Local councils in Queensland have been given permission to frighten flying foxes into retreat, and possibly to bring out the big guns next year.

Councils have new powers to “scare off” bats without the previous requirement of a State Government permit.

Councils can use lights, smoke and sounds to disband flying fox communities in urban areas.

“These changes give council officers the power to respond rapidly and appropriately to local concerns before situations get out of hand,” Environment Minister Andrew Powell said.

“A permit will still be required for non-council applicants or for roosts outside the designated urban areas; however this will be a much simpler process.”

Powell says the Government will consider allowing councils to kill the bats from next year.

“Local councils have requested the ability to apply for lethal damage mitigation permits when all other options are exhausted and we will be looking at this next year in consultation with the Federal Government,” the Environment Minister said.

But scientists say neither dispersal nor attempting to cull the communities will be effective. Studies have shown that little red flying foxes and other bat colonies are both temporary and transient, and that previous attempts to move colonies have only really worked by accident – in cases where bats chose to find a new roost.

Furthermore, just like bees, many bats play an important role in spreading seeds and pollen to propagate plants.

Researcher Dr Jon Luly says trying to kill the bats may have unintended consequences.

“It does seem to me that lethal approaches are simply silly and that the risks posed for having people running around particularly in urban areas shooting things is far worse than having a few bats living in any given place,” he said.

“If you want to avoid getting Lyssa-virus, you simply don't handle flying foxes or other micro bats for that matter... if you don't want to have a problem with Hendra-virus you stay away from sick horses.”

“People are quite happy to continue smoking... despite the extremely well known risks of health effects that that has.”

Some have raised the apparent hypocrisy of a population willing to live in close proximity to deadly snakes, spiders, jellyfish and other dangerous creatures, while holding such strong opposition to a relatively harmless animal.

Banana Shire Mayor Ron Carige says advice from the Department of Environment and Heritage on how to move flying foxes has worked, and the towns of his shire are now virtually bat-free.

Their approach was to let the bats move on in their own time, which they did.