Mixed messages over Malabar Headland

Mixed messages over Malabar Headland
Image: Source: wikipedia.commons

By Joe Bourke
A controversial report by the Department of Finance on Sydney’s last undeveloped headland was made public last week, spurring renewed talk over its status.
The report listed Malabar Headland as being “surplus to requirement” and said that it could make a strong return if sold to developers. These findings received backlash from local politicians.
Federal Environment Minister Greg Hunt said in a radio interview that the Commonwealth-owned headland would be kept in public hands in perpetuity.
Peter Fagan, member and former Chairperson of the Friends of Malabar Headland (FoMH), said these comments were met with suspicion from his group.
“Greg Hunt’s not in charge of this, but Mathias Cormann’s department is.” he said.
“The reason for that is that the land used to belong to the Department of Defence, and when they have land that is surplus to requirements, they hand it on to the department of finance to dispose of it…” Mr Fagan said. “So the department of finance is in charge of Malabar Headland. The Environment minister is not.”
Mr Fagan said that the Finance minister’s office would not have ruled out development of the headland before commissioning the report. This is despite Mr Hunt’s claim that neither he nor the Prime Minister had seen the report and it is not government policy.
“If the federal government was committed to not develop the headlands, they wouldn’t let those people go to that trouble of costing and suggesting – in fact they would have said ‘don’t you dare suggest commercial development in the report because it’ll be highly embarrassing for us,” Mr Fagan said.
“There’s no question that Mathias Corman’s department, the Ministry for Finance, understood that they were meant to have their consultant consider commercial development.” he said.
Greens candidate for Maroubra James Cruz has also been vocal on the matter, echoing the FoMH’s stance that more of the headlands be made into national park.
“The main part of the land that they plan to develop is owned by the federal government and that’s why they commissioned the report.” Mr Cruz said. “What we need is the state government to gain control of the land so that a greater national park system can be established.”
Mr Cruz said the Federal Government was losing the trust of the people when it comes to the environment.
“Not even wanting to include the environment and climate change in the G20 talks late last year, I mean a lot of people see them as being a very anti-environment, pro business [government]… That’s definitely how I see them.”
Mr Fagan labeled the headland as one of Australia’s greatest assets, emphasising the need to protect them.
“It’s some of the most spectacular coastal scenery in Australia, and it’s just a ten minute walk from Maroubra beach.”
Mr Cruz said community involvement is key in order to save the headland.
“If the community agrees, they should get in contact with the Friends of Malabar Headland, or write to their MP, or contact me at the Greens to get involved in trying to make sure this land becomes a part of a greater national park.”
The Malabar Headland Protection Bill, which aimed to protect the environmental values and Aboriginal heritage of the Headland, was introduced to the lower house in 2012 but lapsed after a first reading.

 

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