Speculation increased yesterday that the state government is about to give councils the authority and approvals that will help them “move on” camps of flying foxes where they’ve become an environmental and health hazard in residential areas.

The decision has more than just legislative interest for at least two northern local government bodies who have battled the bat plague over the past couple of years.

Inverell mayor Paul Harman said late yesterday he wanted to see the detail first but he expected the environment minister Rob Stokes might be about to give councils under siege from the bats the first real sensible powers and untie red tape which had limited their actions in clearing bat colonies out of residential areas or where they were destroying human habitats.

Mr Harmon dismissed suggestions councils had ever sought permission to be able to shoot bats out of the sky as “pie in the sky” stuff, despite some metro media headlines yesterday indicating the government was poised to let councils take aim at the bats.

“But from everything I have been able to read and also the information I have from our local member Adam Marshall, we will have some new means to decamp flying foxes, like hoses, lights, noise and trimming some foliage, that’s good news,” Mr Harmon said.

“Certainly it’s a start to untying red tape and for the first time there seems to be some sensibility to the issue.”

Although they came under fire last year from thousands of flying foxes that stripped vegetation along the Macintyre River in the centre of Inverell and then moved on to the celebrated and historic Blair Athol bed and breakfast property, the numbers have drastically reduced now.

In Tamworth, there’s been the same experience. Three or four years ago, they descended on King George V Ave and created hell for residents on both sides of the Peel River in that area.

There was extreme frustration, not just from residents, but also from councils at the fact they were hamstrung in dealing with it.

The Tamworth Regional Council manager for environment and health, Ross Briggs said TRC was continuing to work closely with the Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH) to manage the local population of flying foxes.

“The latest information we have from the Office of Environment and Heritage has confirmed the numbers of flying foxes in the main local camp near King George V Avenue, have reduced considerably compared to this time last year,” Mr Briggs said.

Nationals MP Adam Marshall is confident the details of the new powers will be released next week and give them the right to take steps to move on flying fox colonies when they roost in urban areas.

“The minister has been quite clear that the protection of human health is always his first priority,” Mr Marshall said.

“I understand this new approach, which we’ve been lobbying for, will cut the red tape and free up councils to help their communities.”