BRISBANE, Queensland, Jan. 30 -- The Department of Environment and Science issued the following media release:

* Seven Queensland local governments will receive funding under the latest round of Queensland's Flying-Fox Roost Management-Local Government GrantProgram.* The councils will receive a total of $250,000 for nineseparate flying-fox roost managementprojects.* Originally a four-year $2million initiative ending in 2024, the grant program has been allocated an additional $1.5million to extend it for a further threeyears.

Local communities are the winners with Queensland councils continuing to receive funding to reduce nuisance from flying-fox roosts and for projects helping residents and businesses co-exist with flying-foxes.

Originally a four-year $2million initiative, ending in2024, the Flying-Fox Roost Management - Local Government Grant Program has received an extra $1.5million to extend it for a further threeyears.

The latest round of the program will see seven Queensland councils receive a total of $250,000, for nine flying-fox roost managementprojects.

Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation (DETSI) Deputy Director-General MrBenKlaassen said councils will use the funding for projects to prepare roost management plans, undertake roost management activities and for programs to make it easier for residents to live near flying-fox roosts.

"Flying-foxes are essential for the survival of native forests but they can also pose significant challenges for councils that have roosts in parks and reserves in urban areas," MrKlaassensaid.

"The new funding will help councils address these challenges and reduce the nuisance impacts of flying-fox roosts on nearbycommunities"

DETSI is working closely with the Local Government Association of Queensland to ensure funds are targeted to the areas of greatestneed.

Scenic Rim Regional Council Mayor TomSharp said earlier funding received through this program helped develop Council's "ScenicRim Flying-Fox Management Strategy 2023-2028" to reduce negative interaction between flying-foxes and residents, while acknowledging their status as protectedspecies.

"We are delighted to receive further funding through this latest grant round which will support 'onground' management action under the strategy," CrSharpsaid.

View moreinformation on flying-foxes.

Funds have been allocatedto:

* Logan City Council: $16,120to develop management plans for two flying-fox roosts* City of Gold Coast: $29,826for vegetation management at two roosts and $6,540to update Council's 'Statement of Management Intent' for flying-fox roosts* Mount Isa Regional Council: $38,500to develop a region-wide roost managementplan* Sunshine Coast Regional Council: $34,397to develop a region-wide roost managementplan* Scenic Rim Council: $45,500for roost management actions at Rathdowney and $25,550 for roost management actions atCanungra* Ipswich City Council: $16,500to enhance a flying-fox roost at Woodend through weed management and understorey planting which will increase the heat stress resilience of theroost* Whitsunday Regional Council: $42,000for a residents' grantprogram.

The next round of the grant program will open for applications in early2025.

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