When George Micolich launched his drone over the Gordon Park Flying Fox Camp, while expecting the worst, he was still devastated at what he beheld.
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For the Nambucca Heads resident the flying foxes are unwelcome visitors, who are not only destroying their own environment, but also Nambucca’s only remaining pocket of coastal rainforest and a once popular tourist destination.
“When the timber and shipping industries declined in the late 1940s, Gordon Park, where logs were once rolled off carts and down the steep embankment to the timber mill on the river’s edge, was abandoned, allowing the rainforest to regenerate along the natural fresh water supply,” George said.
“The rainforest flourished and became a major tourist attraction from the 1950s. The fresh water well at its heart was a source of water for visitors and a well-known historical landmark.”
Mr Micolich said the tragic story of a 10-year-old boy found dead in the well after many days of searching the riverbanks and beyond had been all but lost with the arrival of the flying fox colony and the subsequent closure of the walking track through the rainforest behind the tennis courts, which leads to the well.
“From the photos you can see that only a small portion of the forest survives, whereas before it was all lush green vegetation. This area should be protected and maintained as an historical site that is accessible to our locals and tourists for their leisure.”
UPDATE:
Excerpt from the Nambucca Shire Council papers for the meeting February 8, 2018:
During the current financial year, the budget for the management of the Gordon Park Flying Fox Camp was $20,900 from the Environmental Levy, as well as funding from Local Government NSW.
A draft Vegetation Management Plan has been prepared and forwarded to representatives of the rainforest committee with feedback has been passed onto contractors for consideration.
Staff are in the process of preparing a Review of Environmental Factors to undertake minor maintenance activities in the rainforest and the surrounding facilities including the tennis courts. Once complete this document will guide general maintenance in the area.
Staff have also commenced preparation of content for interpretive signage for the area, providing information to the public on Flying Fox camp and other environmental attributes of the area.
Council continues to receive comments from the public in respect to issues associated with the flying fox camp.
