The appointment of Janet Carding as Executive Director of the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust comes at a critical time for the Trust following the Independent Review and subsequent amendments to the act that enables the preservation and protection of Harbour Trust lands in perpetuity.
Janet Carding has a wealth of museum experience and visionary leadership. HPG welcomes the appointment and looks forward to working with Ms Carding as she directs the Harbour Trust through the next important phase of rehabilitation of its iconic sites.
HPG thanks Linda Ward, Acting Executive Director since February 2021, for her level of engagement with the community and her astute and consultative approach.
The Harbour Trust also announced the appointment of two new board members, Brad Manera and Carolyn McNally, and the re-appointment of Joseph Carrozzi as Chair. Mr Manera’s background as a military historian and curator is outstanding, and his skills will be highly relevant to Board determinations. Ms McNally’s knowledge of the Trust’s role and operations gained through her work leading the recent Independent Review of the Harbour Trust will be invaluable in her new position.
The Sydney Morning Herald covered the announcements on 2 July 2021. HPG wishes to clarify one point in the SMH article, which conveyed the impression that Ms McNally was responsible for capping long commercial leases at 35 years, therefore giving protection against the de facto sale of public land. Not discounting the hard and thorough work by the Reviewers, as HPG members and supporters are aware, the Review findings did not recommend capping leases; rather, they supported long term leases over 35 years in certain circumstances.
If the community, led by HPG and our President Jill L’Estrange, had not engaged to the extent it did, there would be no cap and no additional requirements for the approval of leases between 25 and 35 years. HPG campaigned with tenacity and focus to achieve the legislative result. The government in Parliament and the media have commended HPG for its role in shaping the legislative amendments on long-term leases.