Townsville City Council has adopted a revised Flying-Fox Management Plan, adding a new method which will see Council investigate the feasibility for active dispersal of Townsville's flying-fox colonies.
Active dispersal has been included as a potential option to explore alongside routine management and low-impact strategies, leading Council to engage with neighbouring councils and organisations around feasibility and effectiveness of the method.
It is the first time the option of dispersal has been added to the Plan, which was unanimously endorsed at today's ordinary meeting.
The document provides a framework for Council to effectively manage the city's 16 recorded flying fox roosts with a focus on those at Dan Gleeson Memorial Gardens, Morstone Park, Riverside Gardens and the Palmetum Botanic Gardens.
Townsville Mayor Nick Dametto said residents directly impacted by flying-fox roosts rightfully expected Council to have an effective plan in place to manage them.
"This is an incremental but important change to Council's Flying-Fox Management Plan which allows us to further investigate all management options, including dispersal," Cr Dametto said.
"I know the impacts these colonies have had on our community, which is why it's crucial for us to look at all options available to us.
"We can now examine the feasibility of dispersal as part of our overall strategy for effectively dealing with roosts in urban areas and be in a better position to seek external funding if it's found to be a viable option in the future.
"Flying foxes are native and essential to our ecosystem, but we need to acknowledge the impact they have on our parks or backyards and the amenity of the area and nearby residents.
"We are committed to getting the balance right which is why we are hearing from our neighbouring councils and doing our due diligence when it comes to the effectiveness of dispersal in our Local Government Area."
Under the Plan adopted today, Council will continue to utilise management options including community engagement, awareness drives and routine roost maintenance with active dispersals added as a management option, when and where appropriate.
The Plan was informed by community consultation, including information sessions and an online survey, undertaken in 2024.
Through the survey, most respondents strongly agreed that flying-foxes in their community should be managed (60 per cent) and that living near flying-foxes was horrible (54 per cent).
