Dear Members and Supporters

As you will no doubt have gathered from various press announcements over the past weeks, much is happening at the Harbour Trust. Four important matters require HPG’s attention:

• The 10 Terminal and Parklands Renewal Project

• Site visit and funding announcement by the Minister for the Environment

• Publication of Australian Government Actions in response to the Harbour Trust Review Recommendations – September 2020 update 

• Exposure Draft Sydney Harbour Federation Trust Amendment Bill 2020

The 10 Terminal and Parklands Renewal Project

After lobbying at the Trust Board level for wider community consultation about the 10 Terminal and Parklands Renewal Project, HPG was pleased to see that the Trust conducted a letter box drop and email campaign to the wider Mosman community of a brochure outlining the Renewal Project. It indicates that there will be a public exhibition of the Draft Design Concept in late 2020. The brochure can be downloaded here →

Site visit and funding announcement by The Hon Minister Sussan Ley MP, Minister for the Environment

Minister Ley visited North Head on Tuesday 29 September to announce the investment of $40.6 million into the Harbour Trust over the next four years, for a range of works across Trust sites. This is welcome news and HPG is pleased that 10 Terminal has featured in the mix. HPG has been lobbying the Minister for some months for further funds for 10 Terminal as the $10 million allocated to the 10 Terminal precinct by Tony Abbott is grossly inadequate.

Minister Ley’s office has advised that $4 million of the $40.6 million will be allocated to 10 Terminal. HPG has confirmed this advice with the Trust and will endeavour to ensure that the full $14 million promised is spent on rehabilitating the 10 Terminal precinct and not on other areas of Headland Park.

As well, some funds have been earmarked for fire safety upgrades in Headland Park. Fire risk is certainly an issue and HPG urges the Trust to develop a detailed and robust Fire Risk Plan.

Following the announcement at North Head, the Minister met with HPG at Middle Head to tour 10 Terminal and to hear HPG’s vision for the adaptive re-use of the buildings (see image above). The Minister was very generous with her time and spent an hour with us. She understands the Indigenous, military, cultural and environmental importance of the area and was supportive of 10 Terminal being used as an interpretation centre. It is the Minister’s opinion that 10 Terminal should be the focus of the 10 Terminal and Parklands Renewal Project.

The announcement of funding attracted significant press coverage, which you can read here →

Publication of Australian Government Actions in response to the Harbour Trust Review Recommendations – September 2020 update

If you registered for the Minister’s Forum earlier this year, you will have received an email on this. For those who haven’t, here are the Review Recommendations followed by detailed Actions being undertaken by the Commonwealth Government. 

Exposure Draft Sydney Harbour Federation Trust Amendment Bill 2020

The Commonwealth Government released the draft of the SHFT Amendment Bill 2020, as recommended in the Review. Read it here →

If you are interested in the proposed amendments, HPG suggests that you read in particular Sections 64 (A), (B), (C) which deal with lease terms. You will note that there is no cap on the length of leases beyond 35 years and the only check is Parliamentary disallowance within a limited time frame.

Submissions on the proposed amendments close on 13 November 2020. HPG will make a submission and share it with members.

Sincerely, 
Jill L’Estrange
HPG President
hpg.org.au