Overall, 2012 has been a year of great progress for Friends of Malabar Headland (FoMH) and the many people in the community who share our vision for the future of Malabar Headland.

On 2 March 2012, the Western Bushland section of Malabar Headland was transferred from the Commonwealth Government to the New South Wales Government for use as a National Park.

The formal process of creating the new National Park in the Western Bushland was completed on 21 November 2012 when the Governor of New South Wales, Professor Marie Bashir, reserved the agreed Western Bushland lands under the National Parks and Wildlife Act, 1974 and assigned them the name Malabar Headland National Park – at last, the Western Bushland is preserved in perpetuity as a National Park.

The Western Bushland offiicially becomes Malabar Headland National Park

On the other hand there has been frustration: on 9 May 2012, Peter Garrett, MHR for Kingsford Smith, introduced into the House of Representatives the Malabar Headland Protection Bill 2012 which, if passed, is intended to ensure the protection in perpetuity of Malabar Headland as National Park and public open space. The bill has not completed its passage through the Commonwealth Parliament and its future is uncertain due to the ongoing dispute concerning the New South Wales Rifle Association’s continuing occupancy of the long bore rifle range on Malabar Headland.

With the Commonwealth deciding to abandon its appeal against the NSW Supreme Court decision in favour of the NSWRA earlier this year, FoMH hopes that the Commonwealth and the NSWRA can find another way to resolve their differences.

We believe it would be in the interests of all parties if a satisfactory new home could be found for the NSWRA. Were this to happen, the rifle range site could be remediated and handed over to the people of NSW as a community park and the Eastern Bushland could be transferred to New South Wales as the second stage of Malabar Headland National Park.

Throughout the year, FoMH’s two bushcare groups continued their regeneration activities. Both groups work for four hours each week, pulling out weeds and bagging and removing seed heads, and collecting litter. Each year our goups contribute over 1500 person hours of effort to ensure that the magnificent native flora of the Western and Eastern Bushland is not overrun by invasive weeds.

Bitou Bush and Lantana removed from the Western Bushland in December 2012. The Sunday bushcare group have been active in a section of the new National Park where Bitou Bush and Lantana were growing vigorously.

FoMH wishes its many friends all the best for the festive season and the new year. We also say thank you to our local members in the Commonwealth and State parliaments, Randwick councillors and the many Commonwealth, State and Randwick Council officers who have worked hard to create a Malabar Headland National Park and plan for further protection and remediation of other parts of the Headland in the years ahead.

Peter Fagan
Chairperson, Friends of Malabar Headland

FoMH members attended the Community Consultation Meeting conducted by the Headland owner, the Commonwealth Department of Finance and Deregulation, on 17 October 2012 at Maroubra Surf Club. At the meeting, further information was provided about the Commonwealth’s current program of activity.

All buildings on the Rifle Range (Lot 301), except those in use by the NSW Rifle Association, are to be demolished because they contain asbestos, lead-based paint and termites. This work is to start around 24 October. Among the buildings to be demolished are the Caretaker’s Cottage. FoMH opposes the demolition of this cottage as it has heritage values.

The first stage of demolition should take four to six weeks. Any concrete slabs will be left in position and clean fill will be laid over the sites of the buildings.

Bitou bush is being removed from the rifle range target batter, for safety reasons and to allow access to the sources of methane emissions from the landfill that lies beneath the rifle range.

Drainage and leachate at the northern end of Lot 301 are a high priority for remediation. Approval has been obtained for work to begin on this project.

Randwick Council’s stormwater drain at South Maroubra was found to contain significant levels of heavy metals. This drain will be lined by the Commonwealth and Council to prevent further contamination of it by leachate from the rifle range. However the drain will continue to flow into the sea near the childrens’ pools.

Soil samples taken near the southern end of Maroubra beach were found to contain little or no contamination. Work will begin on an interceptor drain and enlarged reed ponds to capture and treat leachate from Lot 301. It is hoped that this work will be completed by Christmas.

Extensive testing is being carried out to determine the extent of the former landfill, and methane emissions from it. The Commonwealth hopes to have the Remediation Action Plan for the Rifle Range completed by Christmas.

Several sweeps have been made to collect asbestos, car bodies and other rubbish from the Eastern Bushland (Lot 202). To date, 235 tonnes of rubbish have been taken away. A further sweep of rubbish will be made before Lot 202 is handed over to the NSW Government.

A survey to detect unexploded ordnance proved negative. The military buildings that were locked down may require further work to make them more secure.

Damage caused by mountain bike riders along the track from Fishermans Road car park to Boora Point will be addressed by signage, blocking off holes in the fence and patrols by security guards. As a last resort, offenders could be prosecuted.

FOMH has urged the Commonwealth to make every effort to deter the mountain bike riders from riding on this walking track and above all, from damaging the vegetation and altering the track in a careless and destructive manner in order to make it more bike friendly.

Landscape Architect Noel Corkery has prepared a concept plan for a community parkland on Lot 101 of Malabar Headland (currently the Rifle Range).

Noel prepared the plan as an entry in Architecture for Humanity’s 2011 Open Architecture Challenge – [un]restricted access – an international design competition that invited landscape architects, planners, designers, construction engineers and architects to re-envision the future of decommissioned military space.

The objective was “to identify retired military installations in the entrants’ own backyards, to collaborate with local stakeholders, and to reclaim these spaces for social, economic, and environmental good.”

For the competition web site, click here.

Noel became aware of the headland while his company Corkery Consulting was designing the redevelopment of the Loop at La Perouse for Randwick City Council.

Noel was given an introductory tour of the headland by Friends of Malabar Headland Chairperson Peter Fagan some months ago, and in September, delivered to FoMH members a presentation of his concept plan as entered in the competition.

Friends of Malabar Headland does not endorse all aspects of Noel’s plan. However we think it an inspiring vision of many of the opportunities and benefits the Headland has the potential to deliver to the local community and indeed to all of Sydney.

To view Noel’s plan, open or download this PDF file (note this is a large file – 8 MB).

On 9 May 2012, Peter Garrett, MHR for Kingsford Smith, introduced into the House of Representatives the Malabar Headland Protection Bill 2012. When passed, this legislation will ensure the protection in perpetuity of Malabar Headland as National Park and public open space.

The bill is explained in detail and background information is provided in the Malabar Headland Protection Bill 2012 Explanatory Memorandum.

Peter Garrett’s Second Reading speech to the House of Representatives – Hansard extract and video (YouTube).

Peter issued a media release and the speech was reported in the Southern Courier.

Friends of Malabar Headland welcomes the introduction of this legislation which honours a commitment Peter Garrett made earlier this year, and will in his words:

” …  guarantee that the site is preserved and maintained for the benefit of future generations of Australians. It will prevent the site, or parts of the site, from being resold in the future to a third party for development rather than for use as a national park and public space.”

In his speech, Peter Garrett paid tribute to the efforts of the local community and the Friends of Malabar Headland:

“For decades the local community has campaigned to protect Malabar Headland. I want to place on record this government’s appreciation of their efforts — in particular, the Friends of Malabar Headland, including Peter Ryan, Alan Hall and many others who have worked tirelessly to rehabilitate the bushland. Their vision of a national park on Malabar Headland is now being realised.”

There is a lot of interest in the route the Coastal Walking track will take in or through the new Western Bushland National Park.

Randwick City Council, which has overall responsibility for the section of the track from Clovelly to La Perouse, is working with the two land owners (NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) and the Commonwealth Government) on the design of the proposed walking track.

The design must consider the needs of various categories of walkers for a safe and suitable route, the concerns of neighbouring residents and the protection of the park from the damage that might result from a high volume of pedestrian traffic.

NPWS is likely to exhibit a draft Plan of Management for the new National Park in early 2013. This plan will include details of public access to the park and the proposed walking track. The draft plan will be ‬open for community input.

Friends of Malabar Headland were delighted to receive advice today (12 April 2012) that Randwick City Council’s Planning (rezoning) Proposal to rezone the western part of Malabar headland from residential to National Park has been approved by the New South Wales Minister for Planning and Infrastructure. The message from Council’s Planning Department reads:

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing to you to advise that Council’s Planning (rezoning) Proposal LEP Amendment No 43 to rezone the western part of Malabar headland from residential to National Park was approved by the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure on 23 March 2012 and came into effect on 30 March 2012.

This rezoning follows the recent transfer of this land by the Commonwealth Government on Friday 2 March to the NSW Government for National Park purposes.

The Council resolved on 22 February 2011 to commence a rezoning and this amendment to the Randwick Local Environmental Plan (LEP) 1998 (Consolidation), to rezone this western part of the headland to ‘8 (National Parks Zone)’. This 18ha parcel of land is Lot 102 DP 1162245 and was previously zoned:

• 2B (Residential B Zone) – covering approximately 15ha and
• 6A (Open Space Zone) and 6B (Private Open Space Zone) – with a total area of approximately 3ha (this included within the National Park zone an additional area of ESBS)

This spot rezoning recognises and preserves the unique natural and cultural heritage values of the site, provides the public with certainty over the long term protection of this land and significantly increases the national park area in Randwick City.