A plan to manage a long-standing flying fox colony in Narangba has drawn support from the community, with residents backing a solution aimed at reducing impacts on nearby homes while keeping the protected animals within the parkland.
Feedback shows strong local interest in finding an approach that improves daily life for neighbours while limiting harm to the bats. After a consultation period from 12 January to 6 February 2026, a report in March summarised feedback on a proposal to install canopy-mounted sprinklers in the parkland next to New Settlement Road.
The system is designed to encourage flying foxes to move deeper into the reserve, increasing the distance between the colony and surrounding homes rather than forcing them out of the area entirely.
A Management Approach Council Has Used Before
Council has pointed to previous use of similar sprinkler systems, including at Redcliffe Botanic Gardens, where the method was found to move flying foxes away from residential edges while allowing them to remain in the broader area.
The approach uses intermittent water sprays in the tree canopy to make certain roosting spots less attractive, with the aim of shifting the colony farther from nearby homes.
The Your Say Moreton Bay project page explains that the goal is not removal, but better positioning of the colony within the parkland.
Narangba Residents Show Measured Support
Survey results show that many residents are open to the proposed solution. Overall, 58 per cent of respondents supported or strongly supported measures to increase the distance between homes and the colony. Among residents living directly beside the parkland, support was higher, with 63 per cent backing the approach.
While views differ, the results show support for action alongside concern about how the approach would work. Many respondents highlighted the need to reduce impacts on nearby homes while also recognising the importance of protecting flying foxes, which are native species covered by state and federal laws.
Residents living closest to the colony have reported challenges such as noise, odour and droppings affecting their homes and outdoor spaces. The consultation highlights that these impacts are most strongly felt by households bordering the parkland, where more than half described themselves as severely affected.
Residents Favour Council Oversight of Any Sprinkler System
Another strong theme in the feedback is a preference for Council to manage the process. Among residents living adjacent to the parkland, most said they would prefer Council to control the sprinkler system rather than individual households.
Residents also showed interest in how the system would be rolled out, how its success would be measured and what safeguards would be in place for the animals.
While questions remain about implementation and long-term outcomes, the response reflects a mix of support and caution from the community.
Published 17-April-2026
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