BYRON SHIRE Council is inviting feedback from the local community on a draft plan to manage flying fox camps in the Byron Shire.
Byron Shire Council’s Director Sustainability and Environment, Shannon Burt, said the draft Byron Shire Flying Fox Camp Management Plan outlines issues and concerns raised by the community and the measures Council will take to reduce impacts on residents living or working in close proximity to specific camps.
“Over the past few years, Grey-Headed flying foxes have established camps in Mullumbimby, Bangalow, Byron Bay and Suffolk Park and this is having an impact on people’s lifestyles and businesses and the amenity of these areas,” Ms Burt said.
[xyz-ihs snippet=”Servo”]
Flying foxes are a native species and are protected under NSW and Commonwealth Threatened Species legislation.
The NSW Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH) has primary responsibility for regulating the management of flying foxes in NSW, and provides guidelines for the conservation and management of flying foxes.
[xyz-ihs snippet=”DontGetFB”]
“Council has been working closely with OEH and the community to develop the draft Plan, which provides a framework for managing the flying fox camps in the Byron Shire,” Ms Burt said.
The draft Byron Shire Flying Fox Camp Management Plan is on public exhibition until 1 September 2017.
For more information go to www.byron.nsw.gov.au/public-exhibition or call Clare Manning, Byron Shire Council’s Biodiversity Officer on 6626 7324.