Owen the duck

Nobbys headland to be opened to public

UNFORTUNATELY for Owen Duck, the "former Labor government" did not block the proposal to open up Nobby's headland.

The government that did the blocking was the Commonwealth.  A Member of the Order of Australia like Tim should know that lighthouses are specifically mentioned in the Australian Constitution and everything to do with them is in the Commonwealth's control, not the State's control.

The former Labor State Government managed the situation, anyway:

BY JULIEANNE STRACHAN

19 Jun, 2010 05:30 AM

NOBBYS headland will be opened to the public for the first time in more than 150 years following a historic deal between the Newcastle Port Corporation and the NSW Government.

Ownership of the site will be transferred from the port corporation to the Land Property Management Authority, which will spend the next two months assessing the site's safety risks and developing a strategy to open it as quickly as possible.

The NSW Government has not ruled out developing the area, instead saying it would establish a "community trust" to make those decisions.

Port corporation spokesman Keith Powell said yesterday that if a development application for a 46-seat restaurant, takeaway food outlet and seven accommodation suites was granted then it would be transferred to the Land Property Management Authority.

Newcastle City Council received a development application for the $1.2 million project earlier this year.

It had been transferred to the port corporation from previous proponent, Nobbys Lighthouse Consortium.

Heritage activist Doug Lithgow, who fought earlier plans for a restaurant and accommodation being added to the headland, said the site should not be "privatised".

"It's good that it's being opened up to the public but it should be done under the National Parks Act," he said.

"The headland is steeped in history and it's a very important aboriginal site as well.

"The Government can be so blase about heritage and it needs to be protected under an act of Parliament, otherwise you will always be arguing against them."

Restaurateur Neil Slater, who led the consortium, said it was "bitter sweet".

"I think the site is too good a site not to be utilised," he said.

"I am ecstatic that it's moving forward and I will be ecstatic to go up there as a guest.

"Would I be interested in taking over [the restaurant and accommodation] if it is approved? No, certainly not, not a snowflake's chance."

Minister for Lands Tony Kelly said the community trust would manage the headland.

"Jodi [McKay, Minister for the Hunter] has made it clear to me that she believed Nobbys should be owned by the community and accessible to the community," he said.

"I share Jodi's vision for Nobbys and believe it's important we undertake the necessary work to move Nobbys to the next phase of its life."

Mr Kelly said he had asked John Price, the former Member for Maitland, to be the community's representative in an honorary capacity.

"John will work with the [Land Property Management Authority] through establishing the Community Trust, understanding how best to achieve access and developing an initial operational model for Nobbys Headland."

Ms McKay said she had always believed the community should have access.

"The community has made it very clear that they want to be able to walk around Nobbys and experience the history of the site, not just view it from afar," she said.

"I acknowledge the significance of Newcastle Port Corporation's decision and Mr Slater's long battle to open the site as accommodation and a restaurant but it's now time to move on and give Nobbys a new beginning."

Mr Slater's plans were quashed by Federal Environment and Heritage Minister Peter Garrett in 2008.

He said at the time he was concerned about the impact it would have on the heritage values of the lighthouse.

Opening of Nobby's Headland to the public

Opening of Nobby's Headland to the public
2nd September 2011

Member for Newcastle, Tim Owen, has announced that Nobbys Headland will be opened to the public on a regular basis.

“I am very pleased that the NSW Government’s efforts in returning this iconic site to Newcastle’s residents and visitors have come to fruition,” Mr Owen said.

 “My regular and spirited representation, and putting forward a common-sense case, has clearly helped to achieve this great result.

“The former Labor Government was immovable on Nobby’s Headland.”

 Mr Owen said regular open-days at Nobbys will be held - from this weekend.

 “We also want to make the site available for other events and activities including exhibitions and weddings.

 “Importantly, an agreement has also been struck with the operator of Newcastle’s Famous Tram to include Nobbys on weekday tours of Newcastle,” Mr Owen said.

 Minister for Primary Industries, Katrina Hodgkinson, has responsibility for Crown Lands, which recently assumed control of the site from the Newcastle Port Corporation.  

 “I congratulate Mr Owen. His drive and initiative will also see a community access plan prepared by Crown Lands and a partnership with Newcastle City Council’s Livesites organisation.

 “The opening of the headland is a two-stage process that considers the safety of the site and protecting important port operational equipment and heritage assets from damage or vandalism. 

 “As the site is unmanned, there is a need to provide supervised access to Nobbys in the short term for safety and security reasons,” Ms Hodgkinson said.

 Mr Owen hopes that Nobbys could be opened on a full time basis in the longer term.

 “This might see a restaurant or kiosk facility that would allow visitors to enjoy a snack or refreshment while taking in the breathtaking city and harbour views, Mr Owen said.

 “A plan of management will now be prepared for the site so that Nobbys can be a recreational and tourist destination compatible with its historic and cultural setting.

 “Importantly, this will allow the community to have its say on the type of facilities that should be provided at Nobbys for community use,” Mr Owen said.

 Newcastle Lord Mayor, John Tate, said that the arrangement with Crown Lands is a great example of different levels of government working effectively together to benefit the community.

 “I am very pleased to see Nobbys open to the public so that residents and visitors will be able to enjoy and appreciate this iconic asset,” Mr Tate said.

How to spend $5 billion

MP says power sale hope for Newcastle light rail

MICHELLE HARRIS

26 Nov, 2011 04:00 AM

PROCEEDS from the sale of the state’s electricity generators could enable light rail to be built sooner in the inner city, Newcastle MP Tim Owen says.

The O’Farrell government announced this week it would sell the generators, including Hunter power stations, in a move that could raise about $5billion for infrastructure spending.

Premier Barry O’Farrell has said a third of the proceeds would be spent in regional areas.

[The Duck Hunter says the promise of one-third for regional NSW is no bonus; Sydney's population is two-thirds of the State's population, so it is standard operating procedure to give Sydney two-thirds of anything, and the rest of the State half as much,]

Mr Owen said yesterday he supported the move, which could provide money for light rail in place of the inner-city section of the rail line. [Then again, it could be used for something else - Owen is not big on decisions.]

Government talks with retailer and city property owner the GPT Group about the future of the city centre are continuing.

The electricity sale proposal is much the same as former Labor premier Morris Iemma’s plan in 2008, which the Coalition blocked while in opposition.

Several Labor MPs threatened at the time to cross the floor.

Former Newcastle Labor MP Jodi McKay has previously said she supported the sale to fund projects such as fixing traffic delays at Adamstown railway crossing.

Mr Owen said he wanted the gates considered in a new transport plan for NSW and the Hunter.

He said he and Charlestown MP Andrew Cornwell had been arguing for a freight bypass of Newcastle and that it be considered in the transport plan, for which work is expected to start next year.

Mr Cornwell said priorities for funding in his area included the Glendale interchange.

Advice to the previous Labor government put the cost of a 37-kilometre freight bypass at about $330million.

Newcastle Trades Hall Council secretary Gary Kennedy said unions would test community opinion before deciding on action against the power privatisation plan.

But a clear majority of people were opposed to privatisation last time around and he believed opinion was stronger now.