The overwhelming majority of individuals and organisations who supported the plan for Nobbys knew that it was the best way to make the area available to the wider community while at the same time protecting its heritage value, the President of Hunter Business Chamber, Karen Howard, said today.
“We urge Minister Garrett to listen to his own department, the NSW Heritage Council, Newcastle City Council and all the elected representatives of the Hunter and approve this adaptive reuse of Nobbys.”
Ms Howard said those who had already made submissions on the project appreciated that the small area on which the lighthouse stood would be protected within the plan.
“It is fanciful to imagine that a very large bucket of public money will suddenly be made available to the people of Newcastle to maintain Nobbys headland and permit safe community access to the area. We have too many examples of heritage buildings being destroyed by neglect.
“There is ample evidence, including within a stone’s throw of Nobbys (the Bond Store, former railway yards, Honeysuckle) that heritage can be protected in partnership with commercially undertakings.
“Indeed, I suspect this is the cost effective means by which heritage buildings are protected and made available to the community,” Ms Howard said.
“Newcastle Port Corporation, the NSW Government, NSW Heritage Council, Newcastle City Council and now the Minister’s own department see the merit in the plan now submitted by the Slater Consortium. They have all worked through the designs and after many iterations we have a plan accepted by all.”
Ms Howard said business people called on the Minister to accept that a decision to allow the reuse of Nobbys would be one that reflected the majority community view and its wishes.
For further information: Karen Howard 0413 123 258