying Fox Roost Management Plan for a period of 12 months, instead of five years, with a 6 month update to be provided and that consideration of further options be investigated with discussion with the State Government.

Originally published as Flying fox management plan causes strong debates in council meeting