State Government withdraws planning proposal for Peat Island

The latest planning proposal for redevelopment of Peat Island has been withdrawn

The State Government has withdrawn its planning proposal for redevelopment of the Peat Island precinct following huge community backlash.

Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast, Adam Crouch, confirmed the withdrawal but said the State Government remains committed to the revitalisation of the “much-loved area” to deliver economic, social and long-term community benefits.

“Peat Island and Mooney Mooney is of great significance to the local community and the many stakeholders, including Aboriginal communities, those with links to its institutional past, and the broader Lower Hawkesbury River communities,” he said.

“The Government will continue to work with these groups who have diverse views of the area’s future, including the Community Reference Group, to resolve the future land uses and community facilities required.”

Crouch said negotiations to transfer ownership of the precinct to the Darkinjung Local Aboriginal Land Council (DLALC) would continue.

DLALC CEO, Brendan Moyle, said he welcomed the decision to rescind the previous planning proposal as it did not include plans the council has for Peat Island.

“We are working closely with the NSW Government in the spirit of reconciliation to review the previous approach and ensure that it accommodates the vision that Darkinjung Local Aboriginal Land Council is building” he said.

“(This is) one that will see Peat Island celebrate and commemorate the ancient and contemporary Aboriginal history while also paying respect to what Peat Island became to many non-Indigenous Australians.

“Our vision is to turn Peat Island into a cultural tourism precinct that will be of state and national significance, that all Australians can be proud of and which will one day become a historic cultural site for the grandchildren of our grandchildren.

“DLALC is continuing to work with key stakeholders including the NSW Government, members of the Mooney Mooney community, and representatives of mental health and intellectual disability advocacy organisations to ensure that we create something that the Central Coast and Deerubbin (Hawksbury) communities can be proud of.”

The controversial proposal, which included a large hotel and opening up land opposite the island itself for the construction of 267 homes, was on exhibition for three months, with residents and community groups, including the Central Coast Greens, the Community Environment Network and the Dyarubbin Peat Island Association raising objections.

In December last year, more than 160 residents gathered at Mooney Mooney to protest the development proposal.

Dyarubbin Peat Island Association spokesperson, Tracie Howie, said Peat Island and adjacent foreshore lands deserved a “better vision” than high-density housing and a major hotel.

“This land has substantial cultural significance for my people, it has substantial environmental significance and it is not an appropriate location for housing,” she said.

Member for Gosford, Liesl Tesch, said it was crucial to get development of the precinct right.

“After 10 years and four attempts, the community has sent the NSW Government back to the drawing board,” she said.

“The proposal was quite large for a section of the community with very limited infrastructure.

“The community made it very clear that they need to be consulted from the beginning for planning for this incredibly sensitive and important gateway to the Hawkesbury River.”

Terry Collins