The Eastern Suburbs’ Newest Asset

By Laura Terrance on April 3, 2012 in News

Eastern Suburbs residents have a new reason to brag about our already beautiful area: we now have a National Park to call our own.

The official opening of the Malabar National Park was announced on March 2, 2012 when Special Minister of State Gary Gray and the NSW Minister for Planning and Infrastructure Brad Hazzard signed documents for the handover of what is now heritage-listed bushland.

For Eastern Suburbs residents this is a very significant development.

“This honours the commitment made in August 2010 by Prime Minister Gillard and Peter Garrett to create a coastal National Park,” said Gray.

The official recognition of these beautiful coastal parklands as a National Park means that we can now ensure the preservation of this 17.7-hectare parcel of land.

On top of this, an additional 50 hectares on the south-east side of the parklands will be recognised by the Commonwealth later this year.

And another 100 hectares of open space in between these two pockets will also be preserved, meaning a total of 167 hectares of land will become permanently available for public use.

In such a highly populated area, only 12km from the CBD, it is rare for such a large amount of coastal land to boast this kind of security.

All too often we see the development of taller buildings, larger apartment blocks and more townhouses.

As Sydneysiders we are extremely lucky to have a number of National Parks right on our doorstep. Furthermore, this National Park is a gift that we will pass on to future generations.

The opening of the Malabar National Park has come about thanks to the persistence and hard work of the NSW Government, Randwick City Council and local community groups such as the Friends of Malabar Headlands, who worked tirelessly to establish the Park.

The Federal Member of Kingsford Smith Peter Garrett should also be acknowledged for his hard work in supporting the project to benefit residents of south-eastern Sydney.

“Today’s transfer is of enormous significance, not only to the south-east Sydney community but to the nation. Malabar National Park will now provide enormous health and recreational benefits to all those who visit,” Minister Garrett commented.

Malabar Headland is home to 283 plant species and 170 bird species and also holds a number of significant WWII defence sites. The preservation of these features should not be taken for granted.

“We will be protecting the largest remaining area of untouched bushland between Botany and South Head,” Mr Hazzard said.

The opening of the Malabar National Park can only be seen as a positive move for the people of Sydney. On top of the environmental and historical benefits, it’s also an outstanding spot for picnickers and fitness fanatics.

Why not head down to the Eastern Suburbs’ newest attraction and check it out for yourself?