LONG-suffering residents of Lawn Terrace in Capalaba are hoping that this week's $2.7million state budget measure to track flying foxes will send a positive signal to Redland council.
Under the state-run tracking program, CSIRO scientists will attach GPS collars to 50 Little-red flying foxes in Charters Towers.
The collars, which cost $5000 each, will give data on bat movements, roosting preferences and feeding grounds which will help councils manage troublesome colonies in urban areas.
Currently councils can use water cannons, smoke machines and loud noises, to move roosts.
Lawn Terrace resident Lyn Sloane said she hoped the tracking program would eventually lead to the removal of a bat colony in 1 hectare of scrub on her back doorstep.
"This is most welcome even though government at all levels have been dragging the chain on the Lawn Terrace colony for three years," she said.
"Information gathered from tracking the flying foxes is good but at the moment it is nothing more than monitoring.
"Scientists should be recording the noise residents close to roosts have to put up with and the stress from the 54-to-67-decibel screeching and stench from the colonies.
"Three years is a long time to wait for the investigation from Steven Miles and his department especially when councils still have the right of veto and can choose to let some members of the community suffer - or not."
Speaking after Tuesday's Budget, Mr Miles said he knew some flying fox roosts in built-up areas needed "intervention" to protect residents from smell and noise.
"We also recognise the vital role played by flying foxes in pollinating native plants and maintaining forest health," he said.
Redland City Council welcomed the study but said it did not directly involve bat colonies here as the Little Red Flying foxes were seasonal and only visited for short periods.
"We will be actively looking for any new learnings that result from the study that we can apply and improve flying-fox management at Lawn Terrace," council said.
