Flying foxes to get moved on

A GROWING colony of flying foxes terrorising a residential community in Highfields will soon feel the sonic shock of a council-led dispersal effort.

Residents have State Government permits to scare the bats from their roost, but complex laws mean doing so could result in hefty fines.

Members of the grey-headed species have set up home in scrub on Woolmer Rd together with the much larger and more numerous black flying foxes.

Control of grey-headed flying foxes comes under Federal law, meaning residents’ permits are essentially useless.

Mayor Paul Antonio said Toowoomba Regional Council was committed to launching its own bat-scattering effort, but not before a complicated study of the law was undertaken.

“The fear is that we could face fines up to $5 million if we do it the wrong way,” he said.

“The referral process could take a minimum of six weeks, but in some cases has taken up to 10 months.

“There is a clear need for common sense here.

“A comment was made (by Cr Anne Glasheen) that people should take precedence over bats.

“We understand the importance of the bats to environmental systems, but we also understand the importance of keeping them separated from humans.”

About 750 grey-headed flying foxes and “a significantly higher number of black-headed ones” have taken up roosts within metres of homes.

Cr Antonio believed they were new arrivals, with no prior evidence of them being there for the past 19 years.

Council will engage an ecological consultancy firm to help speed up the process.

“The roost is growing, so we have to act as soon as possible,” he said.

Are flying fox colonies causing you trouble? Leave a comment on The Chronicle website or email chris.calcino@thechronicle.com.au.