A plan of management for the flying fox camp in the Camellia Gardens at Caringbah has been locked in.
Sutherland Shire Council will not attempt to disperse the colony but will use a range of measures to lessen the impact of the threatened species on visitors to the gardens and surrounding residents.
Objectives in a plan of management adopted by the council include:
- Managing the flying foxes to reduce public health and safety risks and conflict with park users.
- Where possible, impacts on the surrounding community will be reduced.
- Park staff will also use a range of measures to protect special planting and cultural aspects of the gardens.
“The Camellia Gardens flying fox camp was first formally recorded in July, 2016, and to date has only been occupied by the Grey-headed Flying Fox,” the document said.
“It is not yet clear if it is a permanent camp. but it has been occupied the majority of days since July 2016.”
The document said the number of flying foxes in the camp ranged at various times from 10 to 2000.
A report by council staff said the draft plan of management was exhibited earlier this year, leading to 24 formal submissions and eights comments on the council’s Facebook page.
The majority of respondents had supported the draft plan of management.
The report said “priority actions were updated to reflect the results of community engagement, with a focus on managing vegetation, faecal drop and education”.
”Concerns regarding human health can be further addressed by community education on bats and flying-foxes to explain the actual risk of contracting the Australian Bat Lyssa Virus and how to eliminate that risk. Education is a priority action in the CMP,” the report said.
“Camellia Gardens staff are currently managing faecal drop extremely well by using a high pressure cleaner so that paths can be maintained to a high standard for gardens visitors.”
The report said a state government grant had been secured to help manage and protect garden vegetation.
The works included installation of sprinklers and lighting to protect important tree specimens by deterring roosting activity.
Planting of additional habitat within the gardens would enable existing vegetation to be rested over the long term.
The report said bush regeneration and augmentation of the understory within the adjacent Kareena Park reserve would be undertaken “to enable nudging of the camp in the long term if circumstances require”.
The council approved $17,500 in extra funding this year to implement proposed actions.