Clearing begins for flying fox buffer

Vegetation clearing has begun to create a buffer between homes and the site of a flying fox camp at Black Gully.

Tree removal contractors started work at the site this week, as part of the creation of a 15-metre-wide buffer zone.

Council’s July Ordinary Meeting adopted a management plan for the Black Gully flying-fox camp, enabling Council to take actions to reduce the impact on residents if flying foxes return.

Council worked with consultant Ecosure to develop the plan - providing a framework to address community concerns and help mitigate impacts, while making necessary provisions for the flying foxes -  after thousands of the bats gathered at the camp late last year and early this year.

Armidale Regional Council Mayor Simon Murray said there was no way of knowing if the flying foxes would return but the buffer, implemented at the advice of Ecosure and the Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH), would go a long way to reducing their impact on neighbouring households.

“To assist residents who have already liaised with Council to identify trees for removal on their property, Council is waiving the $125 Tree Removal Fee and has set aside a subsidy and camp management fund of up to $50,000 in total. The subsidy offered to affected residents is based on a percentage of tree removals costs,” Councillor Murray said.

The management plan outlines a staged approach which combines education and awareness with assistance to residents to reduce impacts.

Cr Murray said the creation of a buffer was a key part of that approach.

“OEH will not approve measures to disperse the colony unless all other measures have failed,” he said.

“Dispersal methods are rarely successful, are typically very expensive and risk dispersing the colony more widely throughout the urban area.”

Published on 30 Aug 2018