Bat Netting Subsidies

 

The New South Wales Government has just announced a further $4 million of state government funding to protect orchardists crops from flying foxes.

 

In 2011, the NSW Government introduced a $5-million scheme to subsidise the cost of installing flying-fox exclusion netting for commercial orchardists in the Sydney Basin and Central Coast regions. The scheme was introduced to eliminate the need to issue shooting licences to mitigate flying-fox damage to crops. 

 

The netting subsidy has now been extended to cover the whole of NSW, not just the Sydney Basin and Central Coast. This extension recognises that since the netting program began, unusually high numbers of flying-foxes have been occupying areas around Orange and other areas west of the Great Divide, and damaging crops. Funding is also available to upgrade non-compliant netting.

 

Four million dollars is now available for subsidies until 30 June 2016. Subsidies will meet half the cost of installing netting, and will be capped at $20,000 per hectare. Orchardists will be responsible for all ongoing maintenance and replacement costs.

 

Funding is available for both throw-over netting with an aperture size no larger than 5 mm that is properly fitted to reduce the risk of harm to wildlife, as well as fully secured netting. 

 

Netting Solutions Australia can install the appropriate net which complies with the Government's requirements. We use engineered structures.and UV resistant netting material to ensure longevity of the netting and minimise risk to bats and other wildlife.

 

To apply for funding and more information , visit 

 

http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/animals/endtoshooting.htm

 

Further information about why nets are so important for bats, see our bat netting page.