Online Survey Results

The recent online survey was designed to focus on the impacts/concerns that the community experienced most intensely and to help shape management responses to these.

The purpose of the survey was to understand people’s knowledge, awareness and attitudes towards flying-foxes, the impacts they experience from flying-foxes and actions they take to manage these.

The open online survey provided an opportunity for all community members to input into a Flying-fox Camp Management Plan - Brinawarr Street, Bomaderry. The survey was open for responses from 17 September 2018 to 13 November 2018 and received 155 responses.

In summary, the results of the online survey indicated that:

1. Participants strongly value the ecosystem services flying-foxes provide and would prefer they remain undisturbed at the present camp location and are further protected.

2. The impacts of most concern in order are that flying-fox numbers are declining, flying-foxes are not being seen as a valuable tourism opportunity, odour and noise. Residents impacted indicated that unpleasant odours are experienced more intensely during periods of heat or high humidity. Residents also indicated that noise is of most concern during the flying-in and fly-out periods (dusk and dawn). Although these issues can be mitigated, there is general uncertainty over how these can be truly managed and a feeling of helplessness.

3. Community resilience can be built through further education whilst working toward a long-term management solution.

4. They would like SCC and environmental organisations to work with the community to educate people on the ecological and potential tourism value of flying-foxes to the Shoalhaven.

The feedback obtained during the engagement process has helped identify preferred principles for future management actions that align with community values, feasible costs, animal welfare and conservation and community health.

View the survey data report.