Level two actions to be implemented from the Flying-Fox Camp Management Plan

Council has voted to proceed with Level 2 actions from the Flying-Fox Camp Management Plan.

Council will now allocate funds to be able to match the dollar for dollar funding when it becomes available through the Local Government NSW flying-fox grant program.

The Flying-Fox Camp Management Plan was prepared by Ecosure ecological consultants in 2017 and was endorsed by council at the 2017 October council meeting.

Council resolved in 2017 that the draft Rudder Park Flying-Fox Camp Management Plan be endorsed and grant funding to be sought to implement action.

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Two of the feasible options for Level 2 actions in the management plan are the creation of a vegetation buffer area between the camp and property and the installation of canopy mounted sprinklers in strategic locations in the northern and southern areas of the camp to deter the flying-foxes.

The Rudder Park camp has now been vacated for over nine months and a flying-fox camp has been established at council’s environmental project site at Jerseyville. 

Since 2012 the Rudder Park camp has been consistently occupied until recently, by between 1000 and 5000 flying-foxes, with a peak number of 5736 in May 2016. 

Council’s director Operations and Planning, Robert Fish, said council's decision to proceed to Level 2 will help relieve the issues on nearby residents.

"Council’s decision allows grant funding to be sought to instigate actions from the Rudder Park Flying-Fox Camp Management Plan, that will assist in alleviating the issues on nearby residences caused by flying foxes when they occupy the Rudder Park area," he said.

Council will also apply for funding through the Local Government NSW flying-fox grant funding program, and if successful, prepare the required Vegetation Management Plan and Aboriginal Cultural Heritage values assessment required to be submitted to Office of Environment and Heritage with the Level 2 licence application.