The Isaac Regional Council is set to receive a crucial funding boost from the Queensland Government, securing $70,200 in grants as part of the Flying-Fox Roost Management in Queensland Program. This initiative, now in its sixth round, disburses over $620,000 among sixteen Queensland councils, empowering them to enhance flying-fox management projects. The funding will enable Isaac Regional Council to implement low-impact actions outlined in their Hoods Lagoon draft flying-fox management plan, focusing on roost habitat improvement, sprinkler system installation, and the delivery of an educational awareness program.
Minister for the Environment and the Great Barrier Reef, Minister for Science, Leanne Linard, emphasises the government's dedication to assisting local councils in managing the impacts of flying-foxes while recognising their ecological significance, stating, “The State Government is committed to supporting local councils to manage the effects of flying-foxes on their communities.
“We know that flying foxes can present challenges when they co-exist with residents, but these protected native animals also have a vital ecological role in dispersing seeds and pollinating flowering plants, as well as keeping our native forests healthy.
“The successful projects in this latest round of grant funding will help to reduce the impacts of urban flying-fox roosts and support local communities to co-exist with flying-foxes.”
While the latest funding completes the allocation of the original $2 million funding commitment to the program, the 2023-24 State Budget extended the program by committing an additional $500,000 per year for the next three years.
The Department of Environment and Science works with the Local Government Association of Queensland to deliver the program and ensure that funds are targeted to the areas of greatest need and provide maximum long-term benefits for roost management in local government areas.
