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Funding boost for local flying-fox management programs

July 13, 2023 6:52 am in by

Townsville City Council is set to receive more than $28,000 to help manage flying fox roosts in the community.

It’s one of 10 projects across Queensland who will receive a share in more than $200,000 in funding to support the protection of flying-fox roosts while mitigating noise, odours and damage to crops.

Local councils will use the grants to tailor their flying-fox programs to suit their communities and support projects including the development of long-term roost management plans, vegetation management and training for council staff.

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$28,700 will be used to develop a long-term roost management plan for the area.

Minister for the Environment and the Great Barrier Reef, Leanne Linard says despite flying-foxes playing a vital ecological role, from time-to-time, negative flying-fox and human interactions can occur around urban roost sites, particularly when flying-fox numbers increase rapidly in a particular location.

“The Palaszczuk Government recognises the need for flying-foxes to be managed in a way that addresses both community expectations regarding the need for local amenity and the long-term conservation of these species in the wild,” says Ms Linard.

“These ten new projects will assist councils in managing and enhancing flying-fox habitat, developing long-term roost management plans for their local government areas and providing localised grant schemes for residents and businesses impacted by individual flying-fox roosts.”

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