Draft Flying-Fox Camp Management Plan

Protected the Species and Reducing Impacts

The Grey-headed Flying-fox is Australia’s largest bat species, occupying forest and woodland areas on the east coast of Australia.

Of the 654 known flying-fox 'camps' nationally, 55% are established within towns and residential areas. It’s not clear why flying-foxes choose to roost in urban areas, but flying-foxes are highly nomadic and can travel vast distances foraging and searching for food such as nectar, pollen and fruit. These camps can be challenging for the people that live near them.

Recently, the camps located near Stonequarry Creek in Picton, and Scotcheys Creek in Silverdale, have grown. Council is aware they are affecting residents in those areas.

We are continuing to monitor these camps as part of a national monitoring program, and conduct a count every three months. Large increases have also been seen across a number of other flying-fox camps throughout Western Sydney and the Blue Mountains and this is attributed to a current peak in flowering and fruiting trees within the region.

Grey-headed flying-foxes are an important part of the ecosystem – protected under Commonwealth and State legislation – so Council is limited in the actions we can take. We are exploring ways to help residents deal with the effects of the camp and improve the current situation as outlined below.

Draft Flying-Fox Camp Management Plan

The draft Flying-Fox Camp Management Plan aims to help reduce the negative impacts of flying-foxes on residents, while also conserving the threatened species and their important role in the ecosystem (spreading pollen and seeds).

For example, under our previous management plan, vegetation maintenance work and other activities were implemented in 2019 and 2021 to reduce impacts to local residents, and we hope to undertake similar actions in the future.

To revise and update the Flying-Fox Camp Management Plan, we are working with specialist ecological consultants and the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, which oversees and regulates the management of threatened species across NSW.

Share Your Thoughts

  • Take our questionnaire (below)
  • Give your feedback about the draft Flying-Fox Camp Management Plan (below)
  • Consultation closes on 24 April 2024.

More Information

For more information please contact our Environmental Services Team on 4677 1100.

Protected the Species and Reducing Impacts

The Grey-headed Flying-fox is Australia’s largest bat species, occupying forest and woodland areas on the east coast of Australia.

Of the 654 known flying-fox 'camps' nationally, 55% are established within towns and residential areas. It’s not clear why flying-foxes choose to roost in urban areas, but flying-foxes are highly nomadic and can travel vast distances foraging and searching for food such as nectar, pollen and fruit. These camps can be challenging for the people that live near them.

Recently, the camps located near Stonequarry Creek in Picton, and Scotcheys Creek in Silverdale, have grown. Council is aware they are affecting residents in those areas.

We are continuing to monitor these camps as part of a national monitoring program, and conduct a count every three months. Large increases have also been seen across a number of other flying-fox camps throughout Western Sydney and the Blue Mountains and this is attributed to a current peak in flowering and fruiting trees within the region.

Grey-headed flying-foxes are an important part of the ecosystem – protected under Commonwealth and State legislation – so Council is limited in the actions we can take. We are exploring ways to help residents deal with the effects of the camp and improve the current situation as outlined below.

Draft Flying-Fox Camp Management Plan

The draft Flying-Fox Camp Management Plan aims to help reduce the negative impacts of flying-foxes on residents, while also conserving the threatened species and their important role in the ecosystem (spreading pollen and seeds).

For example, under our previous management plan, vegetation maintenance work and other activities were implemented in 2019 and 2021 to reduce impacts to local residents, and we hope to undertake similar actions in the future.

To revise and update the Flying-Fox Camp Management Plan, we are working with specialist ecological consultants and the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, which oversees and regulates the management of threatened species across NSW.

Share Your Thoughts

  • Take our questionnaire (below)
  • Give your feedback about the draft Flying-Fox Camp Management Plan (below)
  • Consultation closes on 24 April 2024.

More Information

For more information please contact our Environmental Services Team on 4677 1100.