NSW Farmers spokesman Peter Comensoli said flying foxes have caused significant damage to orchards in areas like the central west and north coast. 

“This announcement is a welcome relief for orchardists right across the state whose fruit has been damaged by flying foxes,” Mr Comensoli said.

“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 damage caused this year in the Batlow and Orange regions is a testament to this.’

“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 which mean farmers can receive the subsidy for investing in throw over netting is a common sense outcome which 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 and work from its local members in Orange and Batlow, supported by the NSW Flying Fox Consultative Committee, has seen the extension secured for the remainder of the state.