Mayor Peta Pinson put the issue on the Port Macquarie-Hastings Council April meeting agenda after talking with residents who live near the Kooloonbung Creek Nature Reserve.

Lake Road resident Pam Anderson told the council meeting about the bats’ constant screeching and the appalling stench in the height of summer.

Another Lake Road resident Joan Collis spoke about health concerns and the flying-fox colony’s growth.

“We feel the flying-fox colony is growing at an enormous rate, and for this reason, should be moved on from the residential area,” Ms Collis said.

Flying-fox management is dealt with in the Kooloonbung Creek Nature Park Plan of Management.

The council’s position is to continue to focus primarily on the in-situ management of flying-foxes.

The council has requested the general manager write to the Office of Environment and Heritage, as well as both federal and state local MPs, to seek advice on funding opportunities to manage the impact of flying-fox colonies adjoining residential properties.

Meanwhile, the state government has just committed $5 million for solutions that improve and restore flying-fox habitat that reduce impacts on communities.

Office of Environment and Heritage director grants Peter Dixon said the new grant program would see Local Government NSW work with councils and landholders to implement long-term management actions to reduce conflict between communities and flying-fox colonies.

Cr Pinson said she felt for the community members that were impacted by the bat colony but she also understood the limitations facing the council.

She said the council needed to revisit the situation at Kooloonbung Creek Nature Reserve.

Cr Mike Cusato said no one wanted to eradicate flying-foxes but culling was needed in certain areas to let the community have the amenity they deserved.

A change in flying-fox status would be needed for that to happen.

Cr Justin Levido said: “We can write to state and federal politicians, but at the end of the day, I find it so frustrating.”

He said politicians making these decisions didn’t live anywhere near the bat colonies.