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Figure 6 Karloo Street Reserve land zoning and proximate residences
Figure 6 Karloo Street Reserve land zoning and proximate residences
2.3.4 Sensitive receptors
Residential dwellings are the primary sensitive receptors to the Karloo Street Reserve camp. Within a 300 m radius of the camp there are approximately 470 residential lots, including: • four residential lots at the northern end of the camp that provide secondary roosting habitat, including three lots with existing houses
• 46 other residential lots that directly adjoins the camp • 148 residential lots that are also within 300 m of the Cocos Crescent Reserve camp • 53 lots located in the new residential development to the south-west of the camp. The previously mentioned rural land (zoned RU2 Rural Landscape) located to the south-east of the reserve has been identified for potential future rezoning and residential development. There are no other known sensitive receptors to flying-fox camps (such as hospitals, airports, schools, childcare centres and equine facilities) within 300 m of the Karloo Street Reserve camp.
2.3.5 Council assets and activities
Council managed infrastructure within and directly adjacent to Karloo Street Reserve includes Karloo Street, sewer mains and pump station, water mains and managed drains (
). This infrastructure requires periodic maintenance and can result in flying-fox disturbances. Other Council management activities at the reserve include: • maintaining a ten metre Asset Protection Zone (APZ) behind residential properties along the northern, eastern and western boundaries of the reserve • maintaining lawns within the reserve • bush regeneration works, with a focus on weed management • Squirrel Glider (Petaurus norfolcensis; BC Act listed vulnerable species) nest box monitoring. There are no formal walking tracks through the reserve, although access is possible via Kentia Drive, Karloo Street, Lakeview Crescent and Burrawan Street, and via the APZs and mown area in the east. Other utilities adjacent to the camp include underground communications infrastructure and electricity (above and below ground).
The following list is a collation of the issues related to the Karloo Street Reserve camp that have been reported by the community. The list has been compiled from information collected via a range of reporting and consultation methods. Key reported issues include: • noise as flying-foxes depart or return to the camp • noise from the camp during the day and seasonally during the night • faecal drop on houses and outdoor areas, roofs that have associated water tanks, cars and washing lines, and associated time spent cleaning areas adjacent to the camp • odours, particularly following wet conditions • disease concerns to residents and pets • health and/or wellbeing impacts (e.g. associated with lack of sleep, anxiety) • lifestyle impacts as a result of reduced amenity/odour/disease concerns (e.g. housebound, inability to leave windows open) • reduced general amenity • damage to vegetation • impacts on other native animals, particularly birds • pollution of waterways • diminished rental return • property devaluation. Council has received periodic complaints about the camp from surrounding residences since the early 2010s and a petition requesting the removal of the flying-foxes was first received in 2011. A particularly large number of complaints, including a second petition with 117 signatures requesting removal of the camp was received in response to the significant April 2013 flying-fox influx event. Since then the majority of issues related to the camp are recorded in summer and autumn, coinciding with seasonal increases in flying-fox numbers at the camp. Recent and potential future residential development to the south-west and south-east of the reserve poses an emerging issue, with more residents living in proximity to the camp. Maintenance of infrastructure and features (e.g. APZs) has been identified as an issue for managers planning and implementing works at the reserve due to flying-fox interaction, approval and welfare considerations, as well as disturbance to flying-foxes from on-ground works. This has potential to exacerbate noise impacts to residents.
2.3.7 Management response to date
Council’s management responses implemented for the Karloo Street Reserve camp to date have included: • responding to community complaints and providing information on flying-foxes, legislative considerations and Council’s actions • seasonal flying-fox monitoring four times a year as part of the national flying-fox monitoring program to increase Council’s understand flying-fox use of the camp • applying for State government funding to prepare a flying-fox camp management plan for the site commencing in 2011. Earlier attempts (pre-2020) were not successful. • preparation of a draft flying-fox camp management plan for Karloo Street and Cocos
Crescent reserves (2015-19; prepared by Council internally with funding received by
Hunter Councils Environment Division) • APZ enhancement (2013) and management with the dual benefit of improved bushfire protection and providing separation between roosting flying-foxes and residences • weed management works.
State government funding was secured in the 2020/21 financial year and Council funding from the environmental rate has enabled the development of this plan. There are some reports that the APZ management has helped some residents, while others have not reported any benefit.
2.4 Cocos Crescent Reserve camp
2.4.1 Location and setting
Cocos Crescent Reserve is located in Forster on Council land and covers an area of 1.4 ha (refer to Figure 7). It is officially known as Bangalow Place Reserve however is better known as Cocos Crescent Reserve due to its prominent frontage along Cocos Crescent.
The reserve is located approximately 350 m west of the Karloo Street Reserve camp and contains both vegetated and maintained (mown) areas. Private residential land surrounds the reserve. This includes an approved aged care facility located to the immediate northwest of the camp which is partly constructed. The total area of forest vegetation at the reserve is 0.9 ha. Vegetation mapping showing indicative DPIE BioNet PCTs at the camp are displayed in Figure 8 and include: • Swamp sclerophyll forest: PCT 1717 Broad-leaved Paperbark - Swamp Mahogany -
Swamp Oak - Saw Sedge swamp forest of the Central Coast and Lower North Coast • Dry sclerophyll forest: PCT 1602 Spotted Gum - Narrow-leaved Ironbark shrub - grass open forest of the central and lower Hunter. All of the 0.9 ha of forest vegetation at the reserve has been occupied by roosting flyingfoxes. The vegetation on site is isolated from other stands of native vegetation and there are no areas of potential roosting habitat adjoining the camp, with the exception of scattered trees in the mown parkland portion of the reserve. The swamp sclerophyll forest vegetation is the primary roosting habitat and the dry sclerophyll forest is used as a secondary roosting habitat.
