Flying foxes have returned to Charters Towers in force, but the town can do little about it because of environmental red tape.

Key points: Charters Towers residents are frustrated that little can be done about 250,000 bats roosting in the town

Charters Towers residents are frustrated that little can be done about 250,000 bats roosting in the town Parks are closed, the pool hours are reduced for extra cleaning, and day care centres are also affected

Parks are closed, the pool hours are reduced for extra cleaning, and day care centres are also affected But the council won't be dispersing the bats until mid-2020, claiming environmental legislation has their hands tied

So residents have taken matters into their own hands, fed up with the noise, smell, and mess from the roosting bats.

The Charters Towers Regional Council said it was the worst the problem had ever been, with the CSIRO confirming more than 250,000 were in the town.

Previously, in December 2017 there were about 200,000 in the community.

After living in Charters Towers for 17 years, Nicky Kruger said the flying fox issue was at its peak with "plague proportions" occupying the town.

"Just recently it has gotten a lot worse," she said.

"In our backyard we have four very large trees and they are roosting in the trees every single day and at night when they come back at three o'clock in the morning.

"It affects everyone's sleep around here."

Thousands of flying foxes nest in Lissner Park, Charters Towers, closing the park to visitors. ( ABC North Queensland: Chloe Chomicki )

Locals frustrated by the disturbance have taken matters into their own hands with efforts to disperse the bats.

"I get the pressure cleaner gun and we can get most of the lower bats dispersed from the lower branches with that," Ms Kruger said.

"What makes the biggest difference is the pot and the pan.

"I just want them gone for the people of this town. Having to deal with this every single day is demoralising."

The Charters Towers Regional Council has closed the town's only two parks due to falling branches from the weight of the animals.

Opening hours for the local swimming pool have been reduced to allow time for extra cleaning.

Fitness classes that normally occupy the parks have had to seek out new places to train.

Personal trainer, Riley Candy, said it was frustrating.

Personal trainer Riley Candy (centre) and his clients cannot train in the park due to the flying foxes. ( ABC North Queensland: Chloe Chomicki )

"We [used to] do all the morning classes at the park, but because of all the bats we've had to move them to elsewhere," he said.

"The bats were flying everywhere, the noise, the smell — if you go to the park there are branches on the ground."

Children restricted from playing outside

Outdoor play is being restricted at one local day care centre due to the health risk to children.

The centre director said she feared it would lead to a drop in enrolments.

"We didn't want to risk the safety of our children and our staff," she said.

"Our current parents have been very supportive and understanding.

"I feel like it is going to disadvantage us being able to gain new enrolments, being able to operate, and possibly staying open."

The parks have been closed to the public since Monday, December 9. ( ABC North Queensland: Chloe Chomicki )

No dispersals until mid-2020

The Charters Towers Regional Council has trialled dozens of dispersal methods over the years including helicopters, fire hoses, and even chilli wax.

But Acting Mayor Sonia Bennetto said the next dispersal attempt will not be until mid-2020.

Acting Mayor Sonia Bennetto says she understands the frustration surrounding the flying foxes. ( ABC North Queensland: Chloe Chomicki )

"We are bound by legislation and codes of practice in terms of timing," she said.

"That time is ideal as there will be no young within the roost.

"Also numbers will be minimal so the fact that there will be reduced numbers will ensure that we have the highest possibility of successful dispersal of the colony."

The plan next year is to disperse the bats in the hope they will settle in at a new roost site.

"We've allocated $550,000 over the next three years to continue ongoing maintenance of our relocation site, which is Young's Block — four kilometres north-east of our township," Ms Bennetto said.

"The Department of Environment and Science has issued a tender to engage third parties to develop that site to become an appealing alternative roost for that existing colony.

"There is no assurance of [State Government] funding for the long-term management of the flying fox roost."

The Acting Minister for Environment, Coralee O'Rourke, said the Department was taking a balanced approach to the issue.

"The fact of the matter is that these flying foxes are protected under the Nature Conservation Act 1992 and we need to get the balance right between protecting this species and meeting community expectations," the Minister said.

However the Member for Traeger, Robbie Katter, demanded that the State Government acted now.

State Member for Traeger, KAP's Robbie Katter says Charters Towers "is a city under siege". ( Supplied )

"I'd challenge anyone in Queensland to go and treat yourself to a day in the life of those people who live in that town," he said.

"This is a city under siege.

"We're calling on the State Government and the Minister for Environment to go up to Charters Towers right now.

"There are private contractors that can relocate those bats tomorrow."