Subdivision or Better Vision a clear choice for Peat Island lands

A new community group has been formed to fight the privatisation of Peat island and the proposed rezoning and residential subdivision of adjacent land west of the M1.

With the support of the Community Environment Network (CEN), The Dyarubbin Peat Island Association (DPIA) has come up with an alternative plan for usage of the land.

The Planning Proposal for Mooney Mooney and Peat Island, now on exhibition on Council’s yourvoiceourcoast website, would see a large parcel of river-front land adjacent to the island opened up for the construction of 267 residences, which DPIA says would put the integrity of the island at risk.

“These Peat Island lands are not only a priceless heritage site but are the only flat, undeveloped space available on the Central Coast side of the river for a waterside recreation area,” DPIA spokesperson, Peter Rea, said.

Comprising long standing community members, retired professionals, small businesses, successful non-profit organisations like the Terrigal Marine Discovery Centre and an Aboriginal group, DPIA has formulated a Better Vision for the land.

“The Peat Island Better Vision is in two stages,” Rea said.

“Stage one aims to utilise the solid well-maintained brick buildings ear-marked for demolition in the subdivision plan.

“These will become an Eco River Discovery Centre, an Indigenous Cultural Centre, a restaurant and an area to introduce the incredible history found within the surrounding waterways, including Brisbane Water.

“To enhance the Better Vision’s ‘access for all’ concept, the northern-most buildings will be used as facilities for an Eco Camping, Glamping, Cabin Site.

“This will provide the funds for the stage two work on the causeway and refurbishment of the island’s heritage buildings, without drawing on public money.

“The island’s buildings will be converted into meeting/arts/performance spaces and other community facilities as well as selected food and retail outlets.

“Also History Central will be established to tell the history of the waterways.

“Within a radius of about 15km are Broken Bay, Brisbane Water, Pittwater, Cowan, Berowra and the Coastal region, which Governor Phillip explored only a few weeks after the First Fleet dropped anchor in Sydney Cove in 1788.

“At that time Phillip’s most western reach was at Mooney, about 750m from the Peat Island lands.”

The history of the area also includes the greatest shipbuilding area in Australia on Brisbane Water, the remnants of the Great Northern Road and George Peat’s Ferry and the route he discovered to Sydney, which became the Pacific Hwy, Rea said.

“Further up-river at Wisemans Ferry is the oldest ferry operation in Australia,” he said.

“Built at Terrigal Haven, the paddle steamer General Gordon filled the 15km gap in the 2,700km Adelaide to Brisbane Railway.

“The coming of the railway saw (the construction of) Woy Woy tunnel, the longest in Australia, and also the third longest bridge in the world with the deepest piers sunk.

“The 1889 opening of the first Hawkesbury Rail Bridge, the ‘bridge that linked the nation’, inspired Henry Parks’ first speech advocating an Australian Federation.

“Two years later the Australian Premiers boarded the paddle-wheeler Lucinda, to spend a few days thrashing out the draft of the Australian Constitution.”

Rea said the wrecks of two of the most significant ships in Australian Navy history lay a few kilometres each side of Peat Island.

“All this history is within a few kilometres of interconnected waterways and Peat Island is at the centre of it all,” he said.

“History Central will bring it all to life, displaying artefacts together with models and dioramas built by local historians and artisans over the past decade.

“Tourism makes a significant contribution to the Central Coast economy and with over 25 million vehicles a year passing right by, many will stop at Peat Island.

“However, besides (being) a tourist attraction, Peat Island will also be a major education facility.

“It is in easy reach for school excursions from the Central Coast, Lake Macquarie and north/north-west Sydney.

“The DPIA Better Vision is for a world class cultural, tourist, education, recreation centre which will be up there with the very best in Australia.”

Rea urged all those in support of Better Vision as opposed to subdivision to send a submission to yourvoiceourcoast.com or email ask@centralcoast.nsw.gov.au before the closing date of December 20.

The Better Vision can be viewed on the CEN website.

Meanwhile an online information session on the planning proposal will be held from 6-7pm on Wednesday, December 8, with registration available at https://www.dpie.nsw.gov.au/housing-and-property/divisions/property-and-development-nsw/commercial-development/peat-island-and-mooney-mooney.

Terry Collins