Figure 18 Smiths Lake camp land zoning and proximate residences

Figure 18 Smiths Lake camp land zoning and proximate residences

2.6.4 Sensitive receptors

Residential dwellings and accommodation facilities are the primary sensitive receptors at the Smiths Lake camp. Of the 14 private lots that support the camp, 10 have existing dwellings or holiday houses, and four are yet to have dwellings constructed. This include a recently approved private campground to the south-east of the camp. There are eight other residential lots that directly adjoin the primary camp roost, four of which have dwellings and four of which have not been built on. Within a 300 m radius of the camp there are approximately 323 other residential lots; 292 of which have dwellings and 31 that had not been built on as of March 2021. Further establishment of houses and accommodation facilities will increase the number of residences in proximity to the camp. There are no known other sensitive receptors within 300 m of the Smiths Lake camp.

2.6.5 Council assets and activities

There are no Council assets or utilities within the Council reserves at the Smiths Lake camp. Local roads, water mains and sewer mains however occur adjacent to the camp, and a section of Council managed sewer main is located on private land that intersects the camp’s primary roost (refer to Figure 15). Council also maintains localised APZs within the Council reserves near some residential properties at the camp. There are no current bush regeneration programs undertaken at the reserves.

Other utilities adjacent to the camp include electricity (overhead and underground) and communications.

2.6.6 Community reported issues related to the camp

The following list is a collation of the issues related to the Smiths Lake camp that have been reported by the community. Key reported issues include: • odour, particularly following wet conditions • faecal drop on houses and outdoor areas, roofs that have associated water tanks, cars and washing lines, and associated time spend cleaning areas adjacent to the camp • noise as flying-foxes depart or return to the camp • noise from the camp during the day and seasonally during the night • 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/smell/disease concerns (e.g. house bound, inability to leave windows open • reduced general amenity • damage to vegetation • impacts on other native animals, particularly birds • pollution of waterways • property devaluation. Council has received complaints about the camp from surrounding residents periodically since the early 2000’s. Residents have stated that the issues are exacerbated when there are large numbers of flying-foxes.

Concerns have also been raised about new developments and houses putting pressure on the camp from impacts such as vegetation removal, noise and smoke from wood fires. Existing residents are concerned that these impacts will result in reduced flying-fox habitat and displacement of the camp closer to existing residences and increasing noise, odour and dropping impacts in particular. Future development and housing construction will result in more people living or holidaying in proximity to the camp. Some residents have reported concerns about flying-fox conservation and welfare, including habitat loss and degradation by other landholders and visitors locally, and disturbances to the flying-foxes from these activities.

2.6.7 Management response to date

Council’s management responses as of March 2021 at the Smiths Lake camp 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

2.7 Hawks Nest camp

2.7.1 Location and setting

The Hawks Nest camp is located on both private and Council land in Hawks Nest near the Ibis Avenue and Kingfisher Avenue intersection (refer to Figure 19). It is situated on the interface between a stand of vegetation associated with the Myall River estuarine zone and the residential area of Hawks Nest. The Council land is officially known as Jean Shaw Koala Reserve. Myall Lakes National Park occurs directly to the west of the reserve. The primary flying-fox roost footprint is located on the Council land, north of Kingfisher Avenue and has an area of 0.6 ha. The secondary roost footprint has an area of 4.2 ha, extending north from the primary roost on Council land to Albatross Avenue and south onto private land between Eagle Avenue and Kingfisher Avenue. The combined recorded camp extent covers a total area of 4.8 ha, although the occupied footprint varies over time. Vegetation mapping showing indicative DPIE BioNet PCTs at the camp are displayed in Figure 20 and include: • Swamp sclerophyll forests: o PCT 1235 Swamp Oak swamp forest of the coastal lowlands of the NSW North Coast Bioregion o PCT 1717 Broad-leaved Paperbark - Swamp Mahogany - Swamp Oak - Saw Sedge swamp forest of the Central Coast and Lower North Coast • Dry sclerophyll forest: o PCT 685 Blackbutt - Needlebark Stringybark shrubby open forest on coastal sands of the NSW North Coast Bioregion • Saline wetlands: o PCT 1747 Grey Mangrove low closed forest.

The total area of contiguous potential roosting habitat at the camp is 8.1 ha.