Councillors voted to approve the quarterly Kooloonbung Creek Flying-fox Camp Management Plan. The plan aims to manage community impacts and concerns associated with the camp, while conserving flying foxes and their habitat.

Flying fox ecology expert and resident Cathy Eggert addressed councillors at the meeting and said the hard work of council will be undermined if councillors don't recognise the impact of climate change on the flying foxes.

Ms Eggert said flying foxes are highly intelligent animals.

The community, Ms Eggert said, needs to be aware of the vital role flying foxes play in pollinating native tree species, some of which can only be pollinated by the flying fox species, and only at night.

"If we continue to lose flying foxes we will continue to lose tree species," she said.

Flying foxes are succumbing to the impact of drought and fires, while heat stress is wiping out large numbers in camps across the Mid North Coast.

"Just like humans flying foxes succumb to disease when stressed," she said.

Ms Eggert said it's important to prioritise the installation of sprinklers to cool the Kooloonbung camp environment and minimise the agonising death of the animals.

She commended the work of council in engaging the community on this issue.

Read more: Council installs flying fox signs at Kooloonbung Creek Nature Park

Mayor Peta Pinson asked Ms Eggert why flying foxes don't seek cooler shelter, given they are exposed and suffering from heat stress at Kooloonbung Creek.

Ms Eggert explained experts are still exploring the reason for this, but believe it's a traditional trait as to why the animals continue to return to their original camp locations.

Resident and nurse Lynda Binskin also addressed councillors and acknowledged the role council plays in balancing the needs of residents, corporations and flying foxes.

However she raised concerns the plan does not adequately cover the impact of heat stress on the flying foxes. She said there is scant mention on how to alleviate this, such as through plant regeneration and use of sprinklers.

Ms Binskin wants council to review their education process, which she believes is more focused on resident dissatisfaction, rather than the beneficial role flying foxes play within the environment.

Cr Pinson said a number of educational signs were recently implemented at Kooloonbung Creek.

Cr Turner addressed the meeting and said koalas seem to have a strong public relations campaign and perhaps it's time flying foxes had one too.

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