Council has commenced important weed clearing and vegetation management at the Girang Roost (flying-fox roost) at Middleton Street.
Over the last three weeks Council staff have managed to restore the site significantly. More works including vine and ground cover control are planned for the future as funding becomes available.
"The vegetation in and around the Girang Roost at Middleton Street was in poor condition with a lot of it overgrown, and lots of weeds growing in the area," said Council's Biodiversity Team Leader, Liz Caddick.
"Council sought expertise from Tweed Byron Local Aboriginal Land Council, as future custodians of the area to guide management and restoration of this important area," Ms Caddick added.
Flying-foxes play an essential role as pollinators of some of Australia's most iconic forests. As nomadic animals, they move between roosts following the flowering seasons of native forests. Of the 21 known roosts in the Byron Shire, this is the only permanent one, providing critical habitat that flying-foxes rely on year-round.
"It was important to restore the vegetation that these animals rely on," Ms Caddick said.
"In Bundjalung language, a flying-fox is called girang or kirang, these names can also vary across the Bundjalung Nation. The animals are culturally important and respected for their role in the ecosystem," said Council's Aboriginal Project Officer, Robert Appo.
Initial vegetation restoration works have been funded by Council.
