Potential GHFF Camp Conflict Name Purpose Coastal Floodplain Permanent Water <500 m Can Support Vegetation >8 m Foraging Habitat <20 km Risk Comments Cessnock LGA East Cessnock Residential High Existing camp within 300 m with potential to move closer. Civic Employment Moderate Revegetation of gully or around dams to the north-west and south may require buffer. Government Road Residential ? wastewater treatment ponds Moderate Camp could establish in drainage lines within Cessnock State Forest, along the eastern boundary or along Black Creek. Sanctuary Village Conservation and urban association Moderate Revegetation along Congewai Creek (proposed urban) and Quorrobolong Creek (existing urban) may require buffer. Bellbird Residential ? large farm dams Low Revegetation along Limestone Creek may require buffer. Nulkaba Residential ? dams Low Revegetation along Oaky Creek may require buffer. Sweetwater / Huntlee Urban / Conservation ? Black Creek Low Revegetation of Black Creek within conservation areas could require a buffer from proposed urban areas. Buffer should be absorbed within the urban area. Kitchener Residential ? large dam Black Creek Very low - Gingers Lane Residential - - Averys Lane Residential associated ? dams - - Cliftleigh Residential associated ? dams - - Greta Migrant Camp Urban - -
Tanilba Bay Residential Low Situated between Tilligerry Creek and Port Stephens, introduction of tall vegetation may require buffers. Karuah Residential Low Frontage to Karuah River, Little Swan Bay and Port Stephens suggests buffers should be considered where riparian areas are being revegetated. Wallalong Urban - - Medowie Residential - - Air Employment Employment - - Anna Bay Residential - - Newcastle LGA Minmi Residential Minmi Creek and tributaries of Hexam Swamp may require buffers. Newcastle / Lake Macquarie LGAs Link Road South Residential Low Vegetated riparian areas retained along Brush Creek and tributaries may require buffers. Link Road North Residential Low Vegetated riparian areas retained along Maryland Creek and tributaries may require buffers. Lake Macquarie LGA South Morisset Residential Moderate Pourmalong Creek currently suitable for roosting GHFF. Appropriate buffers required. North Morisset Residential Moderate Vegetated section of Stockton Creek and its tributaries require buffers.
Medium Develop guidelines to assist land managers dealing with controversial flying-fox camps. DECCW has produced a camp management policy, clearly outlining that culling is not supported and dispersal is in most cases unfeasible. The guideline sets standards and consistency upon which to base camp management decision-making. Funding is required to assist landholders dealing with controversial camps. Medium Develop materials for public education and provide them to land managers and local community groups working with controversial flying-fox camps, highlighting species status, reasons for being in urban areas, reasons for decline etc. Materials are available on living with flying-foxes; fact sheets factsheets QLD government fact sheets DSEWPaC fact sheets. Decision-makers require more support to make appropriate decisions about managing GHFF related conflict. Medium Monitor public attitudes towards flying-foxes. Some studies have been undertaken (Ballard 2004, Larsen et al. 2002). Triggers should be identified for undertaking further public attitude surveys to avoid public saturation and to use funding for GHFF management and research wisely. In late 2012, an online survey on public knowledge of the Hendra virus and attitude to flying-foxes was undertaken by Dr Hume Field. Medium Assess the impacts on Grey-headed of electrocution on powerlines and entanglement in netting and barbed wire and implement strategies to reduce these impacts. No work has been progressed in this area. Road-kill could be included. Medium Investigate the age structure and longevity of Grey-headed A systematic assessment has been made at a single camp in urban Sydney (Divljan 2008). No comparative work has been undertaken at other sites. Medium Complete national recovery plan. In progress. Low Protect and enhance priority foraging habitat for Grey-headed for example through management plans, local environmental plans and development assessments, and through volunteer conservation programs for privately owned land. Some rehabilitation and land management programs would benefit the GHFF, however no targeted programs have been implemented in the Lower Hunter specifically for GHFF foraging habitat protection. This study identifies areas suitable for further investigation in terms of foraging habitat conservation and rehabilitation.
R5 Research Foraging habitat restoration or creation programs should contain a monitoring component to identify when foraging GHFF begin use of these sites. Monitoring should occur to demonstrate that use of these sites occurs. Any monitoring should be published as a minimum in the ABS newsletter, but preferably in a publically-accessible journal, and made freely available on the internet where possible. During the planning of a foraging site rehabilitation or creation project, incorporation of monitoring requirements to establish when foraging begins, and possibly its frequency. Recreated foraging habitat is used by foraging GHFF. H1 Health Investigate the potential physical and mental health impacts to humans of living in close proximity to a flying-fox camp. Broaden the understanding of the mental and emotional impacts of living adjacent to flying-fox camps to provide improved information to support camp management plans and residents. Can be done anytime. Comprehensive impacts to health are considered in management plans prepared for problematic flying-fox camps. H2 Health Ensure horses on properties within flying-fox distributions are vaccinated as per relevant guidelines. This action should be followed by a campaign to inform landholders with horses about actions to take to minimise risks of transmitting Hendra (e.g. keep feed and water under cover or away from trees and temporarily remove stock from paddocks containing flowering trees). Should be undertaken soon to capitalise on vaccination release. Transfer of Hendra from flying-fox to horse and horse to human does not occur. H3 Health Ensure school programs are provided in Lower Hunter schools that equip children with factual knowledge about bats and health risks. Should occur at an appropriate age, so that the risks and management of these risks are readily understood. Children are equipped with correct information about bat diseases, and can make appropriate choices of action when near flying-foxes.
Table B1 Camps in the Lower Hunter Camp Name Mapped vegetation type (GHVMv 4) Vegetation description from site inspection Recent occupation pattern Critical to survival used as camp >50% of last 10 years max pop >10,000 >2,500 incl females sept-may Accuracy of location (1=50m) Disturbance history Current conflict Black Hill MU007 Sandpaper Fig /Whalebone not verified not occupied 1 0 0 0 no na na 2 Camp was occupied on an annual seasonal basis (summer) prior to approx 1997. Flying foxes were shot at by orchardists in a regular, organised manner. Mining company set and deployed 'bombs' beneath roosting animals in attempts to deter them. Landowner is now sympathetic, would like to see the animals return and is approachable. East Cessnock MU115 Eucalyptus parramattensis / Angophora bakeri / Melaleuca nodosa shrubby woodland in the Cessnock-Kurri Kurri area Paperbark depression Forest new camp, seasonality, etc unclear 1 0 ? new 1 1 1 None None Millfield MU007 Sandpaper Fig / Whalebone Tree warm temperate rainforest Hunter Valley Dry Rainforest annual, seasonal (spring-summer) 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 3 None None - CMA is negotiating with landowner to establish a Voluntary Conservation Agreement over the land as part of their involvement in Hunter Dry Rainforest conservation initiative
Belmont MU206 Paperbark / Swamp Oak / Saw Sedge swamp forest on coastal lowlands of the Central Coast and Lower North Coast as per GHVM v4 not occupied 1 0 no na na 2 not known None Glenrock MU071 /MU072 Moist shrubby open forest types dominated by Spotted Gum not verified not occupied 1 0 no na na 2 not known None Blackalls Park MU200 Swamp Mahogany / Paperbark Coastal Floodplain Forest of the Central Coast Not verified Occupied in large numbers since mid-February 2013. 10,000 est.confirmed 5/3/2013. Reports of earlier occupation by smaller numbers have not been confirmed. 1 new new new yes 2 not known Camp new, although some conflict evident. Martinsville MU010 Jackwood / Lilly Pilly / Sassafras riparian warm temperate rainforest of the Central Coast. wet gully forest: Bangalow Palm / Sydney Blue Gum / rainforest midstorey including Acmena smithii pre2007: (warm months); irregular - seasonal (warm months) 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 2 None Landowners sympathetic to flying protective of the camp. However, neighbours have approached the owner re: moving the camp. Concerns over water quality have been raised.
Anna Bay MU128 Apple / Blackbutt / Old Man Banksia woodland on coastal sands of the Central and Lower North Coast MU206 Paperbark / Swamp Oak / Saw Sedge swamp forest on coastal lowlands of the Central Coast and Lower North Coast annual, seasonal (winter-spring) 1 0 1 1 1 1 uk 2 History of shooting, but not for several years None Bobs Farm MU128 Apple / Blackbutt / Old Man Banksia woodland on coastal sands of the Central and Lower North Coast MU206 Paperbark / Swamp Oak / Saw Sedge swamp forest on coastal lowlands of the Central Coast and Lower North Coast new camp established 2008; annual, seasonal 1 0 0 uk new uk uk 2 None None Fullerton Cove MU229 Grey Mangrove low closed forest as per GHVM v4 occasional 1 uk uk uk 1 2 None None Italia Road MU072 Spotted Gum / Mahogany / Red Ironbark shrubby open forest Melaleuca decora / Alphitonia excelsa not occupied 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 unknown None, not occupied Medowie MU133 Parramatta red gum / Fern-leaved banksia / Melaleuca sieberi swamp woodland of the Tomaree Peninsula Melaleuca quinquenervia annual, seasonal 1 1 1 1 1 1 None None
Raymond Terrace MU000 vegetation planted vegetation, animals roosting in Casuarina glauca new, established 2010, appears to be seasonal 1 0 0 0 new 0 0 1 None None Snapper Is MU018 Tuckeroo / Lilly Pilly / Coast Banksia littoral rainforest as per GHVM v4 occasional 1 0 0 0 0 uk 1 2 None None Tocal MU000 vegetation and MU196 River Oak / White Cedar Grassy Riparian Forest of the Dungog Area and Liverpool Ranges MU000, MU196 and some additional native planting new, established 2010, appears to be seasonal 1 1 0 1* new, 2010 1 1 1 None None * There's evidence that this is a replacement for the long-established Paterson camp and would therefore meet the conditions for 'exceptional circumstances' #Uk = unknown, BFF = Black Flying-fox, LRFF = Little red Flying-fox
MU 046 Blackbutt / Turpentine / Forest Oak shrub / fern Open Forest 247 EUPIL 1 1 EUPIL*2.1*76.5 /(2.1*76.5+1.7*35.3) 1 1 MU 047 Turpentine / Forest Oak moist shrubby open forest 6,873 SYGLO ANFLO 1 1 SYGLO*2.3*80 2 1 1 MU 048 White Mahogany / Turpentine moist shrubby open forest 3,201 SYGLO EUACM EUSAL +2 fruit spp 1 1 SYGLO*2*44.4 1 2 1 1 MU 050 Blackbutt / Turpentine / Sydney Blue Gum mesic tall open forest of the Central Coast ranges 832 SYGLO EUSAL EUPIL + 5 fruit spp 1 1 SYGLO*2.4*84.4 1 1 1 1 MU 054 Grey Myrtle / Mountain Blue Gum ferny gully forest 268 ANFLO EUDEA SYGLO 1 1 ANFLO*2.4*50 1 2 2 2 MU 055 Lilly Pilly / Sydney Blue Gum wet sclerophyll /rainforest of coastal ranges and tablelands escarpment 4,458 EUSAL + 4 fruit spp 2 2 EUSAL*2.9*58.1 2 2 MU 061 Forest Oak / Smooth-barked Apple / Blackbutt open forest 1,503 ANCOS SYGLO EUPIL 1 1 ANCOS*2.3*65.8 2 2 2 1 MU 062 Large-fruited Grey Gum / Mountain Blue Gum /Forest Oak shrubby open forest on ranges of the Sydney Basin 6,993 SYGLO ANFLO EUDEA 1 1 SYGLO*2.5*57.7 1 2 1 2 MU 064 Hillgrove Gum shrubby open forest on to lower slopes of sandstone ranges of northern Sydney Basin 626 0 MU 066 White Mahogany / Spotted Gum / Grey Myrtle shrubby open forest of the central and lower Hunter Valley 817 COMAC EUACM 1 1 COMAC*2.1*65.5 2 2 2 2 1 0 85 0
MU 221 Philydrum lanuginosum / Sporobolus virginicus wetland 13 MEQUI 1 1 MEQUI /2 1 1 Listed TSC Act,E: Forms part of the Endangered Ecological Community Freshwater Wetlands on Coastal Floodplains of the New South Wales North Coast, Sydney Basin and South East Corner Bioregions (Part) partially subset of; MU 222 Tall Spike Rush freahwater wetland 14 0 Listed TSC Act,E: Forms part of the Endangered Ecological Community Freshwater Wetlands on Coastal Floodplains of the New South Wales North Coast, Sydney Basin and South East Corner Bioregions (Part) partially subset of; MU 223 Lepironia articulata sedgeland MEQUI 1 1 MEQUI /3 1 2 Listed TSC Act,E: Forms part of the Endangered Ecological Community Freshwater Wetlands on Coastal Floodplains of the New South Wales North Coast, Sydney Basin and South East Corner Bioregions (Part) partially subset of; MU 224 Baumea articulata sedgeland 0 Listed TSC Act,E: Forms part of the Endangered Ecological Community Freshwater Wetlands on Coastal Floodplains of the New South Wales North Coast, Sydney Basin and South East Corner Bioregions (Part) partially subset of; MU 228 Saltmarsh / Estuarine Complex 2,225 AVMAR FRUIT 2 Listed TSC Act,E: Equivalent to the Endangered Ecological Community Coastal Saltmarsh in the New South Wales North Coast, Sydney Basin and South East Corner Bioregions (Equivalent) largely equivalent to; MU 229 Grey Mangrove low closed forest 4,157 AVMAR FRUIT 2 0 MU 231 Grey Gum / Red Gum / Paperbark shrubby open forest on coastal lowlands of the Northern Sydney Basin and Lower North Coast 356 EUPUN, EUTER, ANFLO 1 1 AVERAGE(EUPUN, EUTER, ANFLO) 1 2 0.00 1 1 MU 999 non native vegetation uk 0 * source of information on threatened plants and communities = OEH (2012) Draft Greater Hunter Vegetation Classification - Version 4 10 August 2012