See the full ABC News story here ➞
A recent ABC News report focuses on the Federal Government’s plan to divest HMAS Penguin, including an ancient angophora forest, at Middle Head. The story notes that Prime Minister Anthony Albanese previously opposed the sale of Sydney Harbour foreshore land, describing such sites as assets belonging to the whole nation, while the Government is now proceeding with plans to sell around 11 hectares of the naval base.
The report also featured comments from Headland Preservation Group President Jill L’Estrange, who warned that selling the site at market value could pave the way for inappropriate luxury development. She argued that a sale focused on maximising financial returns would be fundamentally incompatible with the site’s nationally significant heritage values, environmental importance and access constraints. HPG continues to advocate for HMAS Penguin to remain in public ownership and be protected for future generations.
For HPG, the ABC story reinforces growing community concerns that once public land on Sydney Harbour is sold, it will be lost forever.