FAQs

The SoMI is a document which guides how the City of Gold Coast manages flying-fox roosts across the local government area (LGA). This ensures a balance between the protection of these animals and the needs and expectations of the community. This document applies only to roosts located on City-managed land.

The SoMI is currently 5 years old and requires a comprehensive update to ensure alignment with current scientific literature, South-East Queensland FF Management Guidelines and best practice techniques from neighbouring LGAs. The update is supported through a successful State government grant.

The feedback received will help refine the final SoMI by ensuring management actions are both evidence-based and supported by the community. The results from the community engagement will then be incorporated into the final SoMI.

Flying-fox management works can only be undertaken on land owned or managed by the City, as these actions are funded through resident rates. If an occupant is concerned about a roost on private/non-City-managed land, the Queensland Environment Department can provide further information about management options.

Roost dispersal techniques are extremely costly and have low success rates. Past dispersal efforts undertaken by other LGAs have often resulted in flying-foxes returning shortly after being moved. Additionally, dispersal can lead to further negative impacts to the community as the roost can relocate into undesirable locations, including close to sensitive receptors.

Management techniques vary depending on site-specific conditions. These may include monitoring, establishing and maintaining buffer zones, vegetation management, and routine maintenance. Not all techniques are implemented at every site and are not necessarily applied in a fixed sequence.

Roost sites can vary in size, location, number of species present, and proximity to residential property and businesses. These factors, along with the level of conflict, influence the type of management approach used. This ensures actions are suited to the specific impacts at each site.  

While flying-foxes and their roosts are protected under Queensland’s conservation laws, these laws also allow residents to undertake actions to reduce impacts if needed. Refer to the Queensland Government page Living near flying-foxes- what residents can do to manage roosts on private land to find out how to manage flying-foxes on your property.

Flying-foxes are a native, protected species and play a critical ecological role. They disperse rainforest seeds and cross-pollinate the flowers of native species over significant distances, helping to maintain genetic diversity. This role is particularly important in fragmented landscapes such as the Gold Coast, where native forest patches are smaller and isolated from continuous forest areas.

Three flying-fox species inhabit the region: the Black flying-fox, the Little red flying-fox, and the Grey-headed flying-fox, which is listed as vulnerable and identified as a City-priority species.

Flying-foxes use vocalisations to communicate, although you may notice heightened noise occurring during the breeding and mating season from January to March. During this time, males call out to attract certain mates and establish their territory.

There is extremely low risk of flying-fox affecting a person’s health. Australian Bat Lyssavirus (ABLV) exist in less than 1% of flying-foxes and can only be transmitted by a bite or scratch from an infected bat. If you don’t touch flying-foxes, there is no risk. Transmission of Hendra Virus directly from bats to humans has never been recorded.