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Ku-ring-gai Flying-fox Reserve: Overview and History Description of Ku-ring-gai Flying-fox Reserve The reserve covers both sides of Stoney Creek valley with residential development on the ridgetops above. The houses are surrounded by large gardens but in the 1980s and 1990s subdivision led to houses being built lower on the slopes and closer to the reserve. Stoney Creek rises in Pymble and follows a sinuous course eastwards through the reserve, to join Rocky Creek which flows through Garigal National Park and into Middle Harbour Creek. The high ridge to the south and the north shore ridge to the west protect the valley from the strongest of the southerly and westerly winds. The valley slopes are steep with outcrops of sandstone forming cliffs up to six metres high. The soils on the ridges are clays from Wianamatta Shale whereas toward the east and on the lower slopes the soils are sandy, formed from Hawkesbury Sandstone. Vegetation on the upper slopes is tall open forest. The canopy species include Blackbutt Eucalyptus pilularis, Turpentine Syncarpia glomulifera, Sydney Red Gum Angophora costata and Red Mahogany Eucalyptus resinifera in the western part of the reserve. This community is classified as Turpentine Ironbark Forest (even though the Ironbarks are not present) and was listed as critically endangered by both NSW and Commonwealth Scientific Committees. Further east the upper slopes include Red Bloodwood Corymbia gummifera and Sydney Peppermint Eucalyptus piperita. Closed forest dominated by Turpentine Syncarpia glomulifera, Coachwood Ceratopetalum apetalum, Sweet Pittosporum Pittosporum undulatum, and Lilly Pilly Syzygium species is found on the lower slopes and along the creek. Trees such as Blue Gums Eucalyptus saligna, Blackbutt Eucalypts pilularis and Sydney Red Gum Angophora costata emerge above this canopy. History of Stoney Creek Valley 1929 - Water Board installed a major trunk sewer along the valley.
1930 - Bushfires were reported by residents to have occurred causing some damage to property
1947 - Bushfires reported in the lower part of the valley near Bell Street.
1950 to 1965 - flying-foxes camped near Browns Waterhole in Lane Cove River valley, about 6 kilometres west of Stoney Creek valley, which they used seasonally.
1960s - Grey-headed Flying-foxes were camped near Lady Gowrie Nursing Home and 18 Edward Street (pers. comm. Gardener at Lady Gowrie Nursing Home to Helen George).
1977 - Stony Creek was renamed Stoney Creek and registered by Geographical Names Board
1983 - Ku-ring-gai Municipal Council commissioned R. Buchanan, ecological consultant to survey Council's bushland. In the report, ‘Municipality of Ku-ring-gai Bushland Management Survey Report' section D, page 29 Stoney Creek Reserve - the flying-fox camp, is listed as one of the Reserves of Highest Ecological Value.
1983 - Ku-ring-gai Council approved subdivision of 18 Edward Street. The flying-fox camp occupied part of this subdivision. Following public opposition to the subdivision approval, the Minister for Environment and Planning issued an Interim Conservation Order on the site to permit an investigation by the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) and report on the flying-fox habitat.
1984 - Report to NPWS by Dr A.N.Williams regarding the Gordon Bat Colony was issued. [Link]
1985 - In January Ku-ring-gai Council and NSW Government (using Heritage Funding) jointly purchased two lots of the subdivision at 18 Edward Street to protect the flying-fox camp. Cost of the purchase was $185,000.
1991 -The name Ku-ring-gai Flying-fox Reserve was adopted by the Geographical Names Board
1991 - Conservation Agreement
Ku-ring-gai Flying-fox Reserve was protected by a Conservation Agreement signed in February by the NSW Minister for Environment, Tim Moore, and the Mayor of Ku-ring-gai, Richard Lennon. The Conservation Agreement is attached to the title of the land and operates in perpetuity. It commits Ku-ring-gai Council to restore and maintain the habitat of the Grey-headed Flying-fox in the reserve and the Minister to assist with provision of technical advice and financial assistance to the owner to ensure provision of education opportunities and interpretation for the public regarding the flying-foxes.
1995 - Conservation Agreement Grant
NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) provided a grant of $30,000 for research, interpretation and catchment management to Ku-ring-gai Council to assist in managing the reserve. Council, NPWS and KBCC representatives together planned the projects
1999 - Management Plan for Ku-ring-gai Flying-fox Reserve adopted by Council.
2001- Neighbours of Ku-ring-gai Flying-fox Reserve: community attitudes survey [Link]
2007- Land acquisition
NSW Government purchased 4,400 m2 of privately owned land previously designated ‘county open space' to avoid development on this steeply sloping land which juts into the reserve. The land was incorporated into the reserve.
Last modified by Nancy Pallin on 2009/05/02.
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