“Active management is needed where flying fox camps are close to urban settlements, causing noise, odour and potentially putting health at risk,” Mr Stokes said.

“The policy encourages councils to prepare camp management plans for sites where there is a high level of impact on the community.”

Flying foxes remain protected.

Under the new policy, local councils will be given the power to create buffer zones by removing vegetation to create a separation from populated areas.

This will also disturb animals at the boundary of the camp to encourage roosting away from human settlement.

The policy has been a long time coming for East Kempsey resident Delma Buczko, who has been fighting for the removal of a flying fox colony adjacent to her property for the past three years.

“My main concern is that most of the bats if not all, are infected with the Hendra virus,” Ms Buczko said.

“The smell is unbearable, and seeps into our house even with the doors and windows closed.

"The bat droppings and urine falls right up to our back and front door.”

Ms Buczko said she hoped the state government does give the power to local councils to remove them.

“Nobody really wants to kill the bats as they are a very important part of our eco system," she said.

"However, we do need to find a way to disturb them and encourage them to move on out of our CBD,” Ms Buczko said.

Kempsey Shire Councillor Anthony Patterson told The Argus he would welcome the new policy with open arms.

“I celebrate the fact that the state government has seen fit to delegate local problems to local councils,” Cr Patterson said.

“Obviously I think it is about time the government is rationalising the fact that people don’t want to kill the bats, they just want to control where their colonies stay.”

Mr Stokes also announced the finalisation of ‘special circumstances’ that will allow orchardists to continue to be able to apply for shooting licenses in rural areas. 

The Flying-fox Management Policy is now on public exhibition and can be viewed at:  http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/threatenedspecies/flyingfoxcamppol.htm