HPG prepared and lodged a submission to the Department of Environment in respect of the proposed Sydney Harbour Federation Trust Amendment Bill 2020.
The Amendments to the SHFT Act are in line with the following recommendations made as a result of the Harbour Trust Review:
Recommendation 5 – that the Harbour Trust should become an ongoing entity
Recommendation 6 – that the Act should be amended to further specify that the appointment of each member of the Harbour Trust should be based on particular expertise
Recommendation 12 – that the threshold for ministerial approval of contracts should be increased from $1 million to $5 million
Recommendation 13 – that provisions relating to the approval of leases be revised.
HPG supports the Harbour Trust becoming an ongoing entity however it does not support the proposed amendments to the Harbour Trust leasing provisions which allow for long term leases.
Long leases have the potential to alienate public land for private purposes. Shorter term leases with a maximum term of 35 years will protect Trust lands form inappropriate development that may not accord with the Trust primary object of conserving and preserving heritage and environmental values.