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Friends of Quarantine Station
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Friends of Quarantine Station
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| New Conservation Plan available for public comment The new Conservation Plan for Quarantine Station is in final draft form and on exhibition at Manly Library and Manly Council Chambers. The response to the last exhibition of the old conservation plan was excellent with 47 written submissions received – if you wrote one you will see your name at the back of the report. This was a very strong response to a rather unusual exhibition of an old conservation plan and the comments of the Heritage Council. Several
members of FroQS have been helping in the production of the report by taking
part in a Reference Working Group to the consultants and NPWS. The
NPWS intends to send the Conservation Plan to the Heritage Council
for consideration and endorsement on the 10th February. How good is the new Conservation Plan? The
new plan, which has been prepared in a very short time frame, is much more
comprehensive than the 1992 plan. In the short space of time given to them the
Freeman team has done a sterling job. On the positive side it contains
is good coverage of the Aboriginal significance of North Head and some solid
recommendations as to how to manage this significance in the future. A comprehensive history of the
site is set out, and the cultural significance of the site is well presented.
Natural heritage is also well covered – a glaring omission in the 1992 plan. |
The second part of the document,
which gives the policies, strategies and an implementation schedule, needs
careful analysis to ensure that the recommendations are going to provide
sufficient protection for the site. Some recommendations – for example in relation to new buildings - do not seem as strong as they could be, especially given the strong assessment in the earlier parts of the plan. If you would
like your own copy call NPWS on Click here to view the Conservation Plan 2000 Parts 7-10 *
Make a submission
Send
your comments Peter Freeman Pty Ltd
or Denis Gojak, |
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IN PRINT & ON AIRFollowing is a media release sent out soon after receiving the Conservation Plan. You may have been following the coverage in the Manly Daily or on 2BL on the issue. The Daily Telegraph also printed an article on Tuesday 18 January. Although this was an interesting article, it unfortunately (incorrectly) stated that Friends of Quarantine Station want a new tendering process. This is not in fact what we are calling for. Friends of Quarantine Station call for an end to Mawland’s Plan for Quarantine Station Friends of Quarantine Station (FroQS) today welcomed the new Conservation Plan for Quarantine Station as setting new standards for the conservation of this site of national and international significance. FroQS calls on the Minister for the Environment, Mr. Bob Debus, to now reject the Mawland’s proposal as clearly being outside the requirements of the new Conservation Plan. “The new Conservation Plan contains some very strong statements which will protect Quarantine Station from grandiose schemes and profit driven developments.It clearly puts the emphasis on conservation and protection of the site with the NPWS taking a far greater role in its management.” said Nina Burridge. “Of particular importance is the Plan’s policy on Indigenous heritage, requiring much greater consultation with the Aboriginal community on any plans and proposals for the QS which will impact on its Aboriginal heritage. Any immediate development is out of the question as the implementation Plan sets out a stepped program for the next 5 years. Starting with basic maintenance work and the establishment of communication with the Aboriginal Community, North Head stakeholders and the local community. It also calls for the preparation of an interpretation plan that will determine how to best present the rich history of QS to visitors, including educational programs for students. The second and third year will see the determination of the visitor capacity of the site and appropriate management options. Existing usage levels are already causing some degradation of this fragile site and the CP lays out clearly how these impacts should be evaluated before any increase in activity is allowed. This Plan clearly rules out the Mawland’s
proposal. The new plan demands far more stringent conservation controls in
relation to adaptive reuse of buildings and the construction of new buildings. |
FroQS looks forward to working with the NPWS and other interested parties in undertaking the detailed studies required into visitor capacity, leasing options and interpretation planning. “In our view, this CP sets the scene for world-class management, conservation and interpretation of the finest and best preserved QS in the World. We call upon NPWS and the Minister for the Environment to take up the challenge and work together with the community to set an example of excellence in heritage conservation and protection.” Said Cr. Sue Sacker. What you can do Write a letter or send an e-mail
Tell
your friends
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The Hon. R. Debus
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The Hon. R.J.Carr
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Mr Brian Gilligan
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This page was created 24th January, 2000, by Judith Bennett, Friends of Quarantine Station, and was last modified 24 January, 2000 |
Manly Quarantine Station