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Dear Members and Supporters, We work on your behalf to protect Harbour Trust lands from inappropriate use and development. Many of our campaigns focus on urging the Harbour Trust to fulfill the objectives of the Trust Act, which mandates the protection and conservation of the natural, cultural, and heritage values of Trust lands. We thank you for your continued support. Mosman Council's proposed development on Harbour Trust land at Middle Head Oval has remained a focal point for HPG. Media CoverageYou may be interested in reading Megan Gorrey's article titled "The toilet block plan heritage advocates fear will ‘urbanise’ Middle Head" published in the Sydney Morning Herald on November 3, 2024. Read the Sydney Morning Herald article here > HPG notes that the article describes the Council's plans as "meeting the contemporary requirements of the football and AFL clubs" and mentions the inclusion of a grandstand/shade structure that would "act as an open clubhouse" (in the words of the Mosman Mayor). On the same day, the editorial in the Sydney Morning Herald titled "Heritage must be balanced with amenity. and Amenities" refers to the existing amenities facility as the "Mosman toilet block with no women's change rooms." Read the Sydney Morning Herald Editorial here > HPG’s response to the Editor, Sydney Morning Herald – Not all heritage sites are a ‘must balance heritage with amenity’Read Jill L’Estrange’s Letter to the Editor here > NOT just a toilet block – HPG’s positionIt’s important to clarify that the existing "Mosman toilet block" is not just a toilet facility. It currently includes all the amenities the proposed sporting facility would provide: male and female toilets, two unisex change rooms, and additional facilities. Yes, the facility needs upgrading, and the Headland Preservation Group supports that. However, we strongly oppose the construction of a grandstand and other supporting structures that would result in three times the existing built area, effectively creating an "open clubhouse" for the exclusive use of AFL and soccer. The proposed grandstand, which is larger than required for an AFL state game, will dominate the landscape, particularly at the entrance to the Middle Head precinct. This would severely diminish the heritage and environmental values of the area. The Harbour Trust's own Heritage Strategy states, "the conservation of places of heritage significance is not a matter of choice for the Trust; it is a fundamental obligation and a fundamental reason for its existence." Additionally, the statutory Conservation Management Plan for 2007 for Middle Head states that "the unique military nature of the sites cannot be compromised in the creation of community facilities, as these military sites are irreplaceable." HPG urges the Harbour Trust to adhere to its primary obligation "to protect, conserve, and interpret the environmental and heritage values of Trust land" and to reject the proposal for additional concrete infrastructure, including seating and a grandstand, which would adversely affect these values. It is evident that the Council will not reconsider or compromise on its development proposal. HPG believes that the development will have a ‘significant impact’ on the environmental and heritage values of place and should be referred to Minister Plibersek for determination pursuant to the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. Concerningly, neither Mosman Council nor the Harbour Trust has made such a referral to date. Have your sayHPG encourages members and supporters to make their views known by emailing the Minister at: Minister.Plibersek@dcceew.gov.au
or by mail to:
The Hon. Tanya Plibersek MP, Minister for the Environment and Water,
PO Box 6022, House of Representatives,
Parliament House, Canberra ACT 2600 HPG's Questions to Mosman Council on the proposed development at Middle Head OvalIn 1983, when the Council discussed the construction of the current amenities facility at Middle Head Oval, the discussion took place transparently during a public council meeting. To uphold transparency, HPG posed the following questions at the Mosman Council meeting held on 5 November 2024. Question 1: Why was the current Planning Permit Application for a larger facility occupying 3 times the area of the existing facility decided by delegated authority and not at a Public Council Meeting? Why the lack of transparency? Question 2: As Councillors elected to represent the community, why, in addition to identified users of the Oval, AFL and Soccer, who endorsed the Planning Permit, were other well-known stakeholders such as HPG, MPBA, Mosman Environment Group and Mosman RSL let alone the wider community not informed or consulted on the development of the plans? Council's ResponseFrom the Mayor: "The footprint of the new amenity is similar to the existing amenity." From the General Manager: "The construction of a new toilet block was no secret…..it is just another toilet block". He said that the Mosman Council was responsible for constructing many toilet blocks around Mosman, further stating that the notion that Council would consult on every toilet block is incorrect. Council omitted in its response to address the fact that the proposed development is more than a new ’toilet block’. It includes: A covered spectator grandstand requiring the addition of two sets of concrete stairs, the levelling of a grassy berm to provide additional concrete seating and a level hard surface for tables and chairs adjoining the heritage listed Middle Head Road. A landscaped area with additional hard stand, concrete seating, BBQ facilities, picnic tables, pathway and steps.
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