Revealed: Council considering gifting 72.4ha of land to NPWS worth $4.1M for Wambina, Bouddi and Munmorah

Cash-strapped Central Coast Council is considering transferring 72.4ha of land — valued at over $4.1 million — at Matcham, Killcare and Lake Munmorah for inclusion into national parks.

Cash-strapped Central Coast Council copped plenty of criticism when it was accused of orchestrating a fire sale of public land to help pull it out of a $565 million financial black hole.

Now it is pressing ahead with a pre-financial crisis request to donate 72.4ha of land for inclusion in national parks for free.

A report to council’s meeting on Tuesday, April 26, recommended CEO David Farmer write to the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) to let it know council was assessing 34 lots for possible inclusion into the national parks system.

The report recommends Mr Farmer advise NPWS it would transfer the land “for no monetary consideration” and that any legal fees or costs associated with subdividing the land or realigning boundaries be covered by each party.

385 Matcham Rd, Matcham, is being considered for inclusion in Wambina Nature Reserve. The 13.81ha block is one of about 30 being considered by Central Coast Council. Picture: Google

The report comes after council was contacted by NSW Environment Minister Matthew Kean in October 2019 requesting proposals for land suitable to include in the local national parks system.

The matter went before council as a notice of motion on December 9, 2019, where councillors resolved for staff to identify potential land and submit a proposal by January 2020.

Following a councillor workshop on January 14, 2020, council submitted a list of 11 property groupings totalling 34 individual lots for the minister’s consideration.

Mr Kean responded in a letter to council on March 15 last year stating land in three of the groupings was of potential interest for inclusion in the Wambina Nature Reserve, Bouddi National Park and Munmorah State Conservation Area.

“The property groupings typically included multiple land parcels which were a mix of private and public land,” the report to council’s meeting on Tuesday states.

“There is currently no council resolution to support progressing investigation of the identified land for potential transfer to NPWS for inclusion in the local national park system.

“There is also currently no council resolution to guide the conditions, including monetary expectations, under which land would be transferred to the NPWS.”

6.79ha of land (in red) earmarked for inclusion in Munmorah State Conservation Area. Picture: supplied

It is not the first time council has transferred land for inclusion into national parks and comes after 300ha was transferred to the NPWS for inclusion in Bouddi National Park in 2003.

The parcels identified in this latest investigation have a total unimproved land value of $4,124,074.

“Should all of these parcels be transferred to the national parks system, the value of Council’s asset portfolio would be reduced by this amount on council’s balance sheet,” the report states.

“Transfer of suitable land to the NPWS will remove council’s ongoing management responsibilities for the land and associated costs.”

Council’s Coastal Open Space System (COSS) Committee has indicated a general support for the proposal but has not formally made any resolutions. It is expected to go before the COSS Committee at its meeting in June.

Council Administrator Rik Hart said the transfer remained under assessment at this stage as the council continued to work with the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service.

Central Coast Council administrator Rik Hart.

Mr Hart said the issue would also go before the council’s Coastal Open Space System (COSS) committee for their views. However he said the move made sense with the land being close to Wambina Natural Reserve, Bouddi National Park and Munmorah State Conservation Area.

“It makes sense when things are adjacent to national parks to incorporate them,” he said. “You get a better outcome.”

“Unfortunately National Parks face a similar situation to council in that there’s no such thing as a free gift. There’s still the cost of looking after and maintaining the land.”

Mr Hart said the value of the land up for transfer was $4.1m and a transfer would not impact council’s operational expenditure line or depreciation.

He said the COSS land was never considered for sale as part of the council’s asset sales program.

Properties earmarked for possible transfer to NPWS

MUNMORAH STATE CONSERVATION AREA

· 750A Pacific Highway, Lake Munmorah (6.79ha)

WAMBINA NATURE RESERVE

· 83 Tumbi Rd, Wamberal (1.31ha)

· 28 Pinaroo RD, Wamberal (3.87ha)

· 385 Matcham Rd, Matcham (13.81)

· 299 Matcham Rd, Matcham (8.04)

· 264 Oak Rd, Matcham (2.97)

· 290 Oak Rd, Matcham (0.49)

· 7B Longview Close, Wamberal (10.93)

· 67A Aldina Drive, Wamberal (10.51)

BOUDDI NATIONAL PARK

· 27 Hawk Head Drive, Hardys Bay (0.18ha)

· 32-34 Como Pde, Pretty Beach (0.72)

· 101 Maitland Bay Drive, Killcare Heights (2)

· 401A Wards Hill Rd, Empire Bay (2.1)

· Lot 32 Stewart St, Killcare (0.69)

· 95 Fraser Rd, Killcare (0.38)

· 91 Fraser Rd, Killcare (0.22)

· 89 Fraser Rd, Killcare (0.18)

· 87 Fraser Rd, Killcare (0.14)

· 85 Fraser Rd, Killcare (0.15)

· 83 Fraser Rd, Killcare (0.24)

· 81 Fraser Rd, Killcare (0.25)

· 79 Fraser Rd, Killcare (0.24)

· 77 Fraser Rd, Killcare (0.16)

· 70-72 Fraser Rd, Killcare (0.77)

· 68 Fraser Rd, Killcare (2.15)

· 50 Fraser Rd, Killcare (0.36)

· 34 Fraser Rd, Killcare (0.51)

· 30 Fraser Rd, Killcare (0.49)

· 24A Fraser Rd, Killcare (0.3)

· 22 Fraser Rd, Killcare (0.3)

· 18 Fraser Rd, Killcare (0.35)

· 10 Fraser Rd, Killcare (0.46)