The Sydney Harbour Federation Trust has made several amendments to its controversial Middle Head/Gubbuh Gubbuh Draft Master Plan to allow food vendors, concerts and weddings at the undeveloped bush area. The Trust undertook a three-month public consultation which finished in May, with 209 submissions.
Following feedback, it has made significant changes to the draft. These include that Middle Head Oval will not be reconfigured, which had angered sporting groups including Mosman Football Club. The oval’s changing facilities will be upgraded and the changes will mean codes including Australian Rules Football can still use the busy sportsfield. Under the original plans, the pavilion was to be relocated to another area of the oval, shortening the circumference of the oval which put in doubt AFL’s ability to play there.
A Mosman Council spokeswoman thanked the Trust for ‘listening to and acting upon council’s previous submission…particularly as it relates to Middle Head Oval’.
Council is currently preparing plans for upgraded change facilities at Middle Head Oval, including better provision for women’s sport. Three timber buildings located next to the Oval, originally soldiers’ barracks from the 1950s, will still proposed be demolished under the plan. This is despite a request by the Headland Preservation Group to retain at least one to remember the men who served there.
The popular Middle Head Café, located in the historic Guard House, will not be demolished or relocated, as was originally intended. However, the Trust has not ruled out future change of use of the Guard House.
Concern was expressed during the consultation about how increased traffic would be managed, and the impact of events on the Mosman area. Instead of allowing many events a year with up to 2,000 people, the Trust is now proposing use of ‘open parkland’ for events at Middle Head no more than twice a year. Events could include ‘heritage open days, temporary exhibitions or performances, community festivals and First Nations gatherings’ and would be capped at 500 people.
A one-month consultation on the amendments concluded on 21 September. The Trust will now examine all responses and produce a final master plan by early 2024. Construction and reparation work on heritage buildings, which were once soldier’s barracks, is scheduled to commence in 2024.