Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall announced Armidale Regional Council was successful in obtaining the $15,000 grant from the NSW government’s Flying-Foxes Grants Program on Friday.

Mr Marshall said Armidale Regional Council proposed to prepare a flying-fox camp management plan for the Black Gully colony, to ensure the flying foxes did not return.

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“The plan will enable council to use a range of suitable management responses to sustainably manage flying-foxes in the area and take action to ensure they don’t return and interfere with the amenity of local residents,” Mr Marshall said.

“This will help to ensure camp management is consistent with broader conservation strategies, minimise impacts to the community and effectively communicate with stakeholders during planning and implementation.

“There is a range of options council can consider in their plan to manage flying-foxes including vegetation trimming or removal to create buffer zones or, and as a last resort, camp dispersal.”

In May 2016, the NSW Government announced up to $1 million in total would be available for councils to prepare and implement camp management plans for flying-fox camps where there are significant community impacts.

“I am pleased to see Armidale Regional Council has acted on this opportunity to help address community concerns about flying-fox camps in our community,” Mr Marshall said.

Flying fox grants are administered by Local Government NSW in accordance with terms agreed with the NSW Office of Environment & Heritage.