On the northern shores of Port Stephens near North Arm Cove lies Mt Karuah. Views from this peak extend to Barrington Tops, Myall Lakes, the Tomaree Penin- sula and Stockton Bight. 

The area contains values to match those scenic neighbours just mentioned, with relatively undisturbed old growth forests, littoral and dry rainforest, estuarine wetlands and high scenic values along its natural foreshore. The estuarine environment provides habitat for migratory birds and nurseries for fish and crustaceans. High quality habitat has been noted for priority species including koala, squirrel glider, tiger quoll, powerful owl, Australian bittern and mangrove kingfisher, and rare flora such as Ferguson’s ironbark. 

The suitability of the area for protection as national park estate has been demonstrated in investigations by the NPWS; in an independent study by NPA Hunter Branch; and in the 1985 Northern Foreshores Study commissioned by Great Lakes Council and the Department of Planning. Accord- ing to the NPA survey, much of the Mt Karuah area is remarkably undisturbed, showing no sign of degradation from human activity. Due to the low disturbance, a diverse range of mature trees with nesting hollows are present – one very large tallowwood (Eucalyptus microcorys) has a trunk circumference of seven metres. 

The tiny settlement of Carrington, nestled on the adjacent shore, has significant European and Aboriginal heritage values. A pioneer settlement of the Austral ian Agricultural Company, it is an early memorial to some of the first interactions between the two cultures in the region. Paintings by renowned colonial artists Augustus Earle and Thomas Watling depict the landscape in the early part of the 19th century, and these show that today the landscape remains relatively undisturbed. 

With land clearing for development occurring at a rapid rate on the southern shores of Port Ste- phens, it is important that remnants such as this be protected. Along with 400 hectares at Fame Cove, Mt Karuah (also 400 ha) and Carrington (300 ha) were offered for sale to the State Government for protection as national park in 1995 by the owners, Boral Ltd. 

Despite widespread community support and lobbying for the proposal, Boral sold the Fame Cove land to a private developer when the Government failed to respond to the offer. A proposal to subdivide Fame Cove into ten 40 ha allotments has now been submit- ted. Due to community pressure and the area’s high conservation values, the Minister for Planning has ‘called in’ the application for his determination. 

The opportunity still exists for Mt Karuah to be acquired, with funding proposed through the Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA).The RTA would transfer the land to NPWS as a habitat compensation package for the upgrade of the Pacific Highway between Karuah and Buladelah. 

During the March election, the office of the former Minister for the Environment, Pam Allan, advised that the RTA and NPWS "are continuing discussions to finalise this arrangement. It is anticipated that negotiations will continue in the near future and the land will be added to the reserve system".

 In April, Minister for Transport Carl Scully confirmed that discussions between the agencies had commenced, although the exact nature of environmental mitigation measures was unclear, with compensatory habitat being cited as under consideration. 

Time is running out for the northern shores of Port Stephens. On the tail of Fame Cove, Boral plan to develop the historic Carrington as a residential subdivision. The opportunity for a significant Port Stephens National Park has already been seriously compromised by the sale of Fame Cove. Decisive action on Mt Karuah is now urgently needed. The community awaits a response from the Government. 

* Julie Savage is an artist and conservationist living at North Arm Cove. COASTAL EXPERIENCE