I wish to object in the strongest possible terms to the proposed development and amendment to the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust [SHFT] for Terminal 10 on Middle Head.
Read moreSave Middle Head precinct from intrusion of long term residential occupation into public land
The current proposal runs counter to that community perception of what the Trust and the land are all about.
Read moreThe TRUST has betrayed our TRUST - Save Middle Head
It was my understanding that the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust (SHFT), had a mandate to protect the beautiful foreshores of Sydney Harbour and “create a lasting legacy” for all Australians to enjoy “the pristine natural bushland”.
Read moreNo support for development or proposed amendment to management plan.
Any further commercial expansion in the headland/foreshore precinct is unacceptable. This would result in people living in Mosman and visitors to the suburb no longer being able to enjoy the tranquillity and beauty of the area.
Read moreNot in favour of the plan
Comment submitted to Sydney Harbour Federation Trust
From Norma Daisley
Published with permission
I am not in favour of the plan to build an aged-care facility on the former defence site on Middle Head.
Mosman does not have sufficient parks. We need to retain the current open spaces in Mosman.
The traffic in Mosman is as slow as a wet week. Think of the extra traffic burden a development such as the proposed development will bring.
Regards
Norma Daisley
Mosman
Proposal has a large detrimental effect on amenity and access
With respect, I do get the impression that to date this proposal has not been thought through and analysed carefully and fully enough. I suspect that proper due diligence by the SHFT and all relevant stakeholders will recognize that the above proposal is quite easily a step too far.
Read moreProposal is totally unacceptable and incompatible with the site
SUBMISSION 'Middle Head Precinct'
By Brian Wilder
Published with permission
I write as a former Committee Member of the Headland Preservation Group over many years.
It has to be said that the SHFT have done a wonderful job cleaning up this huge site and restoring many of the buildings and adapting them for appropriate use in the Park. This has been done with great style and to a very high standard, and the community is in their debt.
This makes it even more puzzling as to why the Trust has come up with this proposal which will offend so many of their supporters and will be seen by many as not in line with the Objects of the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust Act.
We only heard about this very recently and to the best of my knowledge, no comment was sought from any former committee member of the Headland Preservation Group, which seems very odd to many. One could be forgiven for thinking this is all about the need to raise more cash and establish a solid cash flow, but at the Meeting on Tuesday this week, CEO Geoff Bailey denied this at least twice.
I remain opposed to any development of the Barracks site and I would like to see the three existing buildings demolished and the area opened up for use as parkland, with that wonderful view up Middle Harbour towards the Spit exposed for all to enjoy.
The vision of the Trust is set out in the Comprehensive Plan. It says:
"To provide a lasting legacy for the people of Australia by helping to create the finest foreshore park in the world and to provide places that will greatly enrich the cultural life of the city and the nation."
This surely is completely at odds with the proposed development of an Age Care Facility in a new purpose built building. And it precisely the fear of this kind of development that first brought the Headland Preservation Group into existence and the SHFT Act was designed to prevent.
Why not landscape this magnificent site to provide a substantial grassy area with a stunning Middle Harbour outlook for the passive enjoyment of the visitors to the Park ? This would surely be much more in line with the spirit and Objects of the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust Act.
A new building on this site, or a new building on any site for that matter, for an Aged Care Facility or anything else, is totally unacceptable and incompatible with this site and to my mind, clashes with the Objects of the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust Act.
This would be providing permanent new homes for 93 people, staffed 24/7. There is no doubt that there will be an increasing demand for Aged Care facilities in the lower North Shore area, but this site is no way acceptable or appropriate for that activity. This would create an unacceptable precedent for other buildings to be demolished to make way for other quite alien activities for a National Park.
We’ve already got a substantial Business Park on Georges Heights, and another already on Middle Head with the ASOPA development – isn’t that enough income producing facilities for the Trust ? Why does Middle Head need to completely sacrificed for development ? Why has the concept of open parkland on this very special site been abandoned ?
Geoff Bailey, CEO of the Trust, stated several times at the meeting held on 26th November, that the Trust was not driven by the need for cash flow as a reason for this extraordinary proposal. If this is correct, then why not reuse the Terminal Building for some other community purpose, like an Art Gallery for example, or some kind of combined Art Gallery and Aboriginal Museum. Another possible use could be for temporary accommodation for visiting school children from the bush and underprivileged areas of the country and other cities.
Finally, there is the question of significant traffic increase through Mosman and Spit junctions, which are more often than not gridlocked in both mornings and afternoons and all the way down Middle Head Rd to the former ASOPA site.
Middle Head Rd itself from the Park entrance opposite Cobbittee St, will need to be widened all the way down to ASOPA– in fact that will be necessary even without this proposed development.
Draft Management Plan
Barracks Buildings
I am opposed to the proposed amended of the Management Plan for development of the Barracks buildings site.
Terminal Building
I have no problems with the proposed amended Draft Management plan for the Terminal Building in principle to meet other appropriate uses, but I do not support it becoming an Aged Care Facility.
Thank you,
Brian Wilder
Submission to The Sydney Harbour Federation Trust
The Sydney Harbour National Park must remain just that, a national park of the people and for the people.
Read moreMedia Coverage: Mosman Daily
Mosman residents have implored their federal MP, Prime Minister Tony Abbott, to halt a move which would alienate public open space at Middle Head.
Read moreKeep this magnificent Headland for countless generations to come
I am strongly opposed to the trust contemplating to LEASE this last part of the Headland to a COMMERCIAL DEVELOPER whose primary object, quite legitimately, is its shareholders’ profit.
Read moreSubmission on proposed private development at Middle Head
My name is David Briggs, I am retired and live locally. I register my objection to the proposed aged-care facility and the ancillary uses now before the SHFT.
Read moreSave Middle Head from Developer
Like me you probably only recently heard about plans for the construction of a large new aged-care facility on Middle Head (Headland Park, Sydney Harbour Federation Trust). A small news story appeared in the Mosman Daily on 14 November 2013.
Read more