[8 Feb 2007] “The NSW Government must be stopped from building out Newcastle’s unique 150 year old Nobbys lighthouse” Doug Lithgow President of the Parks and Playgrounds Movement said today.

“The erection of a building closing off and privatising the views from Nobbys Headland and obscuring Newcastle’s historic Nobbys Lighthouse is not adaptive reuse as claimed and should not have progress to the assessment stage”. He said.

The Government’s Port Corporation had a legal obligation to notify the Commonwealth of the destructive impact of their proposal but chose to pretend instead and discount Newcastle’s working heritage.

The NSW Conservation groups have asked the Commonwealth to hold a Public Enquiry which is provided for by their Act of Parliament.

* The erection of a new building in front of and partly surrounding the Commonwealth Heritage Listed Nobbys Lighthouse would destroy the commonwealth Heritage values.

* The only legitimate development acceptable for Nobbys Headland is adaptive reuse of existing cottages within a publicly acceptable conservation management plan for the o Coal River Precinct (SHR. 1674) and the reopening of Nobbys for pedestrian access.

Nobbys is Newcastle’s most distinctive landmark and a unique reminder of Australia’s convict period, early coalmining and of our Aboriginal heritage and of the shaping of the environment for port development. Nobbys Lighthouse (CHL. ID 105373) and the convict built Macquarie Pier are outstanding heritage elements in the Coal River Precinct.(SHR1674) that must be positively protected. Not just left to haphazard development by the Government’s Port Corporation.

Parks and Playgrounds Movement in association with National Trust of Australia (NSW), Nature Conservation Council of NSW, Total Environment Centre and Residents Standing Committee on Newcastle East Development made submissions to officers of the Commonwealth Department of Environment and Heritage calling for assessment by public enquiry.

Please contact Doug Lithgow, President Parks and Playgrounds Movement
for further information or comment. Phone: 49431781 or Mob: 04 1922 6897

Download (right mouse click - save link as) the
Submission for EPBC Assessment of Nobbys Headland, Newcastle NSW