The Trust’s Recreation Strategy
HPG’S POSITION
In March 2019 the Harbour Trust invited public submissions on its Draft Recreation Strategy. HPG questions whether the Objects of the Trust Act and provisions of the Comprehensive Plan would be met by the Draft’s recommendations (and consequences thereof) in respect of Middle Head Oval, Georges Heights Oval, the Drill Hall Netball Courts and the Tennis Courts at Middle Head and Georges Heights.
core value
HPG wants the Trust to adhere to the Objects of the Trust Act that states “Amenity, in the context of a park, is a product of a park’s natural and cultural attributes. It is a quality that can be enhanced by improving those attributes – which includes providing facilities for recreational activities.”
CONCLUSION
Any new sporting facilities on Headland Park must meet the requirements of the Act and the Trust’s own Comprehensive Plan. HPG supports many of the Recreation Strategy’s recommendations. However there are two contentious issues – lighting and the use of plastic grass.
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The Trust approved the Final Recreation Strategy on 22 July 2019. HPG is disappointed, that although the Trust expressed a preference for natural turf and no lights on Georges Heights Oval and natural turf on Middle Head Oval it did not rule out these developments entirely.
From HPG’s perspective, the most contentious issue is the push by some sporting groups for oval lighting and the installation of plastic based synthetic turf to replace natural turf on Middle Head and Georges Heights Ovals.
While this may be an attractive proposition for the Trust it would contravene the Trust’s own Comprehensive Plan and mark a fundamental change in land that is intended by the Commonwealth Parliament to become national park.
HPG’s concerns are significant as they relate to fundamental threats to the core values of Headland Park. These core values were established in the Trust Act and were unequivocally reaffirmed in 2015 when the Government withdrew approval for an aged care facility in Headland Park.
Key concerns:
1.
The Georges Heights precinct is a Commonwealth Heritage Listed Place and subject to the Environment Protection & Biodiversity Conservation Act (EPBC Act 1999). Lighting would have negative environmental impacts, and would be clearly non-compliant with the original – and still current – vision for Headland Park as established in the Trust Act.
2.
Lighting on the Drill Hall Courts, which like Georges Heights is also a Heritage Listed Place, would need a current and comprehensive environmental impact assessment, and review of traffic and parking consequences. Mosman Council’s request that the Trust consider extra space for girls’ netball is 'understandable', however, it is not the purpose of Trust Land to solve Mosman Council's space issues.
3.
HPG is opposed to the use of plastic grass on Trust ovals. Synthetic turf is contrary to the core vision for Headland Park and poses environmental, health and amenity risks for users. The NSW Environmental Defenders Office has provided HPG with legal advice that synthetic turf may compromise Middle Head’s National Park status.