CONFLICT between people and wildlife and how it is managed was highlighted at Port Stephens Council 9 August meeting.

How to manage the Raymond Terrace flying fox settlement was discussed.

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Council’s Strategy and Environment Section Manager, Brock Lamont provided an update about potential management-action options regarding the Raymond Terrace flying fox camp to limit impacts on the local community, while still protecting the threatened species.

“As reported at the 26 April 2022 Council meeting, the flying foxes first established a camp at Newbury Park, Raymond Terrace, in the summer of 2011 and have since expanded into the adjacent Ross Walbridge Reserve in November 2014.

“The camp has been primarily occupied by the grey-headed flying fox, with a smaller proportion of little red flying foxes and black flying foxes also occurring,” Mr Lamont said.

The Raymond Terrace Camp is located next to light industrial, commercial and residential areas, causing community concern about noise, smell and excrement impacts.

“Australia has twelve current disturbance methods used to disperse flying fox camps, however, of these techniques, none have demonstrated camps abandoning the local area (greater than a 20-kilometre radius from the original camp),” he said.

“Extensive vegetation removal is noted as the most time-efficient dispersal method for small habitat areas within urban areas; however the establishment of satellite camps is an associated risk with this management action,” Mr Lamont said.

Mr Lamont said it was estimated a minimum requirement to undertake any additional management would be $250,000, supported by an estimated $50,000 per year for ongoing camp and dispersal management.

“Through review of a number of flying-fox-camp dispersal projects throughout Australia, a number of key themes are evident,” said Mr Lamont.

“The projects are high profile within local communities, high risk in terms of achieving desired outcomes and high cost in terms of mitigating community-wildlife conflict.

“Considering the detrimental impacts associated with dispersal attempts as well as the uncertainty of achieving desired outcomes, it is considered that the existing management measures in place for the Raymond Terrace Camp are adequate in providing a balanced outcome,” Mr Lamont said.

The Council said the impact on the local community was not ideal, however it was considered warranted at that location to ensure the protection of the threatened species.

By Tara CAMPBELL