NORTHERN PARKS AND PLAYGROUNDS MOVEMENT 40TH ANNUAL REPORT 1992

NORTHERN PARKS AND PLAYGROUNDS MOVEMENT

40TH ANNUAL REPORT 1992

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The Northern District Parks and Playgrounds Movement was formed 40 years ago. A few members of the earlier Parks and Playgrounds Movement of NSW like Tom Farrell had been meeting together in Newcastle from time to time as early as 1936 (history of Blackbutt - Ramsland Ass Prof.)

Tom Farrell has been the driving force behind this Movement and deserves the highest accolades that can be bestowed on him. He is a Life Member and Patron of the Northern Parks and Playgrounds Movement. Tom is one of Newcastle's great men and a true visionary. He not only worked for our parks, but he also worked for improvements to Newcastle - The university, the cooperative movement and good local government.

Whilst everyone wanted the benefits of the Parks Movement, there was difficulty in finding people to become office bearers in the early days. The problem is still with us today perhaps. I'm sad that Tom no longer attends our Meetings as an active committee member or represents us on the Blackbutt advisory Committee. However, I can assure everybody that his spirit is strong and that he makes his presence felt with his generous nature and unstinting support of the Parks and Playgrounds Movement and all it stands for.

Last year I appealed for the establishment of an Environmental Trust Fund. A fund that can disburse funds to individual projects or initiatives or fund legal advice at a moments notice.Individual people have come forward with money in our hour of need others have given of their time and energy but the Trust still remains a dream. Will we be able to set it up this year?

The environment movement never has the luxury of deciding on a clear leisurely path ahead, but by its very nature it has to respond to threats as they arise. We are always in crisis mode and without resources. We need a fund that has at least $50,000 invested in ethical investments from which dividends can be available for action when it is required.

Without an environmental fund we can never get the professional help when it is most required or direct the initiatives that are needed. We always look to Tom Farrells for help. Alas a lifetime of hard work and deep caring should have earned him a rest.

Tom Farrell is the man we must thank for Blackbutt today. It's hard to think of Newcastle without Blackbutt yet it was Tom, Joe Richley, and Jim Marshall and the Cardiff Heights Progress Association that kicked off the original appeal for Blackbutt and it was the same people who fired the zeal of this Movement. Tom, even today, has promised $1000 so that we can make a start on a management plan for the future Green Point Park.

Are there people here that can add to that $1000 to make up the $10,000? We really need to document and demonstrate the value and urgency of securing Green Point today for tomorrow's people. We must set the ground rules for the preservation and restoration of the area now and ensure that the area is acquired in a rational programme.

We have always worked on a shoe string budget and this year was no exception. It has been the most difficult year for your committee without a proper public place where we can meet regularly and store our equipment. Surely there is somebody with the management skills who can come forward and find us a home. We need a work space and a secretariat that is available to all groups that have the people and the environment at heart. We did have that in the Heritage Centre and we were able to help those around us but now we are reduced to beggars meeting here and there while our priceless records extending back to the fifties and the fight for Barrington Tops, Blackbutt and the Foreshore are relegated to the old toilet out the back of the Heritage Centre. A real Environment Centre is an absolute necessity in Newcastle; a generous and friendly place where all non profit public interest groups can meet. A centre that provides work space and expertise for the community to initiate action to improve their environment.

This Movement played a significant role in securing the old police station for a Heritage Centre. At one time it was only Joe Richley and the Parks and Playgrounds Movement that rallied in support to save the building from demolition.When John Paynter conceived the Heritage Centre Concept we gave the continuous active lobbying support. The movement was vitally important in providing the community support but today we have no place in the Centre.

Your Movement cannot give the service that is needed without help from its members and the wider community who enjoy and cherish all those things we have been actively involved with over our long forty year struggle. When you look back as we struggle on you do feel that maybe it has been worth it. Blackbutt, Barrington, Glenrock, the Newcastle Foreshore, Fort Scratchley, Myall Lakes, Tomaree Park to mention a few of the big issues.

There is so much done by your movement that is important but will never be recorded. The letters that are written to the press by members to inform and help shape public opinion. The research, the help to other organisations and the hundreds of telephone calls and enquires.

Indeed it is the knowledge that we are part of a broader community and that we share and help one another that makes the Northern Parks and Playgrounds Movement worthwhile. Even in our straightened circumstances we are prepared to fight in the public interest.

This year we prepared detail documentation for the implementation of the landscaped rail corridor which was such an important feature of the 1981 Harbour foreshore landscape and urban design plan. We did this for the Save Our Rail Committee. These illustrations were vital in adequately presenting to the public and to the politicians, the three essential elements of the scenic rail corridor: the landscaping, the reopening of the Market street barrier controlled crossing for pedestrians and the enhancement of the arrival and departure concourse at the historic Newcastle Station.

Our Glenrock State Recreation area still suffers the pressures of the Water Corporation's activities. The Burwood Beach head works and the new Charlestown carrier main still need the attention of a landscape Architect.

We made detailed submissions to the Environmental Impact Statement on that section of the sewer main to be routed through the Glenrock SRA. The EIS was deficient in that it failed to detail the restoration proposed or understand that it is the road works and damage to the landscape that is the permanent legacy of the Corporation's activities along the pipeline. It is extraordinary that they do not understand that they need a professional Landscape Architect to document and supervise their works within the Glenrock SRA. The EIS did not look at the whole project and we have proposed an alternative alignment for the pipeline.

The Board or Corporation is responsible for a great deal of the damage that has been done to the Glenrock area over the years and could use some of the environmental levy that we are all required to pay with our water rates to restore the damage.

The environmental levy has doubled in the last three years and there is no adequate account of how it is spent. Water Corporation ratepayers should demand an explanation and a detailed account.

The Glenrock SRA management plan is still not available and the Management Trust has not been formed. Minister Moore informed the Movement that the government intends to change the Name of the State Recreation Area to Glenrock Conservation Park and was not going to form a trust to manage the reserve, but would leave it to the Hunter Advisory Committee to advise on all parks in the Hunter under the control of the NP&WS.

The Hunter Water Corporation as it is now constituted is ready for privatisation and we, who are the concerned citizens of the Hunter, need to review the natural areas owned by the Corporation. They have been acquired at our expense over the life of the old HDWB and must be protected, especially in the Port Stephens area, for their wildlife value and returned to us as Nature Reserves or National parks. The Newcastle Bight proposed Nature Reserve is an important case in question its dedication is twenty years overdue. It is currently being threatened with destruction by mining.

At the southern end of the region at Lake Macquarie the proposed URGE Foreshore Park or Lake Macquarie National Park still remains a dream.

Jeff Hunter MP and Member for Lake Macquarie has been working on a private members Bill to create a Lake Macquarie (National) Park which will include crown land areas in the URGE Foreshore Park Proposal. Congratulations Jeff.

The battle for Green Point which is the most important element in the proposal at the northern end of the Lake has reached a new and more dangerous stage. Members are aware that the Movement has been working for the acquisition of this area for parkland for nearly forty years. In the fifties we thought it was just a matter of time before the area was acquired. The old Northumberland County Council had included it in its draft scheme as parkland and a funding procedure for the scheme had been proposed. The enquiry into the County Plan before it was prescribed in 1960 zoned the land non urban against the wishes of the Lake Macquarie Shire Council and the submission of the NPPM.
It was thought by the government that the parkland zoning might interfere with the extraction of coal under the area and that it could become park after the mining had taken place.

The Newcastle City Council of the time objected to the funding through the proposed Northumberland County Development Fund . The park proposal was called the Cardiff Point Park Proposal prior to 1983 and is now more appropriately called the Green Point Park Proposal.

We have begun preliminary negotiations with professional consultants and we think that our Green Point Management Plan could be ready early in the new year. The Movement would like to see a high level conference called in the new year on Green Point including the Minister for Planning and State and Federal Members of Parliament, the Mayor and representatives of Conservation groups with the aim to demonstrate the importance of the Green Point Park proposal and establish the ways and means of acquiring the parkland. The Swansea peninsula land use is in need of review and we have made representations seeking study of wild life and conservation values of the peninsula to form the basis for a new Local Environmental Plan that is sympathetic to the need for the inclusion of the significant natural areas within a proper public reserve system. The land south of Caves Beach is part of an Integrated Tourist Resort proposal promulgated in early 1988 by the company Gordon Pacific Ltd. You will recall that a reverse takeover of the mining company, Wallamaine Ltd. was effected and its name changed to Gordon Pacific Ltd. on the 3/9/1987. The new company changed from a mining company to a development company and proposed developments on its land south of Caves Beach which included a 5 star hotel on the ocean front, golf courses, a lake side village shopping area, world class marina, residential areas, 4 star motel, 12 million dollar botanic garden, health farm, educational establishment for the hospitality industry, a country club, conference centre, a coastal walkway and an equestrian centre. The current LEP has no public open space zonings of any significance. No Local Environmental Study was prepared on which the plan could be based and the appeals for consideration of the public submissions for the required study were ignored by the then Lake Macquarie Council and the Government. The denial of the public right of access to the ocean front is a denial of our birthright and the coastal acquisition zone which is currently leased back to the company at $1.00 per year should be revoked. It now appears that the 1988 Integrated Resort as proposed has not been financed and will not be achieved as envisaged by Council. We will keep a close watch on the development and the current Development Application consents as they lapse.

The Swansea S Bends project has at last been opened but without the Gordon Pacific interchange. This road is a major highway demolishing a prominent ridge and cutting through natural bushland of high botanical significance and should have been the subject of an Environmental Impact Statement. This was clearly established by Justice Stein in the Land and Environment Court Johnson V. the Roads and Traffic Authority, judgement dated 20th December 1991.

The Movement has continued its contact with the Bob Brown MHR the Federal Minister responsible for Highways concerning the affect of commonwealth money flowing into the Pacific Highway coastal area without proper environmental impact statements being considered. We are adamant that the link between the end of the F3 Freeway at Minmi and the New England Highway at Beresfield be built as a divided carriageway road. The construction of this divided highway link would complete the Movement's long standing support for the National Highway to be built on the western side of the Lake. The Movement objects very strongly to the construction of expressway standard roads in the coastal belt. The roads serving the coastal area should be of divided carriageway county standard roads and not like the vast waste and destruction that is taking place adjacent to the University at Shortland. Members should note that a Environmental Impact Statement was not prepared for this road even though it had a significant effect on the environment with its huge cuttings, overbridges, destruction of a forested ridge and a wetland areas not to mention the destruction of homes, the closing of streets and the effect on the university. A proper hierarchy of roads would give more and better roads for the same money value. The Movement is pleased that the Lake Macquarie Council has exhibited a LES for the Jewells area and we urge strongly that the expressway reservation in the area and all the adjacent Hunter Water Corporation land and crown land be immediately dedicated as a Reserve for the protection of flora and fauna. The Movement would ultimately like the Jewells area through to the Belmont lagoon as well as other significant wetland areas around the Lake included in the Lake Macquarie National Park concept. The new Bill to revise the Local Government Act has now been brought into state Parliament and is available. The Movement has made significant input into the discussion of the new Bill although we have not yet seen the Bill now before parliament. The Movement in our comprehensive submissions has advocated the importance of Local Government and the need to strengthen the provisions to expose vested interest and make local government more responsive and open. We are particularly interested in the provisions to protect the environment and to require management plans for community land (Reserves and Parks). We will also be examining the Bill particularly regarding delegated authority. We welcomed the announcement by the Minister for Local Government Mr Peacocke, of the re establishment of the Ward system for the election of local government aldermen in Newcastle. The Movement is also pleased that progress is at last being made with the planning of redevelopment of the Civic area with the preparation of a suggested building envelope and prospectus. The Movement proposed that a planning structure be developed for the entire Civic area from Darby Street to Auckland Street and for improvements to Civic Park in our submissions of 1968. We never envisaged that the Council should acquire the properties. Our original proposition was for a city square based on Civic Park and the preparation of an overall strategy for redevelopment from Darby Street through to Auckland Street.

We were wrong at that time to call for redevelopment. Revitalisation would have been more appropriate and would have still allowed the building of the administration centre and a plaza in Wheeler Place and improvements to Civic Park without the costs and the unreal projects that have been floated in recent years.

The triangle of land between Burwood Street and Darby Street had been part of the open space wedge through to Hunter Street in the old Northumberland County Plan and any redevelopment should contain a usable open space plaza perhaps at the northern end of Burwood Street. The group TIN, (Trees in Newcastle), has announced its intention to begin planting trees in West Park Adamstown. This is to be applauded.The alienation of West Park for the Driver Training range was objected to strongly by the Movement and we have been disappointed that this park has not been properly developed as a landscape feature at the rail entrance to the city. TIN has also taken up the completion of the tree planting at Bray Park.No movement has been noted on the old rifle range bushland which is commonwealth land and should be added to the Glenrock State Recreation area and not subdivided. We have taken up the issue of waste disposal and are adamant that Sydney's waste must not be brought to the beautiful Stockrington area. Stockrington with its valley and ridge system, connecting with our Mount Sugarloaf Park, must be protected within an extension of Sugarloaf Park through to Black Hill. This is a park proposal of long standing. Older members will recall that our President the late Joe Richley was working on this project.

The clearing of trees and vegetation for changes to the fairways of the Charlestown Golf Course and the relocation of the Great North Walkway in the area has caused the movement concern because developments that require the destruction of natural landscapes on parkland do not have to be advised to adjacent landholders. A Buffer of natural bushland is needed in the area and as much natural bushland should be protected as possible because when the Charlestown Bypass Highway 23 is completed there will be a sudden downturn in the amenity of the area. The Golf Club is in the process of converting this crown parkland reserve to private ownership by the Club. That's what happens to public parkland if no one is looking.

A Landscape plan is urgently needed for the Highway 23 before construction is commenced and strict landscape preservation controls put in place.

The historic warehouses adjacent to the foreshore Park have been subject to great deal of investigation by the Movement especially in regard to the work on the Historic Park and the Convict Stockade. We prepared a Zoning plan for the Stockade Site in conjunction with the Newcastle East Residents and the EDO. Our proposal was not adopted and this area must be closely watched by members in the future. A ramp and car turning area will alienate the foreshore at the eastern end of the Cohen Bond Store and a carpark has been given to the developer of the Earp Gilliam Bond Store. It must be noted however that the Earp Gilliam Bond Store is a priceless heritage item that is being brilliantly restored. The car park is to be made available to the public at weekends.

We believe that the landscape development of the Harbour Foreshore Park should be further developed. We are concerned that the park does not exhibit enough soft natural surfaces of ground covers and attractive tree planting. Vast expense is lavished on hard surfaces and buildings, but still the slopes up from the park remain undeveloped. Furthermore the ugly Housing Commission Flat development, that was allowed on the Shortland lawn axis up to Fort Scratchley, presents an appalling backdrop to the Foreshore and is desperately in need of a softening landscape.

The Movement was pleased to play an important part in the preparation of the Newcastle Old Town strategy, but now there is an urgent need to present the strategy in an attractive illustrated booklet. For Old town to be successful it is necessary to prepare a strategy for the continuation of the railway through the Honeysuckle and Civic area showing how the axis from the City Hall to the waterfront can be developed and integrated in the same way as we did for the Cathedral - Market St - Queens Wharf axis.

The Blackbutt animal zoo has blown out in cost and representations will have to be made to re examine the proposed development of the reserve to feature nature rather than cages. We need to make more effort to save natural habitat for koalas rather than allow more enclosures to be built at the expense of Newcastle ratepayers.

I want to thank my loyal committee for their work for the Movement and for their help to other organisations and people. They have been splendid ambassadors for the Parks and Playgrounds Movement on many fronts.

The world environment is in bad shape and every person must do what they can to protect what is left for our children. Irreversible damage has been done the last twenty years, atmospheric pollution, the destruction of our earth's protective ozone layer, nuclear plutonium contamination from which we can never escape for many thousands of years, the end of natural habitat in many places, the extinction species, the eutrophication of our rivers and streams and the blue green algae menace.

The next thirty years will see the doubling of the human population on the earth and the compounding of every environmental problem. It behoves each and every one of us to do everything that can possibly be done to ensure that there is a worthwhile future for every species on this earth.

Doug Lithgow, President

Northern Parks and Playgrounds Movement
December 10, 1992

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Douglas Lithgow
Parks & Playgrounds Movement Inc