From Townsville to Moreton Bay, local governments are sharing in $250,000 to manage urban flying-fox roosts throughout Queensland.
Through the Flying-Fox Roost Management – Local Government Grant Program, Queensland councils can access funding to help mitigate the impacts of flying-fox roosts on their communities. This program supports councils in delivering practical solutions that assist residents and businesses with flying foxes.
To date, the Queensland Government has invested more than $2.5 million in 86 council-led projects under this program, reducing the impacts of flying-fox roosts and improving community outcomes.
In this latest round, 10 projects have been funded. Five of these will provide direct grants to Queenslanders affected by flying-fox roosts, while others focus on roost management planning, community education, and on-ground works at roost sites.
Director of Northern Wildlife Operations Lindsay Delzoppo said the program helps mitigate the impacts of flying-fox roosts on communities and to promote peaceful co-existence.
"We're committed to delivering for Queensland councils to manage urban flying-fox roosts in a way that balances conservation efforts with addressing community concerns," Mr Delzoppo said.
"Flying-foxes play a crucial role in the health of our ecosystems, acting as seed dispersers and pollinators that help maintain healthy plant populations.
"They indirectly support a range of other wildlife, with their pollination powers keeping food sources plentiful while preventing the spread of disease that could harm native plants.
"We know that large flying-fox roosts can impact nearby households, so we're here to offer a helping hand to councils in need of support to reduce the impacts on their residents.
"From five new resident grant schemes to on-ground works across roosts in the Livingstone Shire Council region, we're proud to support local governments to deal with flying-fox roosts."
