‘Magnificent’ Malabar Headland Still Causing Concern

By Marcus Braid on March 6, 2015 in News

The Federal Government has been challenged to provide Malabar Headland with legal protection from developers as conjecture swirls around the Abbott Government’s plans for the area.

A report commissioned by the Abbott government said the Commonwealth-owned land was “surplus to requirements” and would generate a “significant return” if sold. Federal Environment Minister Greg Hunt has since ruled out selling off Malabar Headland, saying the “magnificent” piece of land will stay in public hands forever.

Greens NSW Senator Lee Rhiannon said national parkland protection should subsequently be provided.

“If the minister is going to be true to his commitment that this area of prime coastal land will ‘stay in public hands forever’, he should move quickly to protect the whole headland as a national park with the required zoning,” she said.

Speculation over the future use of the headland had heightened in recent months after Nation Partners, a project development and environmental consultant, announced on its website that it had been appointed to advise the Department of Finance on the headland’s strategic potential.

Federal Member for Kingsford Smith Matt Thistlethwaite said he is “worried” that the government has intentions to sell Malabar Headland for development revenue.

“It’s in an area that has a high potential value for development and I’m worried, given the position of the budget, that the government can see some easy dollars in selling off the headland. That would be a great loss,” Mr Thistlethwaite said.

“The government needs to come clean and tell members of our community what its plans are for Malabar Headland.”

The previous Federal Labor Government planned to turn the headland into public open space with picnic areas and playing fields, and to connect the coastal walk from Maroubra to La Perouse. However, the NSW Rifle Association successfully fought eviction in 2012 as the shooters had to be given an acceptable alternative location under the terms of their licence.

Mr Thistlethwaite said progress was previously being made on land remediation, but that had ceased.

“Labor remediated the western portion of the headland at a cost of $2 million,” he said. “We remediated the eastern portion out behind the rifle range at a cost of $9 million. The western portion’s now a national park protected for eternity and the eastern portion is ready to be turned into a national park.”

The occupation of the shooting club and land contamination are the main barriers obstructing future development of the headland, whether it be for commercial purposes or as national parkland.

Bruce Notley-Smith, the State Member for Coogee, warned that the headland was “entirely unsuitable for development”.

“That’s my position and it hasn’t changed,” he said. “Frankly, I don’t see how any alternative can be arrived at. It’s an area that is severely contaminated.

“The cost of remediating the area to where it could be residential development… the sums just don’t add up. The level to which you need to decontaminate that site is just too expensive.”

Both Mr Notley-Smith and Mr Thistlethwaite agreed the rifle club needed to find an alternative premises.