Casino’s flying-fox camp is made up of grey-headed and black fruit bats, and at the start of each year, they are joined by the nomadic little red. The bats roost in trees on the banks of the Richmond River, and in adjoining parks, causing much angst to some of their human neighbours. Issues raised by the community include loud noises, smell, faecal droppings on cars, homes and washing, and the fear of diseases associated with flying foxes. The trees and surrounding areas well and truly show the wear and tear of having thousands of bats on them.
Under a new State Government policy, Richmond Valley Council can now take a more direct line in managing the flying-fox population in Casino. The Flying-fox Camp Management Policy 2014 (see below), will empower Council and other land managers, including private property owners, to work with the community to effectively manage the Casino flying-fox camp. If approved by the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage, Council’s new management plan will lead to a five-year licence, allowing ongoing management of the flying-fox camp.
In 2022, the Richmond Valley Council successfully secured grant funding through Local Government New South Wales as part of round 1 Flying Fox Camp Habitat Restoration Program for the restoration of flying fox habitat at Queen Elizabeth Park. The project involves the planting of over 10,000 native species, with the goal of creating future habitats for the flying foxes and relocating the local flying fox population from residential areas by providing them with an alternative habitat.
Continuing from our large-scale planting in April 2023, Richmond Valley Council planted over 11,000 trees along the riverbank as of June 2024. The restoration efforts throughout the site have been successful with a lush riverbank taking shape. Council will continue to monitor the health of the site, maintaining the plantings and controlling invasive/weed species. Some camps of the flying-foxes have recently been observed scouting the newly rehabilitated area, encouraging confidence in the success of the project.
To further develop community engagement with the project, Council is exploring the idea of installing viewing platforms. This would allow residents to actively watch our camps as they come into roost and migrate through the area. A permanent transect will also be available for monitoring of soil health, vegetation development and other features. This transect will have a QR code linked to a survey for members of the community to readily access and record their observations.
