25 February 2019                       Media Release

 

Tomaree Lodge to remain in public hands

 

Both the NSW Liberals & Nationals and Labor pledged on Monday 4 February to keep Shoal Bay’s Tomaree Lodge site in public hands.

 

“These pledges are welcome news and end a lot of uncertainty about the future of the historical and visually spectacular Tomaree Head precinct, once the Lodge is vacated,” said Tim Meharg, Chairman of the Shoal Bay Community Association (SBCA).

 

The pledges follow three years of campaigning by the Shoal Bay Community Association to have the area remain open to public access.

 

“Port Stephens MP Kate Washington, who is also Labor’s spokesperson for disability services, pledged that a Daley Labor Government would keep the Tomaree Lodge site in public hands,” said Mr Meharg.

 

“That same day I received a message from Jaimie Abbott, the NSW Liberals & Nationals candidate for Port Stephens.

 

“Her message contained a statement from the Ray Williams, Minister for Disability Services, saying that his party will guarantee that Tomaree Lodge will remain in public hands when it becomes vacant in late 2019 or early 2020.

 

“The statement said that Premier Gladys Berejiklian had announced a Minister for Public Spaces to make sure the Government protected important public land for open space and community use, and that Tomaree Lodge would be kept for community use and as open space.

 

“Of course, keeping the precinct open to the public is one thing, but what happens to the site is another. The SBCA has proposed the establishment of a Tomaree Headland Reserve Trust to manage the site.

 

“We support the Friends of Tomaree Head, who propose that the Headland be transformed into a nationally significant tourist attraction while maintaining its heritage values, with increased parking and the preparation of a masterplan.”