Mike Baird | Member for Manly - Open Day Tokenism - Public Meeting Needed to Protect Penguins

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Open Day Tokenism - Public Meeting Needed to Protect Penguins

Friday 27 Feb - The Manly community is being treated with contempt over the planned police college redevelopment at North Head, said Member for Manly, Mike Baird.

�I am extremely disappointed with how the Australian Federal Police has handled the community consultation on this project.

�The staging of an Open Day this Saturday at the college is simply tokenism.

�They are exhibiting the revised plans but there is no opportunity for the community to comment because the deadline for submissions has closed.

�No one who has expressed an interest in the project was told about the Open Day.

�The only publicity was an advertisement in the Manly Daily on Wednesday.

�I understand the anger being expressed by the �Penguins not Police� community group which is staging a protest at the site tomorrow morning.

�I have written to the Planning Department asking for the project to be stopped until a formal public meeting is held so the Manly community can have its say.

�The community�s views need to be heard, as this $21 million dollar project poses a significant environmental risk.

�North Head is home to the only colony of breeding penguins on the mainland. This colony must be protected.

�The Australian Federal Police seem to think the site has no connection to the local Manly community

�I tell you that they are very wrong, this is a very special place to everyone living in Manly�, Mr Baird said.

MEDIA CONTACT: Wendy Black 0418 532 534

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Comments (8)

AFP development plans for North Head

I've experienced "Community Consultation" before. It's when they consult the community, then go and do what they originally planned to do anyway.

I'm sure Humphrey Appleby would be proud of what the AFP is doing.

Of course, down the track they'll find it necessary to lease part of it to cover their costs. And so the merry-go-round will start.

Posted by: Alicia at 27-02-2009 14:13

API open day

As a penguin warden, I feel very annoyed about the whole project, which is totally unnecessary and I blame your previous boss Mr Howard for his pork barrelling for the election 2004. Now we have the mess to clean up. I have worked at the API and the selling point for attending the API is the scenary and ocean views, so its really a glorified hotel. Not sure how we can stop it now, the revised plans are better but the whole thing is so wrong and unnecessary. Why can't they go to Canberra for their courses?
REgards Eira Battaglia, volunteer penguin warden and wildlife carer.

Posted by: Eira Battaglia at 27-02-2009 15:04

penguin wardens

Mike
Please remember that there are over 20 penguin wardens who give their time for 8mths to protect the penguins and not just one person. I get very upset when the other wardens receive no thanks or acknowledgement.

Posted by: Eira Battaglia at 27-02-2009 15:07

protecting our penguins

thankyou for taking this fight on Mike. We need more communities to pioneer important environmental issues like this. After finding a penguin dead on Manly beach only a few weeks ago, you have my full support. Don't give up - you are the only hope of a better resolution. Reagrds, Denise

Posted by: Denise at 27-02-2009 15:33

Police College

It is unbelievable that the Federal Goverment are WASTING an obscene about of money on this project, when they OWN the former Artillery Barracks with the facilities already in place and with a better view too.

Posted by: Barry Miles at 27-02-2009 15:45

Many - case in point Develpoment of AFP

Thank you Michael for your diligence in pursuit of 'the interests of the Many community so often against unfotunately against heavy handed bureacracy. Please be assured you have the utmost support of th vast majority - and be encouraged in your mission.
Eph: 6 10 - 18

Posted by: Christopher Fletcher at 28-02-2009 05:23

Penguins

We do need to protect this special penguin habitat. We saw penguins
swimming in a group near 40 Baskets Beach a week ago and pointed
them out to others unaware of there barking. It would be a shame to
destroy their environ.

Posted by: Cheryl Owen at 28-02-2009 07:41

Penguins

I think nature should be respected, the penguins have been at North Head for a long time, and I'm sure the police would find a different spot for their building instead of the only place where the penguins live.

Posted by: Sarah at 02-03-2009 08:08