Harbour Trust News Archive
2010 Stories
Parking Scheme at Headland Park's Middle Head precinct, Mosman
The Sydney Harbour Federation Trust is currently restoring the Middle Head precinct, which includes refurbishing buildings for re-use, landscaping grounds and upgrading and increasing parking facilities. New public and tenant car parks opened in May 2010.
The new car parks are used by park visitors, tenants, restaurant patrons, beach goers, and users of Middle Head Oval. The Harbour Trust has recently created a new public car park adjacent to the former Golf Club House, now occupied by Burnt Orange café and shop.
To facilitate increased public access and ensure balanced use of the limited parking spaces at Middle Head, paid parking was introduced at the Harbour Trust’s Middle Head parking area in May 2010. Parking proceeds go towards the upkeep of the lands and buildings belonging to the Harbour Trust, which is a self-funding agency.
As an alternative to car transport, the 244 bus from Wynyard to Chowder Bay now operates seven days a week. The Harbour Trust recently upgraded Middle Head Road to include a new roadside path from Georges Heights, where free parking is available, to Middle Head. More information on the Middle Head parking scheme
FAQs on parking
Information on Headland Park
4th International Parks Leadership Conference
Park Forum will be holding a conference on 24 - 26 August 2010 at Crystal Palace, Sydney. The conference theme is "Common Ground". “Common Ground” acknowledges the origins of parks as common ground for the use of the community. Parks agencies have a critical role to play protecting endangered species of plants and animals and maintaining environmental biodiversity. New partnerships are needed to respond to environmental threats.
For more information visit www.parksforum2010.org
2009 Stories
New Parking Scheme at Chowder Bay, Mosman
Headland Park, Mosman, comprises former defence lands at Middle Head, Georges Heights and Chowder Bay. It is bordered by National Parks and Wildlife Service land along Chowder Bay Road and Middle Head, and by Mosman Council land at Clifton Gardens, Balmoral and Rawson Park. This beautiful urban park is growing in popularity, but this is putting more pressure on its limited parking, especially at Chowder Bay.
To better manage supply and demand of parking and improve availability for the park's visitors and tenants, paid parking will be introduced at Chowder Bay on 1 December 2009. Parking spaces are often occupied by the same vehicles for long periods, blocking them for use by other visitors. The new scheme will encourage more turnover of vehicles.
The 244 bus from Wynyard to Chowder Bay has now been extended and runs at weekends and longer on weekdays. Some Chowder Bay businesses now offer a courtesy car or shuttle bus service. Those with a Mosman Council foreshore reserve parking sticker can park free of charge in nearby Clifton Gardens car park (non-residents can also purchase stickers). A bush track also links Chowder Bay to Georges Heights, where parking is available. The scenic 10 minute walk passes Georges Head Lookout and Gunners’ Barracks.
FAQs on parking
Information on Headland Park
Contact parking@harbourtrust.gov.au or call our office during business hours on (02) 8969 2100
Organic Market to Open at Headland Park
This month you will find not just spectacular views at Headland Park but also organic fruit and vegetables. From the 23 July an organic stall will operate from the Landship in Headland Park every Thursday morning. BeOrganic is a certified organic produce supplier with 15-years experience sourcing produce from organic farms and marketing to an extensive North Shore client-base from Neutral Bay to Palm Beach. More on BeOrganic. Bob and Brian of BeOrganic will initially operate a single organic produce stall from the Landship on a weekly basis on Thursday mornings from 23 July. The stall will sell fresh fruit, vegetables, grains, nuts, breads (freshly baked on the day - they are delicious!) and organic groceries. The stall also offers a home-delivery service so you can select your produce at the Landship and have it delivered later in the day. You can also order online and collect from the stall on the day.
Where: The Landship, Headland Park, off Middle Head Road, Mosman
When: Thursday mornings, 9am - 3pm
HMAS Platypus Site Remediation Information Day
The Trust’s Comprehensive Plan amendment for the former HMAS Platypus site was approved by the Commonwealth Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts, the Hon Peter Garrett AM MP in May 2009.
The first stage of works will be to remediate the site of contamination. If you would like to learn more about environmental management measures and other matters regarding the site’s remediation please come along to the information day. Details about the decontamination works will be on display and Trust staff will be available to answer any questions you may have.
Please note: There is no parking on site and only very limited parking on High Street. Walking or taking public transport to the site is recommended.
Where: The former HMAS Platypus site, 118 High Street, Neutral Bay.
When: Saturday 29 August, 2009. 11am - 3pm.
Download information sheet about the site remediation [PDF 239]
Nick Cave curates music festival on Cockatoo Island
Approximately 12,000 people caught the ferry to Cockatoo Island over the weekend of January 17 and 18 to be part of the All Tomorrow's Parties festival. The event, organsied by Sydney Festival, included a musical line up hand picked by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds. Festival goers were treated to an eclectic music mix from artists like the Saints, the Laughing Clowns, the Reels, Bridezilla, Afrirampo, Psarandonis and James "Blood" Ulmer. The sandstone convict courtyard and the huge industrial turbine shop were just a few of the spaces where people escaped to enjoy the music feast.
For reviews and news on the festival:
What the hell! A Big Day out for Grown-ups by Bernard Zuel, Sydney Morning Herald, 19 January 2009
The Mother of all Retro Parties by Kathy McCabe, The Daily Telegraph, 18 January 2009
All Tomorrow's Parties A Hit on Cockatoo Island, The Daily Telegraph, 19 January 2009
Middle Head Precinct Upgrade Works
The Trust is commencing a range of measures to improve pedestrian safety and visitor enjoyment at Middle Head. In early June the Trust will start work to create 800metres of new pedestrian pathways along Middle Head Road stretching from close to Cobbittee Street down to the Middle Head Oval car park. The new dedicated pedestrian path will link Georges Heights to Middle Head, and will also connect with the Harbour Trust's stairway to Balmoral Beach. In addition, traffic-calming measures on this stretch of Middle Head Road as well as on Chowder Bay Road, will improve safety and comfort for the growing number of people walking and exercising on this popular route, as well as protecting wildlife. There will be some disruption to traffic along Middle Head Road from early June until September during the works program.
2008 Stories
New Years Eve camping on Cockatoo Island
New Year 2008 was the first time that the public were able to camp on Cockatoo Island. Tickets for the event sold very quickly with the camping package, which provided most of the essentials (tents, mats and a lantern), proving very popular. Guests started arriving early on New Year's Eve and a total of about 1500 people set up camp and prepared to watch the fireworks from one of the best locations on the harbour. Visitors were very pleased with the venue and many said they would definitely be returning in 2009. There was no lugging everything home at the end of the night and no beating the crowds for public transport.
For more information about camping on Cockatoo Island on New Year's Eve 2009 visit the Cockatoo Island website.
Architectural Award for an amenities block with a difference
The Sydney Harbour Federation Trust and architect Rick Leplastrier have won an architecture award in the 2008 round of the Australian Institute of Architects awards. Richard Leplastrier's amenities pavilion in Headland Park was recognised in the Small Project Architecture division. The light and open structure is nestled among huts in the Artists' Precinct in the park. At the centre of the pavilion is a garden with a paper bark tree as its heart. The institute praised Leplastrier's design for its community focus:
"Besides fulfilling a utilitarian role within the Headland Park, the amenities provide a delightful experience where people can sit and relax within the internal courtyard and seating alcoves while waiting for others. Its pavilion design, courtyard and seating alcoves within, create a place of social interaction. It is rare that a suburban toilet obtains such a sober civic quality."
