Native flying foxes have become the bane of existence for many residents in East Cessnock, Lorn, Singleton and Blackalls Park.

A colony of about 10,000 bats has taken up residence on Crown Land at East Cessnock in recent months.

Fairfax Media reported today that Cessnock City Council is seeking funding to prepare a draft camp management plan for the bat colony at East Cessnock.

The document will be a significant step towards managing the problem, which has residents in the suburb coping with horrid sounds, smells and mess from flying fox droppings.

Council will develop the plan with the Office of Environment and Heritage, Department of Crown Lands and other agencies.

If successful, it could provide a useful framework for communities to deal with bat problems in other parts of the Hunter, including Maitland.

Federal Hunter MP Joel Fitzgibbon toured one of the bat hot-spots this week and renewed his call for a Senate inquiry into the issue – which he labelled a very serious situation.

The bats are one of two native species that appear to be causing headaches for Hunter communities.

Fairfax Media reported in recent weeks that kangaroos had become a safety problem for motorists on some Hunter roads, particularly in wine country.

These issues may seem trivial to some, but to those people who have a close call on the road with a roo, or who have to live with the mess, noise and stench of flying foxes on a daily basis, these are real problems that need to be addressed.

The bottom line is these animal populations and people need to co-exist, or another solution needs to be put in place.

There has been talk, in both instances, of whether a cull is required. In the case of the bats, that’s not going to be possible.

The grey-headed flying fox is an endangered and protected species.

Mr Fitzgibbon said this week he believes there is a solution to the bat problem that protects the creatures but allows residents to live in a reasonable environment.

Whatever that solution is, hopefully the cogs turn quickly to deliver an answer to long-suffering residents.