TWO public workshops will be held this month to discuss the management of the grey-headed flying-fox colony at Kareela.
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Sutherland Shire Council has released a draft plan of management to address concerns of residents, schools, businesses and sporting groups regarding problems caused by the colony.
Located in 2.2-hectares of bushland at Bates Drive, the colony houses anywhere between 500 to 12,000 flying-foxes, depending on the time of year.
The colony is close to Bates Drive School, Sylvanvale, and homes, sparking complaints from residents about odour, noise and faecal droppings, as well as the potential health risks from the Hendra virus and the Australian Bat Lyssavirus.
The council has hired consultants Eco Logical Australia at a cost of $70,000 to prepare a draft plan of management outlining a range of options for the management of the colony.
Options range from leaving the flying foxes alone to total removal.
Another option is to disperse the flying foxes by altering the vegetation to encourage their passive relocation.
But the Australian Plants Society Sutherland Group is concerned about the potential effects of the relocation and will make a submission to the council.
‘‘We are very concerned about the proposed long-term action to nudge the colony closer to Joseph Banks Native Plants Reserve,’’ the group’s secretary Rhonda Daniels said.
‘‘Relocating the colony to Joseph Banks Reserve risks damaging the native vegetation in the reserve, with the same [problems] of odour and droppings.
‘‘It is not consistent with the masterplan to attract more visitors to the reserve.’’
The council will hold two information sessions on Saturday, October 19, from 10am to noon, and Tuesday, October 22, from 7pm to 9pm, at the council’s administration centre, 4-20 Eton Street, Sutherland.
The draft plan of management and a questionnaire is on the council’s website (sutherlandshire.nsw.gov.au).
Feedback can also be sent to the council via email to ssc@ssc.nsw.gov.au with the subject line ‘‘Kareela Grey-headed Flying-fox Camp Draft Plan of Management.’’
What do you think should be done about the flying foxes at Kareela?
