NOBBYS DEVELOPMENT- no new development on historic headland

DA 05/0468 for Nobbys Development
Development Application currently on Public Exhibition until 8 April - Comments can be sent to General Manager Ms Lindy Hyam at Newcastle City Council
City Administration Centre
282 King Street
Newcastle NSW 2300
PO Box 489
Newcastle 2300
Or email comments to mail@ncc.nsw.gov.au

The National Trust of New South Wales has been advocating for the conservation of this area since 1969 when we proposed the statutory recognition of Nobbys, the convict breakwater and mines, Fort Scratchley and Shortland’s camp location as a historic site. The area is now known as the Coal River Precinct and registered on the State Heritage Register (SHR 1674).
Although the Nobbys development proposal is significantly different and much improved to the previous one, with less direct impact to the historic lighthouse, there remain concerns regarding the safeguarding of the natural and cultural heritage of the area. The current proposal plans for a 46 seat restaurant, 7 luxury units, manager’s residence in signal station and take-away outlet. The public area of this site will be enclosed with a 1.8 metre high glass fence inside the existing perimeter wall of the headland, possibly obstructing views and compromising the character of the headland.
Furthermore, this proposal will add a level of luxury to the site that has never existed, and will diminish the remote character of Nobby’s and its iconic status.
The following are some of the Trusts concerns:
• The proposal does not comply with the Newcastle Port Corporations Expressions of Interest document- adaptive reuse. One of the objectives of the Port Corporations EOI stated: - To protect and enhance the site’s historic, aesthetic and social fabric for the future benefit of the Newcastle community; the proposal does not outline how this will be achieved. Any use for the site should contain a strong historic and archaeological interpretation strategy including Aboriginal, military, maritime and social themes.
• The Corporation’s objectives could be met without changing the existing footprint of the buildings. No new development should occur on this historic headland particularly if it obstructs the views from the courtyard and lighthouse access. The proposed new residential units would diminish the character of the site and will have a permanent and irreversible impact on the heritage values of Nobbys. This proposal is not adaptive reuse as stated in EOI objectives.
• This proposed development would dominate Nobbys for private benefit with limited access by the public. We also believe that public access to Nobbys (as potentially an important National heritage site) will be severely impeded by vehicle movements along the breakwater, which will discourage pedestrians (visitors to the site). Public access to the site could be achieved without the development occurring at all.

1. In regard to the proposed DA the Trust recommends: - That no new residential development occur and that there is no new residential unit attached to the proposed restaurant, that this would obstruct the views from the courtyard and lighthouse access. This new work is not planned to be reversible. The new residential units would further alienate the site and prevent access and views to the south. We approve of the demolition of the 2 garages. The public area of this site will be enclosed with a 1.8 metre high glass fence inside the existing perimeter wall of the headland, this will possible obstruct views and compromise the character of the lighthouse and headland. Furthermore, an interpretation strategy should be prepared.
2. Nobbys headland to be transferred to the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) to be managed under the National Parks Act as an historic site. Many lighthouses in NSW are managed by the (NPWS) and this provides a heritage conservation regime that has a statuary requirement for permanent heritage conservation management.
3. National Heritage management principles are necessary to adequately manage this historic site. Nobbys Lighthouse is a Commonwealth Heritage place and the Coal River (Mulubinba) Cultural Landscape National Heritage Nomination was submitted in February 2009 (currently with the Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts for consideration). The Trust urges Minister Peter Garrett to select nomination for the 2010-11 workplan- and for it to be considered for National Heritage Listing.