SUTHERLAND Shire Council has decided on the immediate dispersal of the Kareela flying fox colony.
It was a choice between acting this month or waiting until winter 2016.
Proceeding now means the council has to find the $850,000 cost of dispersal.
The colony, which has an estimated 18,000 flying foxes, is affecting the grounds of the nearby Sylvanvale Mikarie Child Care Centre, which cares for more than 150 children aged up to six including children with disabilities, and the Bates Drive Public School and Aspect South East Sydney School.
Flying foxes are flying low over the outdoor play area of Sylvanvale during the day, leaving faecal droppings on play areas and equipment. Teachers have had to evacuate the playground a number of times.
Sutherland Shire Council's environment health regulation committee chair, Councillor Tracy Cook, who is a school teacher, said she would prefer to see flying foxes killed than continue to see the safety of children to be put at risk.
"Now is the time to get the lights and noise down there at Kareela and disperse the flying foxes away from the areas in which children attend school," Cr Cook said.
"It means no more recess times that children have to share with over 18,000 flying foxes that are urinating, defecating, grooming, breeding and screeching.
"One bat, one urination or defecation can cause Hendra and Lyssavirus and gastrointestinal disorders."
But Cr Diedree Steinwall, who is also a school teacher, said dispersal was extremely risky and has a minimal success rate.
"It comes at a hefty cost to ratepayers of up to $1.5 million," she said.
"There is a chance that this action will have to be repeated year after year, impacting on subsequent council budgets.
"The affected schools nearby have requested high fencing and shade cloth in preference to dispersal; however, this was ignored by the council when it voted for dispersal.
"I understand why people are concerned about the children. I have been a high school teacher for 20 years and I have taught special needs children.
"Dispersal has huge risks with scattering of the colony to nearby streets and areas, leaving the council to combat this problem on multiple fronts.
"Residents living near the colony have not been told they will have noise, smoke, light and ultrasound equipment for 365 days a year to prevent roosting in the areas.
"The council has only completed 50 per cent of stages one and two of its management plan for the colony, costing $70,000.
"We have put in $350,000 already. We should complete these stages before moving on to stage three — full dispersal."
■ Do you agree with the council decision to immediately disperse the Kareela flying fox colony?
