The grey-headed flying-fox is one of Australia's most important keystone species, playing a pivotal role in dispersing the seeds and pollen of our woodlands and rainforests. In fact, it's been estimated that a flying-fox can spread up to 60,000 seeds in a single night! Essentially, the forests of eastern Australia and the wildlife they support (such as koalas) would not be able to regenerate and thrive without flying-foxes.

While they may seem common in our cities, studies have indicated that grey-headed flying-foxes have actually declined by around 30 percent in recent decades. For this reason, they are now listed as Vulnerable to Extinction under state and federal legislation. Loss of habitat for farming and development is a key threat to the population, as well as climate change impacts such as extreme drought, storms, heat stress events and bush fire. 

As flying-foxes have been pushed out of their natural habitats, they have started to take refuge in our cities where food and water are available throughout the year. This can create challenges for urban communities, who may experience impacts such as noise, odour and droppings.

There are now three grey-headed flying-fox colonies or 'camps' on Council-managed land within the Northern Beaches, located at Balgowlah, Warriewood and Avalon. These camps are managed in accordance with the Northern Beaches Flying-fox Camp Management Plan (CMP) and applicable threatened species licenses issued by the NSW Department of Planning and Environment.

The aims of the CMP are to:

• guide management of the camps in accordance with the NSW Flying-fox Camp Management Policy
• minimise community impacts and avoid future conflict
• improve community understanding of flying-foxes including their ecological role
• conserve flying-foxes and their habitat
• support community resilience to flying-fox impacts
• clearly define roles and responsibilities for management actions
• ensure actions are in accordance with relevant legislation.