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COUNCILS have been granted greater powers to act to reduce the devastating impact of bat colonies on their communities.
Colonies comprising thousands of flying foxes wreaked havoc across parts of the New England and North West last year.
Yesterday, the government responded to calls to strike a better balance between the rights of residents and the protected pests.
NSW Environment Minister Rob Stokes said land managers, such as councils, can now apply for a five-year licence allowing them to take “appropriate action”.
The licences enable councils to move on problem colonies by clearing vegetation or using noise, water, smoke and light dispersal tactics.
Councils are also permitted to remove trees in a bid to discourage colonies from setting up camps in populated areas.
“Active management is needed where flying-fox camps are close to urban settlements, causing noise, odour and potentially putting health at risk,” Mr Stokes said.
“The policy encourages councils to prepare camp management plans for sites where there is a high level of impact on the community.”
NSW Health has confirmed three people this year have been bitten or scratched by flying foxes carrying the potentially deadly lyssavirus.
In May, Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall, Inverell Shire Council (ISC) and the Inverell Business Chamber led a campaign calling for a more effective management strategy.
Mr Marshall said the petition garnered more than 10,000 signatures and was supported by parliamentary colleagues in Orange, Port Macquarie, Clarence, Albury and Coffs Harbour.
“I wanted to bring to the attention of the house the existing and potential impacts that flying fox colonies have on the health and wellbeing of residents when they roost in their thousands in urban or built-up areas, as they did in Inverell late last year,” he said.
ISC general manager Paul Henry said there had been no reports at this of “any sizable infestations” coming back to the shire at this stage.
He said the government’s policy would likely go before the council for discussion at its next meeting.
“The change in emphasis from overall protection of the bat colony to a more balanced approach of at least considering the needs of the community is a positive step,” he said.