Doubts cast over the 30-year-lease granted to protect Wendy Whiteley’s ‘secret’ Lavender Bay garden

RESIDENT activists are demanding to see the lease granted to protect Wendy Whiteley’s beloved garden, claiming it may be “terminated at any time”.

Wendy Whiteley in the garden she has created and nurtured for two decades.

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COMMUNITY leaders are throwing doubt on the future of Wendy Whiteley’s Secret Garden.

Despite a 30-year lease announced by the State Government, local residents are claiming the lease may provide no protection and the garden could be “terminated at any time”

Last year the garden hosted a celebration when the State Government revealed a deal with North Sydney Council.

It will see the garden at Lavender Bay preserved until the 2070s with a 30-year lease and a 30-year rollover clause.

The NSW Government issued a reassurance this week that future plans for nearby railway land on the Lavender Bay foreshore “will not impact the garden”.

NSW Premier Mike Baird had a private tour of the garden last October before the lease deal was announced.

But neighbours Ian Mutton and Ian Curdie want to see the fine print before the council signs off on the lease.

“Although the headline is the term of 30 years with an option to renew I suspect there is a clause allowing it to be terminated at anytime,” said Mr Mutton.

“I was told that this lease is a standard beautification lease (as is the lease being replaced) and the only changes are to the description of the land and the term.

“If my information is correct the lease affords no protection.”

Mr Mutton is a local campaigner from Milsons Point and he is joined in his call by Mr Curdie, the secretary of Lavender Bay Precinct.

Ian Mutton is concerned about the future of the Lavender Bay rail siding.

Mr Mutton is concerned that the park could be merged into a major development of railway land along the water’s edge at Lavender Bay.

“For the life of me I can’t see why it’s not made a park unless there is an intention to deal with it at a later date, as part of a major development of the Lavender Bay rail siding,” he said.

A spokesman for Sydney Trains said “the lease contains standard termination clauses and requires the land to only be used for beautification and passive recreation purposes”

North Shore state MP Jillian Skinner and NSW transport minister Andrew Constance make the lease announcement with Wendy Whiteley.

The spokesman said Sydney Trains was working with North Sydney Council to execute the lease.

“Our future rail plans do not impact the garden, which is why we are confident to extend the lease to 30 years with an additional 30-year rollover clause,” the spokesman said. .

“This is the simplest arrangement to guarantee the garden will be preserved for public enjoyment.”

Wendy Whiteley would not comment on the issue. A spokesman for North Sydney Council said the lease is “is currently with our solicitors for review”

The garden, which attracts tourists from around the world, has been transformed from an overgrown railway dump by Ms Whiteley and her helpers over the past 20 years.

The garden attracts tourists from all over the world.