Mr Griffiths, 61, is on nocturnal dialysis, and has to be hooked up to the machine eight hours, every second night.

Over the past five weeks, constant blackouts caused by flying foxes have repeatedly stopped his machine, something that could have dire long-term consequences.

“Just about every night I use it, it stops,” he said.

“It takes one-and-a-half hours to set up the machine and 30 minutes to come off it.

“The machine keeps going for about 15 minutes, but then I have to retract the blood in from the machine.

“Too many disruptions can cause blood poisoning and potassium build-up and this can lead to heart failure.”

The short term difficulties are bad enough.

“If it keeps happening, I will have to go and get dialysis done at Moruya during the day which, with my job, would be very difficult,” he said. 

Essential Energy’s Mathew Rogers said field staff had been busy responding to power outages in from Batemans Bay to Narooma, including Tomakin, Rosedale, Malua Bay and Surf Beach, caused by the flying foxes. 

“Residents would have experienced intermittent power outages due to Essential Energy’s safety equipment switching off supply after the flying foxes contact powerlines or network equipment,” Mr Rogers said. 

“The same network protection equipment is able to determine if it is safe to switch the power back on or if Essential Energy crews need to attend.”

Meanwhile state, federal and local members of government have joined forces to tackle the Eurobodalla flying fox colony. 

Federal member for Gilmore Ann Sudmalis, Bega MP Andrew Constance and Eurobodalla Shire Council mayor Lindsay Brown have pledged to work together to find a solution to the issue, but warn the community they may be in for a long and difficult process. 

“We are warning people that we may be in for a long and difficult process to alleviate the pain and suffering facing many in our community as a result of the formation of one of the largest ever recorded colonies in an urban environment in the nation’s history,” they said.

“We are  dealing with the formation of a colony at such unprecedented levels, with estimates well in excess of 100,000 animals. Nobody should underestimate the magnitude of the challenge. We do not have all the answers and are all working together to try and find solutions.”

Bats take sail, page 4.