Public feedback on a draft plan to manage the East Cessnock flying fox colony closes this coming Monday.
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The plan has been developed in partnership with the community, state and local government as a tool for the management of the camp, where flying foxes have taken up residence on-and-off since 2011.
Bat numbers in East Cessnock peaked at an estimated 47,000 in May 2016, when the camp was set on fire four times in 12 days.
That same month, Cessnock City Council received $10,000 from the Office of Environment and Heritage to assist in the development of a camp management plan, and a further $15,000 from the NSW Government in October.
A couple of thousand bats are living in the trees on Crown Land on the corner of Old Maitland Road and Long Street this winter.
Management opportunities outlined in the draft plan include (but aren’t limited to) routine camp management actions (such as removal of tree limbs, whole trees, noxious weeds and leaf litter), education and awareness programs, property modifications and buffer creation.
The draft plan went on public exhibition on June 28 and has been met with “mixed reviews” so far, according to Cessnock City Council’s director of planning and environment Gareth Curtis.
“Some people say the ecology is more important, others say residents’ amenity is,” he said.
“We hope the plan can help balance these issues with a practical outcome.”
The management plan was initiated and led by Cessnock City Council on behalf of land managers including the NSW Department of Industry – Lands and Forestry, Department of Education, Office of Environment and Heritage and other stakeholders including Cessnock East Public School, the Bat Support Group and impacted residents.
“It will be important to make sure that everybody who has a responsibility implements their part of the plan,” Mr Curtis said, adding that further government funding would be critical to the plan’s success.
Mr Curtis said the council was pleased to receive more than 220 responses to its FlyingFox Engage survey last year, and urged people to make a submission to the draft plan.
“We need everyone who is interested to provide their views,” he said.
After the exhibition period finishes, council staff will collate the submissions, review comments received via social media, meet with stakeholders and make any necessary amendments, before presenting it to council for endorsement.
Mr Curtis said he expects the plan to come back to council by September.
The draft plan can be viewed at Cessnock City Council’s administration building, Cessnock and Kurri Kurri libraries, and on council’s website.
Written submissions must be received by 5pm on Monday, July 31.
