Welcome to the Parks and Playgrounds Movement Inc. Website.

Welcome to the Parks and Playgrounds Movement Inc. Website.
Celebrating over 50 Years of Environmental Action

The Parks and Playgrounds Movement was brought to Newcastle (Australia) by the late Tom Farrell in 1952. The Parks and Playgrounds Movement of New South Wales was established in Sydney in the early 1930s. Its secretary was the late C E W Bean, the historian, lawyer and journalist. The Newcastle organisation was originally called the Northern Parks and Playgrounds Movement. Under the legendary Doug Lithgow the Movement was incorporated in 1999 under the Associations Incorporation Act of 1984, and continues the fight to safeguard the Hunter Region's Natural and Cultural Heritage. If you wish to become a member of the Parks and Playgrounds Movement Inc., please read throught our stated aims, and if you wish to support the organisation, fill out the registration form.Visit our new blog page located here For up to date info see our new blog http://parksandplaygroundsmovement.blogspot.com/

NOBBYS LIGHTHOUSE NEWCASTLE

Please consider the points below and write a submission to:

The Proponents
Nobbys Lighthouse Project
PO Box 186
NEWCASTLE 2300

It may be appropriate to also send a copy of your letter to your local Federal Member and:

The Hon Malcolm Turnbull MP
Minister for the Environment and Water Resources
PO Box 6022
Parliament House
CANBERRA ACT 2600

Whybaygamba (Nobbys) is the symbol of Newcastle and Nobbys Lighthouse is the chief heritage item on the headland and must be preserved protected and promoted as an essential part of our cultural heritage.

* Nobbys Lighthouse Newcastle is a Commonwealth Heritage Place and the principal heritage item on Nobbys headland.

* The Proponents of the development impacting on the Lighthouse were in breach of s.26 EPBC Act. (EDO Legal Advice)

* Nobbys has continuously operated as a lighthouse since December 1857 replacing a coal Fired beacon on Signal Hill.

* Nobbys Lighthouse should stand free and operate as a lighthouse and be seen as a lighthouse.

* The proposed new building impacting on the historic lighthouse should be rejected and alternatives considered.

* Development should be by adaptive reuse of existing cottages in keeping with the Port Corporation’s EIO May 2003.

* The Newcastle Council and Heritage Office Assessments were compromised by the proponent’s use of S116C EPA Act.

* The Commonwealth using their powers under EPBC Act are providing the first independent assessment re the Lighthouse.

* It was inappropriate for proponents to use S.116C EPA Act for what is essentially a private development not a Crown development.

* The remarkable Nobbys Island (Whybaygamba) is an Aboriginal Dreaming site first documented Christian Herald Feb 1855.

* Whybaygamba was originally 62 metres high and was cut down to 28 metres for the erection of the Nobbys Lighthouse 1854-57.

* Report of Select Committee Legislative Council NSW on Newcastle Lighthouse 1852 recommended Nobbys site for Lighthouse.

* Nobbys headland and its views should be open to the public and people allowed to see and move freely around the lighthouse.

* For the above reasons the proposal for a building partly encircling and impacting the Lighthouse should be rejected.

Please open attached PDF Document

It is a general submission supported by the Conservation Movement of NSW. It shows the Lighthouse as it should be and as it is now and the proposed building that will close off the views to the general public and make it impossible to ever see the lighthouse as a lighthouse.

Trusting in your help.

Yours faithfully,

Doug Lithgow
Freeman of the City of Newcastle and
President of the Parks and Playgrounds Movement

More on [Nobbys]

HANDS OFF OUR NOBBYS!

[4 March 2007] Nobbys Lighthouse is a heritage gem that is going to be swallowed in new privatised development if the Commonwealth doesn’t stand firm against the NSW Inc Property development industry. [more]

Protect Nobbys Lighthouse:
A Commonwealth Heritage Place

[8 Feb 2007] “The NSW Government must be stopped from building out Newcastle’s unique 150 year old Nobbys lighthouse” Doug Lithgow President of the Parks and Playgrounds Movement said today.

Help Keep Newcastle
on the Rails

People trying to catch a bus

[23rd February 2005] A demonstration was held 23rd February 2005 to examine the Michael Costa - John Tate plan to close the railway to Newcastle and make passengers catch a bus. About 150 people who normally travel regularly by train tried unsuccessfully to catch a bus at the stop in Scott opposite the Newcastle Station. Passengers included people with luggage, wheel chairs and bicycles that normally have no trouble using CityRail services. Men and Women of the Hunter Region and beyond, help keep Newcastle on the Rails!

November 2005
Decision to Close the Newcastle Branch Line - Independent Review of Transport Reports.
FINAL REPORT
Professor Graham Currie
Institute of Transport Studies Department of Civil Engineering
Monash University

1st January 2005
Dear Mr Premier: A people friendly Newcastle requires the continuation of CityRail services.

18th December 2004
Urgent Call: Please Have Your Say on the Greater Sydney Metro Strategy

FREE NOBBYS

TO MAKE A COMMENT

BACKGROUND DOCUMENTS