Logan City Council Flying-fox Management Strategy 2015-2018
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Logan City Council
Flying-fox Management Strategy
2015–2018
BUILDING OUR COMMUNITIES, BUSINESSES AND PRIDE
CONTENTS
I. Introduction............................................................... 3
II. Strategic Fit............................................................... 6
III. Our Vision - looking forward................................... 10
IV. How did we develop the management strategy?... 10
V. Our Values - Policy position.................................... 11
VI. Where are we now?................................................. 12
VII. Our Strategic Objectives......................................... 14
VIII. Key Areas of Interest/where are we going?............ 16
IX. Implementation, Evaluation and Review................. 17
XII. Acknowledgements................................................. 18
XIII. Questions................................................................ 18
XIV. References and resources...................................... 18
2 FLYING-FOX MANAGEMENT STRATEGY (2015-2018)
FLYING-FOX MANAGEMENT STRATEGY (2015-2018)
I. INTRODUCTION
Executive summary Moderate vegetation management will also be
considered on a case-by-case basis on Council-
Three species of flying-foxes are known to occur owned or managed land. This is to ensure costs
within the Logan City Council local government and impacts to flying-foxes and other ecological
area: the black (Pteropus alecto), grey-headed values are minimised.
(P. poliocephalus) and little red flying-fox (P.
scapulatus). All are native species protected under
the Queensland Nature Conservation Act 1992
(NCA). The grey-headed flying-fox is also listed Aims
as vulnerable under the Environment Protection
The aims of the Flying-fox Management Strategy
and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC),
are to:
affording it additional protection.
1. Provide a safe environment for the community
There are a total of 19 known flying-fox roost sites where risks associated with flying-fox roosts are
within the Logan City Council local government appropriately managed and amenity impacts are
area. Twelve occur on Council-managed land, reduced as much as possible.
with the remaining seven on non-Council or mixed
1. Conserve flying-foxes throughout Logan City
tenure (Figure 1).
acknowledging their critical ecological role.
In 2013, the Queensland Government provided
local government with an ‘as-of-right’ authority to
manage flying-fox roosts within designated urban
flying-fox management areas.
The Logan City Council Flying-fox Management
Strategy provides the key strategic objectives to
manage impacts associated with flying-fox roosts
within Logan City and the key actions to reduce
human and flying-fox conflict.
The development and provision of educational
resources will be the primary tool to ensure that
the community is aware of the ecological value of
flying-foxes and their low level of disease risk as
well as the options available to reduce impacts from
roosting and foraging flying-foxes at a property
level.
3
480,000 490,000 500,000 510,000 520,000
6,950,000
6,950,000
BRISBANE Parfrey Road
CITY roost, Springwood REDLAND
COUNCIL CITY
Kingston Road COUNCIL
roost, Underwood (
!
(
! Meakin Park roost,
Slacks Creek
Wembley Road
roost, Berrinba
(
! (
!
IPSWICH CITY
6,940,000
6,940,000
COUNCIL Timor Avenue
Emerald Drive/Bennett ( roost,
! Loganholme
Drive roost, Regents Park
(
! Tamarind Park (
!
roost, Kingston
Boronia Bushland Reserve (
! (
!
roost, Boronia Heights Alexander Clark Park (
! (
!
Dryer Road
roost, Loganholme (
! roost, Eagleby
( Lyndale Reserve/Platypus
! Manhattan Drive
Yvonne Crescent roost, (
! roost (Olympic Park),
Reserve roost, Greenbank Mount Warren Park Eagleby
6,930,000
6,930,000
Lincoln Street
LOGAN CITY roost, Beenleigh
COUNCIL
Waterford Tamborine Road (
!
roost, Logan Village
Homestead Drive
roost, Jimboomba
Mt Elliott (
!
roost, Undullah
(
!
6,920,000
6,920,000
Brushwood Crescent
roost, Cedar Grove
GOLD COAST
(
! Banksia Court CITY
roost, Cedar Vale COUNCIL
(
!
6,910,000
6,910,000
SCENIC RIM
REGIONAL
COUNCIL
6,900,000
480,000 490,000 500,000 510,000 520,000
Figure 1: Flying-fox roost locations within Logan City LGA
Logan City Council ( Flying-fox roost
! QLD
Urban flying-fox Logan
Flying-fox management plan management area
NSW
°
Job number: GW149 GDA 1994 MGA Zone 56
0 1 2 4
Revision: 1 Projection: Transverse Mercator
Author: MED Kilometres
Datum: GDA 1994
Date: 14/05/2015 Units: Meter
Data Sources: © State of Queensland (Department of Natural Resources and Mines), 2014; © Ecosure Pty Ltd, 2014; © Copyright Commonwealth of Australia (Geoscience Australia) 2012 The Commonwealth gives no warranty regarding the accuracy, GW149_MP_Fig01_AllRoosts_R1
Council-managed flying-fox roosts within the urban flying-fox management area
completeness, currency or suitability for any particular purpose; Image A4
ECOSURE does not warrant the accuracy or completeness of information displayed in this map and any person using it does so at their own risk. ECOSURE shall bear no responsibility or liability for any errors, faults, defects, or omissions in the information.
Council-managed flying-fox roosts outside the urban flying-fox management area
Private land and mixed tenure roosts
4 FLYING-FOX MANAGEMENT STRATEGY (2015-2018)
FLYING-FOX MANAGEMENT STRATEGY (2015-2018)
Background and cross-pollinate over significant distances during
single foraging trips is particularly important in the
Three species of flying-foxes (also known as ‘bats’ context of fragmented landscapes.
or ‘fruit-bats’) occur within the Logan City Council
local government area: Human-influenced changes to flying-fox distribution
and habitat have led to increased interactions
• grey-headed flying-fox (Pteropus poliocephalus) between people, domestic animals and flying-foxes
• black flying-fox (P. alecto) in urban areas. Accordingly, human exposure to
• little red flying-fox (P. scapulatus). disease agents carried by flying-foxes and amenity
impacts to human properties has increased.
All three are native species protected under
legislation. Community complaints associated with flying-foxes
are usually associated with smell and noise, mess
Flying-foxes play a key ecological role as long- from faecal drop, damage to domestic fruit trees,
distance pollinators and seed dispersers. They concerns around the loss of property value or fear
cross habitat boundaries and are probably the most of disease risk.
critical component for the long term persistence of
plant populations (McConkey et al. 2011, Wescott In 2013, the Queensland Government provided
et al. 2008), including eucalypt and sclerophyll local government with an ‘as-of-right’ authority to
forests (DECC 2008). This ability to distribute seeds manage flying-fox roosts within designated urban
Listed as
“Vulnerable”
under
Commonwealth
legislation
Grey-headed flying-fox Black flying-fox Little red flying-fox
(Pteropus poliocephalus) (Pteropus alecto) (Pteropus scapulatus)
Protected under State and Commonwealth Protected under State legislation Protected under State legislation
legislation
5
flying-fox management areas. It is important to on land which is not Council-owned or managed.
note however, that this authority does not provide Other residents or landholders wishing to manage
exemptions under various other legislation, nor a flying-fox roost on their land must independently
does it obligate Logan City Council to actively apply to the Queensland State Government for a
manage any flying-fox roost. flying-fox roost management permit. Council will
appropriately assist anyone impacted by flying-
In addition, this Flying-fox Management Strategy
foxes on their own property by providing advice and
does not constitute approval for roost management
guidance on permitting and management options.
II. STRATEGIC FIT
Integrating with existing local, regional, state, Strategy is effective, achieves multiple outcomes
national and international legislation, programs and and aligns with Council’s long-term corporate
plans will ensure that the Flying-fox Management outcomes and strategic visions as outlined the
Table below.
Strategic Document Strategic Level Strategy
Link
Logan City Corporate Plan 2013- Corporate Plan Priority: Building our Service Excellence (SE)
2018 Priority
SE2 Enhance community communication and
engagement
Priority: Building our Environment
E2 Build our future wildlife corridors through
vegetation, koala and water quality offsets and
focused community partnerships.
Logan Tourism Strategy Logan City Enhancing tourism opportunities in the city.
2012-2016 Council strategic
document
South East Queensland Regional Desired regional Measurable targets for the condition and extent of
Plan (2009-2031) outcomes and environment and natural resources.
policies
South East Queensland (SEQ) Desired regional Targets include maintaining and improving
Natural Resource Management outcomes and conservation status of native species and
(NRM) Plan (2009-2031) policies maintaining or increasing habitat for priority species.
6 FLYING-FOX MANAGEMENT STRATEGY (2015-2018)
FLYING-FOX MANAGEMENT STRATEGY (2015-2018)
Strategic Document Strategic Level Strategy
Link
Queensland Government - Flying- Queensland State Guideline assists decision making regarding
fox Roost Management Guideline framework and management options at flying-fox roosts for Local
(www.logan.qld.gov.au/__data/ guideline for Local Government.
assets/pdf_file/0006/332997/EHP- Government
Flying-Fox-Roost-Management-
Guideline-2013.pdf)
Queensland Government - Code Queensland State The Code guides landholders what low impact
of Practice Low impact activities code of practice activities may be undertaken at a flying-fox roost to
affecting flying-fox roosts (www. ensure welfare standards are upheld and harm to
logan.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/ flying-foxes minimised.
pdf_file/0012/333030/Code-of-
The Code does not provide exemptions to other
Practice_Low-Impact-Activities_
legislation. Clearing permits may be required
Flying-Fox-Roosts.pdf)
to remove plants in certain areas, and other
requirements may be relevant under other legislation.
Queensland Government - Code Queensland State The Code specifies how local government
of Practice Ecologically sustainable code of practice may manage roosts within the urban flying-fox
management of flying-fox roosts management area (UFFMA) defined by DEHP.
(www.logan.qld.gov.au/__data/
assets/pdf_file/0005/332996/
Code-of-Practice_Ecologically-
sustainable-management_flying-
fox.pdf)
Queensland’s Ecotourism Plan Vision and Strategic priorities include facilitating investment into
(2013-2020) strategic priorities ecotourism products and embracing a partnership
approach.
Animal Care and Protection Act Queensland State Legislation promotes the responsible care and use
2001 Legislation of animals. It also protects animals from unjustifiable,
unnecessary or unreasonable pain.
Sustainable Planning Act 2009 Queensland State Requires local government to prepare planning
(SPA) Legislation schemes to manage growth and change in their local
area.
Under the Logan Planning Scheme 2015, residents
are able to trim native vegetation, however may be
restricted when it comes to removing vegetation.
Landholders can contact Council to enquire about
vegetation protection on their property.
7Strategic Document Strategic Level Strategy
Link
Nature Conservation Act 1992 Queensland State All native animals and plants, including flying-foxes
(NC Act) Legislation and their habitat, are protected under the NC
Act, any interference or management of a roost is
regulated under the Nature Conservation (Wildlife)
Regulation 2006. The NC Act is administered by
DEHP.
Vegetation Management Act 1999 Queensland State Administered by the Department of Natural
(VM Act) Legislation Resources and Mines (DNRM), the VM Act regulates
clearing of certain native vegetation. Some VM Act
exemptions may apply to clearing vegetation that
is flying-fox roosting or foraging habitat, however
specific advice should be obtained from DNRM for
any proposed vegetation clearly activity.
No explicit VM Act exemptions for clearing flying-fox
roost or foraging vegetation were in place as at July
2015.
The Queensland Plan Vision and Vision: We will be the greatest state in which to live,
strategic priorities work and play, and guardian of a sustainable natural
environment that inspires an active lifestyle and
supports healthy communities.
Australia's Native Vegetation National Goals include increasing the national extent and
Framework 2012 framework connectivity of native vegetation and maintaining
to guide the and improving the condition and function of native
ecologically vegetation.
sustainable
management of
Australia's native
vegetation
National Wildlife Corridors Plan Australian Vision: Diverse, connected and healthy landscapes
2012 Government's that support and sustain biodiversity, communities
framework to and wellbeing.
retain, restore and
manage ecological
connections in
the Australian
landscape
8 FLYING-FOX MANAGEMENT STRATEGY (2015-2018)FLYING-FOX MANAGEMENT STRATEGY (2015-2018)
Strategic Document Strategic Level Strategy
Link
National Airports Safeguarding National land Guides planning requirements for development or
Framework - managing risk of use planning significant actions that affects aviation operations,
wildlife strike framework particularly managing wildlife strike risk. The Logan
Planning Scheme 2015 has delineated areas that
are within the bird and bat strike zone. Development
must not attract birds and bats into the Archerfield
airport's operational airspace in significant numbers
likely to cause a safety hazard to airport operations.
Referral Guideline for Management Australian The intention of this guideline is to ensure that
Actions in Grey-headed and Government there are no significant impacts on the EPBC Act
Spectacled flying-fox camps EPBC Act Policy listed grey-headed flying-fox (GHFF) or spectacled
(www.environment.gov.au/system/ Statement flying-fox due to actions to manage their camps. The
files/resources/6d4f8ebc-f6a0- guideline urges proponents to consider dispersal of
49e6-a6b6-82e9c8d55768/files/ flying-foxes from camps as a last resort management
referral-guideline-flying-fox-camps. option only and describes which actions at camps
pdf) of EPBC Act listed flying-foxes are likely to have a
significant impact and provides mitigation standards
to avoid significant impacts. A referral to the
Department will be required for management actions
proposed at nationally important camps that do
not adopt mitigation standards and for proposed
dispersal of flying-foxes from these camps during
times of significant population stress.
Environmental Protection Act 1994 Queensland State The EP Act protects Queensland's environment
(EP Act) Legislation while allowing for development that improves quality
of life, both now and in the future, in a way that
- Environmental Protection
maintains ecological processes on which life depends
Regulation 2008
(ecologically sustainable development). Some flying-fox
- Environmental Protection (Noise) roost vegetation management actions may generate
Policy 2008 high levels of noise; these are regulated by the EP Act
as potential environmental nuisance (noise).
Environmental Protection and Australian Provides for the protection of matters of national
Biodiversity Act 1999 (EPBC Act) Government environmental significance (MNES). The GHFF is
Legislation listed as vulnerable species under the EPBC Act,
meaning it is considered a MNES. A referral to the
Commonwealth Department of Environment (DoE)
may be required for any action that has the potential
to significantly impact on a MNES. The Referral
Guideline for management actions in grey-headed
and spectacled flying-fox camps has recently been
released. This policy statement guides management
at GHFF roosts.
9Strategic Document Strategic Level Strategy
Link
Convention on International Trade International All flying-fox species are listed in Appendix II of
in Endangered Species of Wild agreement CITES as species that may become threatened with
Fauna and Flora (CITES) between extinction unless international trade is not closely
Australian controlled.
Government and
other nations
International Union for Global inventory of Regional Red Lists are produced by countries or
Conservation of Nature and the conservation organisations, which assess the risk of extinction
Resources (IUCN) Red List status of species to species within a political management unit. The
- members GHFF is listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List
Australian because of continuing population decline, estimated
Government and at more than 30% over the last three generations
Queensland State (IUCN 2013).
Government
III. OUR VISION - LOOKING FORWARD
The Flying-fox Management Strategy aims to Logan, where risks associated with flying-fox roosts
reduce the direct and indirect impacts of flying- are appropriately managed and the critical role of
fox roosts on public and private land in the City of flying-foxes are acknowledged and conserved.
IV. HOW DID WE DEVELOP THE
MANAGEMENT STRATEGY?
In response to amendments to Queensland State • the undertaking of comprehensive internal
Government legislation, Codes of Practice (www. engagement
ehp.qld.gov.au/wildlife/livingwith/flyingfoxes/roost- • participating in the south-east Queensland
management.html) and the passing of an ‘as-of- regional flying-fox management network, and
right’ authority to local government to manage
• researching best practice sustainable roost
flying-foxes in defined urban areas, the Logan City
management processes undertaken across
Council Flying-fox Management Strategy has been
Australia and south-east Queensland in
developed through:
particular.
• engagement with experienced flying-fox
management experts and consultants
10 FLYING-FOX MANAGEMENT STRATEGY (2015-2018)FLYING-FOX MANAGEMENT STRATEGY (2015-2018)
V. OUR VALUES - POLICY POSITION
The Logan City Council ‘Logan Listens: Residents’ With the Queensland State Government passing
survey consistently highlights the importance of of an ‘as-of-right’ authority for Councils to manage
protecting bushland and enhancing ecological flying-foxes in defined urban areas, Council’s policy
values. approach to manage human and flying-fox conflict
is predominantly through the provision of education
This position is confirmed through Council’s key
and information. Research and learnings from
Corporate Policy Priority E2 - Build our future
other councils engaged in flying-fox management
wildlife corridors through vegetation, koala and
activities indicates that direct management
water quality offsets and focused community
approaches such as roost dispersal are
partnerships - which is being actioned through
exceptionally costly and not effective in managing
the delivery of key Council projects and initiatives
flying-foxes and therefore reducing conflict between
to manage and enhance Logan City’s natural
humans and flying-foxes.
areas and ecological corridors. Flying-foxes play
an important ecological role as part of our wildlife
corridor connection.
11VI. WHERE ARE WE NOW?
Flying-foxes in Logan City branch of a particular tree. This may be one of the
reasons flying-foxes continue to return to small
The City of Logan has approximately 19 known urban bushland blocks that may be remnants of
flying-fox roosts, however not all are active at one historically used larger tracts of vegetation.
time. Twelve are on Council-owned or managed
land, with seven situated on non-Council land
or mixed tenure. All flying-fox species move in
Black flying-fox
response to changes in surrounding land use, roost (Pteropus alecto)
habitat quality, and food availability. Flying-foxes
Black flying-foxes (BFFs) are largely nomadic
rest and socialise during the day in roosts and
animals with movement and local distribution
being nocturnal, they leave each night to forage.
influenced by climatic variability and the flowering
They appear to be more frequently roosting and
and fruiting patterns of their preferred food plants.
foraging in urban areas due to a combination
BFF usually roost beside a creek or river in a
of habitat clearing and drought, combined with
wide range of warm and moist habitats, including
the opportunities presented by year-round food
lowland rainforest gullies, coastal stringybark forests
availability from native and exotic species in urban
and mangroves.
areas. This has resulted in increased interactions
between humans and flying-foxes, which can lead
to conflict. All flying-foxes are protected under state Little-red flying-fox
government legislation.
(Pteropus scapulatus)
The little-red flying-fox (LRFF) is widely distributed
Grey-headed flying-fox
throughout northern and eastern Australia. LRFFs
(Pteropus poliocephalus) often move sub-continental distances in search of
sporadic food supplies and sometimes in groups of
Nationally protected and considered to be a matter
hundreds of thousands.
of national environmental significance (MNES),
grey-headed flying-foxes (GHFFs) are found from Their general migration pattern sees them travel
Rockhampton in Central Queensland to Melbourne, south to visit the coastal areas of southeast
Victoria (DEHP 2012) and occupy coastal areas of Queensland and northern New South Wales during
south-east Queensland, including most of Logan the summer months. LRFFs tend to arrive in Logan
City (Pallin 2000, Hall 2002, van der Ree et al. City around spring and summer.
2006; in DECCW 2009). GHFF can travel as far as
50 km in a single night in search for food and are They are unique in the way they roost on branches,
listed nationally as ‘vulnerable’ under the EPBC Act clustering in dense bunches on a single branch. As
(DEHP 2012). a result, the weight of roosting individuals can break
large branches and cause significant structural
GHFFs return year after year to the same site and damage to roost trees.
have even been recorded returning to the same
12 FLYING-FOX MANAGEMENT STRATEGY (2015-2018)FLYING-FOX MANAGEMENT STRATEGY (2015-2018)
Human and animal health Although the virus is periodically present in flying-
fox populations across Australia, the likelihood of
Human-influenced changes to flying-fox distribution horses becoming infected is low and consequently
and habitat have led to increased interactions human infection is extremely rare.
between people and flying-foxes in urban areas.
Accordingly, human exposure to disease agents Appropriate husbandry reduces the likelihood of
carried by flying-foxes has increased. exposure, and vaccination of horses can protect
horses and subsequently humans from infection
(DAFF 2013a).
Lyssavirus
Further information for horse owners and
Australian Bat Lyssavirus (ABLV) is found in a very veterinarians can be found at the Department of
small proportion of flying-fox populations. Advice Agriculture and Fisheries ‘Hendra Virus’ webpage
from Queensland Health (www.health.qld.gov.au/ (www.daf.qld.gov.au/animal-industries/animal-
communicablediseases/hendra.asp) is that the health-and-diseases/a-z-list/hendra-virus).
risk of becoming infected with ABLV is very low
(Queensland Health 2015).
Water supply contamination
Transmission of closely related viruses suggests
that contact or exposure to flying-fox faeces, urine Contamination of water supplies by any animal
or blood do not pose a risk of exposure to ABLV, excreta (birds, amphibians and mammals such
nor do living, playing or walking near flying-fox as flying-foxes) poses a health risk to humans.
roosting areas (Queensland Health 2015). Household tanks should be designed to minimise
potential contamination, such as using first flush
The disease in humans can easily be prevented by diverters to divert contaminants before they enter
avoiding direct contact with flying-foxes. water tanks. Further information can be found
on the Queensland Government website: http://
conditions.health.qld.gov.au/HealthCondition/
Hendra virus
condition/14/217/10/Australian-Baty-Lyssavirus
Flying-foxes are the natural host for Hendra
virus (HeV) (www.health.qld.gov.au/
communicablediseases/hendra-fastfacts.asp),
which can be transmitted from flying-foxes to
horses. Infected horses sometimes amplify the
virus and can then transmit it to other horses and
humans.
There is no evidence that the virus can be passed
directly from flying-foxes to humans (Queensland
Health 2015).
13VII. OUR STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES
Strategic Objective 1 1.5 Provide support and advice on what residents
can do to manage the impact of flying-foxes
Build community capacity and understanding on their property
of flying-fox behaviour and their ecological
importance to reduce human - flying-fox 1.6 Continue to promote the importance of flying-
conflict. foxes at Council workshops, forums and
events
Research has revealed that the presence of flying-
foxes in urban areas is a polarising issue. While 1.7 Undertake periodic surveys to gauge
some people in the community recognise the community views and perceptions of flying-
ecological values of flying-foxes and support them, foxes as part of the implementation of the
others report only negative impacts associated with Flying-fox Management Strategy.
roosting and foraging flying-foxes (Ecosure 2014).
Engaging and providing information is critical
therefore to ensuring that the community Strategic Objective 2
understands the ecological importance of flying-
foxes, whilst alleviating community concerns Undertake and facilitate actions to reduce
associated with health and amenity impacts. impacts on the local community of identified
high risk roosts.
Outcomes
Where residents are significantly impacted by
1.1 Develop school-based educational resources a consistently used roost, Council will work to
in partnership with regional and State partners maintain suitable buffers from property boundaries
where possible and practical on Council-owned
1.2 Develop and maintain Council’s flying-fox
or managed land (as assessed on a case-by-case
information webpage (www.logan.qld.gov.au/
basis), and in accordance with the State’s Code of
environment-water-and-waste/wildlife/flying-
Practice (www.ehp.qld.gov.au/wildlife/livingwith/
foxes) and social media communications
flyingfoxes/roost-management.html).
1.3 Develop and produce flying-fox educational
The average temperature in Australia has increased
signage in priority locations
by nearly 1°C since the beginning of the 20th
1.4 Develop and provide fact sheets and Century, with seven of the ten warmest years on
information about flying-foxes and their critical record having occurred since 2002 (Australian
ecological role and ways to mitigate potential Academy of Science 2015). Extreme weather
health and amenity impacts events such as heat waves, not only can cause
14 FLYING-FOX MANAGEMENT STRATEGY (2015-2018)FLYING-FOX MANAGEMENT STRATEGY (2015-2018)
distress to family pets but can cause heat stress Strategic Objective 3
in our native wildlife, and in particular flying-foxes.
A previous heat stress event in January 2014 Collaborate with regional partners to better
resulted in tens of thousands of dead flying-foxes inform and support flying-fox research and
across south-east Queensland including the Logan management actions.
City local government area. It is important to be
Whilst we have some knowledge about flying-
prepared and facilitate measures which aim to
foxes, much information remains unknown about
reduce this occurring and thereby minimise the
their ecology and supporting data. Council is
likelihood of human / pet exposure.
proactively working with regional partners to build
local knowledge in order to be better informed.
Outcomes
Flying-fox roosts and foraging habitats cross
2.1 Identify, assess and prioritise management all tenures and government area boundaries.
actions on flying-fox roosts based on level of Management of any one site or species often
risk involves various landholders and Council seeks to
work collaboratively with its neighbours.
2.2 On a case-by-case basis undertake vegetation
management works on Council-owned
Outcomes
or managed land in accordance with best
practice to minimise risk to employees and 3.1 Collaborate with State and Federal
impacts on the flying-fox roost habitat Governments on all matters relating to
the management of flying-foxes, including
2.3 Provide advice to landholders regarding community safety, compliance, conservation
active management options for roosts on and recovery planning
private property in accordance with the Code
of Practice - Low Impact activities affecting 3.2 Participate in and link to external flying-fox
flying-fox roosts (www.ehp.qld.gov.au/wildlife/ management working groups and work with
livingwith/flyingfoxes/pdf/cp-wl-low-impact-ff- relevant stakeholders
roosts.pdf)
3.3 Establish partnerships with universities and
2.4 Collaborate with the RSPCA, relevant reputable flying-fox conservation and research
government departments, and wildlife groups
organisations to proactively manage heat
3.4 Access research information and data on
stress impact on flying-foxes and associated
flying-fox population numbers and movements
impacts.
to proactively manage local roosts.
15VIII. KEY AREAS OF INTEREST/
WHERE ARE WE GOING
1. As one of the largest and fastest growing cities 2. The changing climate within south-east
in Australia. Logan City is home to more than Queensland, will likely see more unpredictable
300,000 people, with an expected population extreme weather events such as severe
to be 365,000 by 2021 (Qld Treasury 2011). thunderstorms/hail and extreme temperatures.
Given the mobility of flying-foxes and variable Flying-foxes suffer from heat stress when the
food and habitat requirements, new or ambient temperature exceeds approximately
temporary roosts may establish. In an effort 38°C (Snoyman, Munich Brown 2012:91),
therefore to avoid future conflict between due to their inability to sweat which sees them
humans and flying-foxes, proactive planning expend energy on cooling mechanisms such
will assist in providing adequate distances as fanning. It would be expected that in a
between future developments and existing or changing climate, flying-foxes would become
historical flying-fox roosts. New developments more susceptible to heat stress events.
or current landholders can look at creating Council will therefore need to proactively work
vegetation buffers, planting non-flying-fox with partners to manage heat stress events
attracting trees and shrubs to deter flying- and associated risks.
foxes foraging in backyards. Council will
continue to be responsive to community
concerns and the protection of flying-fox
roosts and habitat.
16 FLYING-FOX MANAGEMENT STRATEGY (2015-2018)FLYING-FOX MANAGEMENT STRATEGY (2015-2018)
IX. IMPLEMENTATION, EVALUATION
AND REVIEW
The Flying-fox Management Strategy will be strategy’s performance in achieving the strategic
regularly reviewed to ensure that the actions are objectives and ensuring the strategy is adapted
being implemented effectively. where improvements are required.
Ongoing monitoring using the national Monitoring, A review within three months of each management
Evaluating, Reporting and Improvement (MERI) stage being implemented should be completed to
framework will support the assessment of the assess its success.
Review process Review considerations
Post-management • Have management actions been successful?
assessment
6 month interim • Have management actions, subsequent to above, been successful?
review and evalu-
• Has a community engagement plan been completed?
ation
• Have short-term and ongoing community education and conservation actions been
initiated?
12 month review • Have management actions, subsequent to above, been successful?
and evaluation
• Have short-term community education and conservation actions been completed?
• Are ongoing community education and conservation actions progressing?
2nd year review and • Have management actions, subsequent to above, been successful?
evaluation
• Have medium-long term community education and conservation actions been
initiated?
• Are ongoing community education and conservation actions progressing?
Final year review • Full plan review and update for additional 3 years
and evaluation
Evaluation and review schedule for the life of the Strategy
17XII. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The Logan City Flying-fox Management Strategy and other key stakeholders from government,
(2015 - 2018) has been developed by Logan City industry, non-government organisations, research
Council, guided and informed by Ecosure Pty Ltd institutions and the wider Logan community.
XIII. QUESTIONS AND FURTHER
INFORMATION
If you have any questions or would like to know Alternatively if you have a general inquiry,
more about flying-foxes please visit Council’s web please contact Council on 3412 3412 or email
page: www.logan.qld.gov.au/wildlife. environment@logan.qld.gov.au
XIV. REFERENCES AND RESOURCES
Australian Academy of Science 2015, How has Churchill, S. 2008, Australian Bats, Allen & Unwin,
climate changed? Available: https://www.science. Crows Nest, NSW.
org.au/publications/scienceofclimatechange-q-
DAFF, 2013a, What is Hendra virus? Available:
and-a-2015/how. Accessed 28/089/2015.
http://www.daff.qld.gov.au/animal-industries/
Birt P, McCoy M & Palmer C 2008, Little Red animal-health-and-diseases/a-z-list/hendra-virus/
Flying-fox, in The mammals of Australia (eds S. general-information/what-is-hendra-virus. Accessed
Van Dyke and R. Strahan), pp 446-447, Reed New 13/06/2014.
Holland Sydney.
DAFF, 2013b, Hendra virus: information for
Catterall CP., Storey RJ. and Kingston MB. 1997, horse owners, handlers, competitors and event
Reality versus rhetoric: a case study monitoring organisers. Available: http://www.daff.qld.gov.
regional deforestation. In Conservation Outside au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/57218/hendra-
Nature Reserves. (Eds P. Hale and D. Lamb) virus-info-pack-horse-owners.pdf. Accessed
pp. 367-377. (Centre for Conservation Biology, 13/06/2014.
University of Queensland: Brisbane.
18 FLYING-FOX MANAGEMENT STRATEGY (2015-2018)FLYING-FOX MANAGEMENT STRATEGY (2015-2018)
DECC, 2008, Best practice guidelines for the Roberts, B, Kanowski, J and Catterall, C, 2006,
grey-headed flying-fox. DECC NSW, Sydney, Ecology and Management of flying-fox Roosts
Australia. in an Urbanising Region, Rainforest CRC Tropical
Forest Landscapes, Issue 5.
DECCW, 2009, Draft National Recovery Plan
for the Grey-headed Flying-fox Pteropus SEQ Catchments, 2012, Management and
poliocephalus. Prepared by Dr Peggy Eby. Restoration of flying-fox Roosts: Guidelines and
Department of Environment, Climate Change and Recommendations, SEQ Catchments Ltd funded
Water NSW, Sydney. by the Australian Government’s Caring for Our
Country.
EHP, 2012, Importance of flying-foxes,
Department of Environment and Heritage Snoyman, S, Munich, J & Brown C 2012,
Protection, Queensland http://www.ehp.qld.gov. Nursing females are more prone to heat
au/wildlife/livingwith/flyingfoxes/importance.html. stress: Demography matters when managing
Accessed 24/8/2015. flying-foxes for climate change, Applied Animal
Behaviour Science, Vol 142, pp. 90-97
Hall, L. and Richards, G. 2000, Flying foxes: fruit
and blossom bats of Australia. UNSW Press, Westcott DA, Dennis AJ, Bradford MG, McKeown
Sydney. A, Harrington GN, 2008, Seed dispersal
processes in Australia’s Wet Tropics rainforests.
IUCN, Red List of Threatened Species – Grey-
In: Stork N and Turton S, Living in a dynamic
headed flying-fox http://www.iucnredlist.org/
tropical forest landscape. Blackwells Publishing,
details/18751/0. Accessed 11/01/2015.
Malden, pp. 210-223.
Queensland Health, 2015, Australian bat
Westcott, DA, McKeown, A, Murphy, HT and
lyssavirus factsheet. Available: http://access.
Fletcher, C.S 2011, A monitoring method for the
health.qld.gov.au/hid/InfectionsandParasites/
grey-headed flying-fox, Pteropus poliocephalus,
ViralInfections/australianBatLyssavirus_fs.asp.
CSIRO, Queensland.
Accessed 24/08/2015.
Queensland Treasury, 2011, Queensland
Government population projections to 2031:
local government areas, 2011 edition, Office of
Economic and Statistical Research.
19Flying-fox Management Strategy 2015 - 2018
LOGAN CITY COUNCIL
150 Wembley Road, Logan Central QLD 4114
PO Box 3226, Logan City DC QLD 4114
Ph: 13412 3412
email: council@logan.qld.gov.au
web: www.logan.qld.gov.auYou can also read
