North Head’s threatened Little Penguins now have a new ally in NSW Environment Minister Verity Firth who has today confirmed to Manly MP Mike Baird that she will do all she can to protect the penguins from the proposed police college redevelopment.

“It was very positive to hear the Minister agree to do whatever is in her power to help stop any destruction of the penguins’ critical habitat at North Head,” Mr Baird said.

“The Minister was particularly interested to hear the community does not believe the threatened species and Aboriginal cultural assessments done as part of the planning process were adequate.

“There was no Aboriginal person effectively consulted during the so-called consultation process, nor was the Aboriginal Heritage Office contacted even though they have recorded several cultural sites near the police college.

“The Minister agreed to investigate these concerns and put them to the NSW Minister for Planning, Frank Sartor, and the Federal Minister for Environment, Peter Garrett, which is an encouraging first step.”

Mr Baird said Minister Firth agreed to today’s meeting after she spoke with protestors at North Head last month.

“The community has been outspoken in its belief that the Australian Federal Police’s plans to spend $21 million redeveloping its police college is completely inappropriate at North Head.

“Although the Federal Minister in charge, Bob Debus, has said the plan has been revised to appease the community, we have no proof of this.

“There has been no transparency throughout the process – the community has been kept in the dark despite the area being of critical environmental and historical significance.

“We explained to Minister Firth that the Australian Federal Police is currently using the former School of Artillery for its college and that is where they should stay.

“The Minister said she would love to see the area restored as a National Park, which is the logical option considering the fragile characteristics of the site.

“She acknowledged our application for a World Heritage listing of Sydney Harbour and agreed it would give the harbour the recognition it deserves.”

MEDIA: Lisa Harrington - 0406 726 880 

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