Geoff Stevenson
Press Release
ESTABLISH A TRUST FOR MALABAR HEADLAND
Councillor Geoff Stevenson
Central Ward Councillor Randwick City Council
Labor Councillor Geoff Stevenson from Maroubra calls on the State and Federal Governments to immediately establish a Public Trust to deliver and manage the Malabar headland park.
Councillor Stevenson from Randwick Council also calls for the annexing of Maroubra Beach, Arthur Byrne Reserve, Pioneers Park, Cromwell Park and Malabar beach into the new Park Trust.
Councillor Stevenson believes Randwick Council should not be involved with the management of the Park but adopt the same approach as it does with Centennial Park, also within the Council area.
Councillor Stevenson says that the headland park will be the most significant recreational area added to Sydney in the foreseeable future and like Centennial Park will be used by all Sydneysiders not just locals in adjoining suburbs. “It’s too important an asset for the people of Sydney for it to be used as political football between local activists, Councillors and the State and Federal Governments.” Already there are groups fighting over who and how the land will be shared. The logical approach is to create a trust now and allow community and Government representatives to get on with the job.”
“The funding of the remediation of the land and return to public use should be jointly funded by the NSW and Federal Governments. This cost may run into hundreds of millions but if you had to put a price on Centennial Park in Randwick’s north as a comparison there would be no argument that users get wonderful value. Not only will the new Malabar headland park be bigger than Centennial Park but it will have a coastal walkway running through it from Sydney Harbour to Botany Bay that will make it an international tourist destination.” “I expect it will become the most frequented coastal park in Australia when it is finished” Councillor Stevenson said.
