This announcement is a welcome relief for orchardists right across the state whose fruit has been damaged by flying foxes.

 When flying foxes move into an area that is not their normal habitat, they inflict a high level of damage, especially to fruit crops.  

 The announcement means that for the first time orchardists from outside the Sydney basin and Central Coast will be able to invest in orchard netting, which is the most humane method of protecting their fruit crops.

 Changes that mean farmers can receive the subsidy for investing in throw-over netting is a commonsense outcome that will see the benefits of the scheme spread further and faster, protecting more orchards and resulting in better outcomes for flying fox welfare.

 NSW Farmers was instrumental in the establishment of the netting scheme in 2011, supported by the NSW flying fox consultative committee.

  We also wish to congratulate Primary Industries Minister Katrina Hodgkinson and Environment Minister Rob Stokes for implementing  a commonsense approach to the damage caused by flying foxes.

NSW Farmers is the industry representative on the flying fox consultative committee, which has been considering the proposal to extend the netting subsidy program. The scheme allows anyone in NSW to apply for a subsidy of 50 percent, up to a maximum of $20,000 per hectare for throw-over netting and fully secured netting.

Peter Darley

Chairman NSW Farmers horticulture committee