“The Port Corporation’s covert planning and ad-hoc development is just not acceptable on the eve of the 200th anniversary of the founding of Newcastle” Doug Lithgow President of the Parks and Playgrounds Movement said today.

“Proposals for commercial development of Newcastle’s landmark Nobbys are out of order”. “The public presentation of an official plan of management that has obtained the general approval of the people of Newcastle is the first step in professional management of our most valuable landmark and heritage Icon”

Nobbys cannot be seen in isolation. It is an integral part of Newcastle’s Coal River Convict Precinct and today’s Historic Site. The convict fabric of our first years must be identified and conserved in the Coal River Heritage Masterplan. The site embodies the Aboriginal significance of the area, the Convict Coal workings, the Convict Lumber Yard and Convict Breakwater and Nobbys together with the significant Military and maritime fabric. Not to mention the obvious popular and much loved parkland recreational beach front setting of which Nobbys is a fundamental element. If the Port Authority is to exit the area it must return Nobbys to the People of Newcastle in a professionally responsible way and with sufficient funding to maintain and protect our Heritage.

Parks and Playgrounds Movement prepared a prospectus for the Coal River Historic Site including Nobbys in October 1999 for the Lord Mayor of Newcastle to take to the Prime Minister John Howard for funding. The first step in the implementation of the Coal River Heritage Masterplan is yet to be completed and any suggested opening up of the area for commercial exploitation is totally out of order.

Parks and Playgrounds Movement wants the Coal River plan in place and real funding allocated for a world class historic site and interpretation facility for the 200th anniversary (noon 30th March 2004) of the founding of the Coal River settlement named Newcastle by Governor King.