An Australian council is planning a drastic move to buy out 20 homes because residents are “unable to go outside” due to a large flying fox colony. Gympie Regional Council mayor Glen Hartwig has put forward a five-part proposal to address the situation, which has caused daily screeching, filth, and a suffocating stench for years.
Residents have been impacted by the thriving colony, with deterrents like specialised sprinklers and building modifications failing to reduce the misery. Hartwig said he has seen first-hand how difficult it is to live with the constant noise, smell, and disruption. “The excrement the bats leave makes it impossible for them to open their windows and doors,” he told Yahoo News Australia, adding that residents feel isolated and their mental health is suffering.
The plan, passed by council on October 29, includes requests for federal and state government funding for vegetation management and dispersal, legislative changes to reconsider flying fox management limits, broader community engagement, and potentially paying residents to relocate in a mass buyback if governments refuse to touch the roost.
Native bats are protected under Queensland’s Nature Conservation Act 1992, which makes it an offence to kill, injure, or interfere with them. Councils have “as-of-right” authority to manage roosts in urban areas using non-lethal methods under a strict code of practice. Hartwig said the case highlights the need for higher levels of government to reform legislation so that people’s wellbeing takes priority over flying foxes.
“We’re aiming for outcomes that are environmentally responsible, financially realistic and most importantly, responsive to the needs of those residents who have been seeking a resolution for many years,” Cr Hartwig said.
