On Friday, November 20, our Federal Court action against the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust, commenced in early 2015, was ‘discontinued’.
The Headland Preservation Group Inc (HPG), represented by EDO NSW, successfully secured an undertaking from the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust, on a ‘without admission’ basis, that it would not issue any planning approval in relation to a proposal for a private development on public land at Middle Head in Sydney Harbour.
See this Sydney Morning Herald story (end of story) and this EDO report.
We are also so delighted that Alan Jones, a great supporter of the campaign, was completely cleared by ACMA, the media authority, of 5 alleged on-air breaches.
HPG is thrilled with the legal outcome and the committee has worked very hard over many months to achieve this result.
Linda Bergin, President, is quoted in the Herald that the aged care home is now officially "dead and buried".
Special thanks to committee member Rob Bagnall for driving the legal process and his untold hours of work and to our lawyers the Environmental Defenders Office NSW, in particular Rana and Sue, and to Junior and Senior Counsel.
We will be in touch shortly with where-to from here!
HPG Team
Headland Preservation Group Inc v Sydney Harbour Federation Trust & Others – November 2015
Headland Preservation Group Inc (HPG), represented by EDO NSW, successfully secured an undertaking from the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust, on a ‘without admission’ basis, that it would not issue any planning approval in relation to a proposal for a private development on public land at Middle Head in Sydney Harbour.
HPG commenced Federal Court proceedings in March 2015 against the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust (the Trust), its Executive Director, and developer Middle Head Healthcare Pty Ltd. HPG sought judicial review of the Trust’s decision to approve a development by Middle Head Healthcare Pty Ltd of a private aged care facility on public land at 10 Terminal, Middle Head, on the foreshore of Sydney Harbour.
HPG argued that the Trust, which is the public authority charged with protecting and managing Trust land in Sydney Harbour, failed to adequately consult with the Community Advisory Committee (CAC) and consequently failed to take into account the CAC’s advice and recommendations as required by the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust Act 2001 (Cth).
HPG also argued that the decision was contrary to the objects of the Act and amounted to a breach of public trust.In November 2015, EDO NSW successfully negotiated an undertaking from the Trust, on a ‘without admission’ basis, that it would not issue any planning approval or take any further actions in relation to the development proposal. Having secured the undertaking, HPG discontinued their Federal Court proceedings against the Trust, its Executive Director and Middle Head Healthcare Pty Ltd by consent and on a ‘without admission basis’.
EDO NSW acknowledges and thanks barristers Peter Tomasetti SC and Natasha Hammond for their advocacy and advice in this matter.