Norah Head Lighthouse Reserve Land Manager Board is seeking the views of the community on its Draft 2021 Management Plan.
It is the companion piece to the endorsed Conservation Management Plan (CMP) for the iconic lighthouse and reserve.
Board member, Doug Darlington, said that while the CMP was a guiding document for the Board, the Management Plan was a living document setting out how the Board would manage and enhance the reserve.
Norah Head Lighthouse Reserve is a state listed heritage item, rich in both Aboriginal and European heritage.
The site also comprises various bushland ecosystems, some fragile and endangered, including some species of flora and fauna of high environmental value.
“The Board’s Draft 2021 Management Plan has a triple outcome combining a social, environmental and economic framework,” Darlington said.
He said the Board realised its Charter as a multiple-use Crown Reserve consisting of: a working lighthouse for marine safety; accommodation for the public; a venue to hire for events such as weddings; a tourist destination for guided tours; and, the Reserve which actively partners with a range of community groups to help protect its land and water resources.
“The focus is on delivering balanced sustainability within a framework of good corporate governance,” Darlington said.
The Management Plan describes 29 future proposals that the Board is investigating.
Some of those include: reconstruction of the stairs to the beach; walkways and viewing platforms; better parking arrangements; bush regeneration; coastal erosion and weed eradication; new buildings and restoration of heritage buildings; upgrading services such as electricity and sewer; and, possible “glamping” accommodation on the old quarry site.
Sue Murray