ACTION is Needed Now on the Harbour Trust's Plan for Middle Head
ACTION is Needed Now to let the Federal Minister for Environment and Water know your views about the Harbour Trust's Plan for Middle Head / Gubbah Gubbah
This plan includes the demolition of the Timber Barracks at Ten Terminal, which is of great concern to Mosman Parks and Bushland and the Headland Preservation Group.
The Harbour Trust has submitted its Middle Head/Gubbuh Gubbuh plan to the Federal Minister for Environment and Water. The Minister will decide whether the plan should be a 'Controlled Action.' A controlled action has a significant impact on matters of National Significance. It will require a full impact assessment under the EPBC Act. (Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act).
Mosman Parks & Bushland and the Headland Preservation Group submit that it is essential that this should be a "Controlled Action" because the Timber Barracks have Commonwealth Heritage Significance and are part of the military village at Middle Head. This is the most intact military village in the Commonwealth.
Action to show support for the plan to be assessed as a "controlled action" so it is comprehensively assessed is important.
Public comment is open until 25 November 2025
Why your action/response is important
Mosman Parks & Bushland has consistently called for the retention of at least one of the timber barracks.
These are our reasons:
Built in the 1950s, the barracks are rare examples (probably the only examples, still existing) of the military architecture of those constrained economic years.
They are part of the military village that existed on Middle Head. Their loss will diminish the integrity of interpreting the military heritage of the Middle Head precinct and the sense of what the Middle Head precinct is about.
Their importance is recognised in two Commonwealth Heritage Listings and in the Harbour Trust's own Statutory Plans.The barracks played an important role in the accommodation of defence personnel during the Korean and Vietnam wars and the Cold War period.
This important post-WWII period of our history is not well remembered.The social history connected to the barracks and the period would be better remembered and respected with the barracks in situ.
The Harbour Trust's proposed use of the area as open space for concerts, events and festivals etc. does not replace the value of the retention of the military village.
The rallying call from the community when campaigning to save the defence land was for the protection of the Indigenous, Military and Natural History of Middle Head and Georges Heights. The Military heritage remains an essential part of Middle Head's heritage.
How to make your submission.
Your submission and your feedback that this project should be declared a 'Controlled Action' must be made in the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) online portal (not to the Harbour Trust).
To comment and/or make a submission:
The link for making the submission is Project Decision · EPBC Act Public Portal
Click on the blue 'Make comment' button.
Enter your name and contact details.
Select 'YES' to the question: 'Do you consider this is a controlled action?'
In the text box provided, please enter the key reasons why you believe this project is a 'Controlled Action.' State your views on why this project will have major impacts on Middle Head.
Make sure you answer all the other questions.
You can submit a document rather than using the text box provided – use the upload link at the end of the form.
Ensure you click the 'Submit your comment' button to complete.
Note: Every submission is important and will be read, no matter how brief your response.
