Community Calls For A Master Plan For Future Use Of Tomaree Headland Site Port Stephens Port Stephens News by News Of The Area - Modern Media - May 26, 2021 Taylor Martin MLC for the Hunter at the Historic Tomaree Headland Site. Photo: Marian Sampson. THE site on Tomaree Headland is a state heritage listed site, adjacent to a National Park which offers spectacular scenic vistas. Tomaree Lodge is one of the few known surviving examples of a purpose built WWII Army Camp in the State of NSW. “Tomaree Headland Historical Group (THHG) has developed a creative vision for the future of the Headland, which identifies the Lodge site together with the spectacular adjoining Tomaree National Park as having the potential to become a nationally significant visitor attraction. Advertise with News of The Area today. It’s worth it for your business. Message us. Phone us – (02) 4981 8882. Email us – media@newsofthearea.com.au “There is already a commercial oyster spawning operation on the site, and they are keen to get a renewal on their lease.” Mr Clough said that the Community Vision for Tomaree Lodge includes a museum/interpretative centre to conserve and showcase the natural and cultural history of Port Stephens and Tomaree Headland, a marine research and education centre, as well as components, which will support its sustainability such as eco activities, cafes, restaurants and boutique accommodation. “The extent of facilities that were an integral part of the Tomaree Head Fort is more varied than most of the other coastal defence posts in NSW and elements such as the Radar Station were the first produced in Australia. Restoration, preservation and showcasing of the unique WWII relics and remnants would also be extremely important. “The THHG concept seeks to establish a financially sustainable model for the long-term benefit of our community and the State of NSW which will substantially strengthen the appeal of the tourism infrastructure of Port Stephens. “The adaptive re-use of the Hungry Point Reserve in Cronulla, previously a State Government Fisheries base, is a worthy model for consideration. “Initially it would be appropriate to develop a Master Plan to recommend future uses and optimise the visitor experience,” he said. Kate Washington Member For Port Stephens told News Of The Area, “Prior to the 2019 election, the Labor Party pledged to keep The Tomaree Lodge Site Area in public hands. “The Liberal Government matched my pledge and promised to keep the land for community use and open space. “It was a great win for the community all round. “This spectacular site is cherished and belongs to the community. “I’m sure there’ll be a number of wonderful and exciting ideas for the site, but the most important thing is community consultation,” she said. Taylor Martin MLC for the Hunter told News Of The Area, “The future of the site will start with opening up with pubic consultation, there will be a Master Plan process and everyone will get to have their say; and I know that will lead to some misinformation but it is he right thing to do; to let everybody in the community have their say, and I look forward to hearing a whole range of ideas. “It’s a very big site and there’s a lot of history and sentiment attached and there are many different uses at the moment so we have to find the right way forward,” he said. By Marian SAMPSON
Caffe’s,restaurants & boutiques accommodation spells commercial privatisation & future capitalistic growth & development of this national park area where once the hospital was smaller and people could walk past it & continue to walk around the headland & enjoy that part of the coastline & national park,,,,what these so called friends of tomaree headland are proposing,which is commercialisation , has nothing to do with marine or national park conservation.If they where serious about marine conservation ,they would be banning engine driven commercial & private boating in port Stephens to stop black & chemical bildge water being washed with tides into low tide weed bed or mangrove habitat areas. Reply
If politicians mixing with business people who talk tourism & development where concerned with marine conservation they would be changing boating regulations in Port Stephens so people could only use wind or paddle craft or electric motor driven vessels to stop engine driven blackwater & chemical bildge & fuels being washed by wind & tides into shallow low tide weed bed areas or mangrove habitat & nursery areas & also spending more time in or lobbying govt to do more to stop all kinds of pollutions being washed into soils ,creeks, rivers, lakes & the ocean from coastal towns ,cities & rural properties sitting at the base of the Great Dividing Range along the entire east coast of NSW every time it Rains Hard or there is flood or flash flooding.These people are about money ,money, money, Taxes ,Revenue, GST, Global Stockmarkets, Business Shares & Profits & G.D.P & I hope they have nothing to do with the plans for what will become the future back look for Heritage when it comes to the destruction & privatisation of our coastal national parks/wildlife & coastal conservation & recreation & camping Ares & Tourism . Reply
As far as i am concerned, An ideal master plan for the area would combine politicians mixing with business people that are preoccupied with & by economics & career choices & want to involve themselves with planning & development to either grow a brain while they still have jobs or positions in politics or if they can’t then leave the state of NSW or preferably the country itself. They have tourist accommodation, an airport ,Bus Coaches & an xpt train service to Newcastle from Sydney & a Port Stephens with Tomaree National Park with Magnificent Headlands with further pictures views of islands further out to sea but it is still not enough & now there is talk of closing the hospital & developing with commercialisation of the Headland area & stupid statements added to do with marine conservation. Proper marine conservation would involve less pollution being blown or washed or tossed or leaked into that bay area or for the removal of petrol or diesel driven marine craft that can bilge black & chemical water into the bay area along small or large fuel leaks that can be blown or travel with tides into shallow low tide weed bed areas or mangrove marine life Habitat & nursery areas & only allowing wind or paddle or electric powered private & commercial etc marine craft into & around the area & for people & Government to come up with & imply New & more ways of stopping all different kinds of pollution from being pushed into the environments air, soil & waterways roadside drains, tabledrains, creeks, rivers, lakes, Bays & ocean from wind, rain, Heavy rain & storm activity,Floods & Flash Flooding, Spills ,Leaks, Accidents & mismanagement of industrial pollution , Machinery pollutions , rural farming pollution & business & Domestic product & waste product pollution . The environment & nature when it comes to conservation is up against GST & GDP & other taxes & revenue raising along with business & shareholder profits etc & poor politics that also mentions population & development growth & a higher GDP & I would just like to see the headland go back to the way it was 50 years ago or the Hospital removed & the area returned to the National Park & only a wheel chair access path & weather shed/shelter erected & possibly only a mixed heritage & museum & information building erected that could also involve indigenous culture & some indigenous employment & no private commercial development of that Headland & no further or Highrise Development of the northern side of Port Stephens so people visiting the are from Australia or over seas can continue to enjoy the scenery & to protect this & tourism for the area into the future for others to enjoy. Reply
