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Camden Head Lookout Reserve: Volunteer Management Engagement

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Consultation has concluded

About

The management of Camden Head Lookout Reserve, located between Pilot Beach Road, Camden Head Road and Bergalia Crescent is being discussed amongst community groups and Council. There has been a representation from local community members to establish a “Friends of Camden Haven Headland” group to take over the management of the site. A Volunteer Landcare group is currently managing the site under a environmental Memorandum of Understanding(MoU) with Council staff managing other parts. As there are differing desires regarding the volunteer management of the site, in response to a Council Motion to engage (8 December, 2022), we are now seeking input from the wider community.

Do you support a formation of a "Friends of Camden Haven Headland" Group to co-manage this site? To Have Your Say, read the background information below, supporting document files and submit a survey response.

Background

The site in question is a Council managed Crown Reserve, zoned RE1 for Public Recreation. Currently, the reserve is mowed by Council (red/orange) and the remaining area is volunteer managed (purple) by an environmental volunteer group, National Parks Estate (Green) Crown Land (clear).

Zone RE1: Public Recreation - Objectives of zone

  • To enable land to be used for public open space or recreational purposes
  • To provide a range of recreational setting and activities and compatible land uses
  • To protect and enhance the natural environment for recreational purpose.

The RE1 zone is placed between C1 and C2 environment zones. Environment zones are now known as conservation zones across local environmental plans prepared under the Standard Instrument Order

There are 4 types:

  • Zone C1 – National Parks and Nature Reserves
  • Zone C2 – Environmental Conservation
  • Zone C3 – Environmental Management
  • Zone C4 – Environmental Living.

Council Motion: Ordinary Council Meeting 8 December 2023

In response to community wanting to form a “Friends of Camden Haven Headland” to co-manage the site, at 8 December 2022 Ordinary Council Meeting, Council Resolved on Agenda item 13.01:

  • To undertake engagement with existing volunteer groups working on the Camden Haven Headland, nearby residents and the Camden Haven community, in considering the “Friends of” volunteer framework.

Site Context

Historically, the reserve has been the site of competing priorities including illegal poisoning and clearing of trees and Council addressed this vandalism once again most recently via notification in May 2023.

Hastings Landcare

On 2 May 2023, Council entered into a Memorandum of Understanding for Ecological Restoration Works on Council owned or managed land with Volunteer Group - Hastings Landcare.  To read how an MoU is formed, click on the document file to the right.

Hastings Landcare are operating under the agreement outlined in the MoU to:

  1. Improve the ecological condition of PMHC owned and managed reserves
  2. Ensure PMHC owned and managed reserves comply with the Biosecurity Act 2015 and the local PMHC weeds plan; and
  3. Create social capital.

There are Management Plans for each of the areas that are the subject of the MoU that are designed to ensure the land is managed in accordance with the zoning or reservation of the land. If a “Friends of Camden Haven Headland” group is supported by the wider community and formed, there would be a management plan and MoU required for the area managed.

If an expansion of the passive recreation footprint of the RE1 zoned land, is desired by the community, resources will need to be secured for its ongoing maintenance. The source of these resources is currently not allocated in Council's budget.

How to get involved and Have Your Say:

As there are conflicting community views, we are engaging the community to Have Your Say and provide feedback on the future management and use of the site. Council wants to ensure that the plan for the area aligns with the community’s vision, considers the needs of current and future users, the natural environment, residents and businesses.

Would you like to see the management of the site change? Would you support expansion of the recreation reserve within the RE1 Zone?

The engagement and submission period will be 42 days from 14 August to 25 September. Signage with a QR code to the survey will be placed at the site and immediate residents will be notified via letter.

About

The management of Camden Head Lookout Reserve, located between Pilot Beach Road, Camden Head Road and Bergalia Crescent is being discussed amongst community groups and Council. There has been a representation from local community members to establish a “Friends of Camden Haven Headland” group to take over the management of the site. A Volunteer Landcare group is currently managing the site under a environmental Memorandum of Understanding(MoU) with Council staff managing other parts. As there are differing desires regarding the volunteer management of the site, in response to a Council Motion to engage (8 December, 2022), we are now seeking input from the wider community.

Do you support a formation of a "Friends of Camden Haven Headland" Group to co-manage this site? To Have Your Say, read the background information below, supporting document files and submit a survey response.

Background

The site in question is a Council managed Crown Reserve, zoned RE1 for Public Recreation. Currently, the reserve is mowed by Council (red/orange) and the remaining area is volunteer managed (purple) by an environmental volunteer group, National Parks Estate (Green) Crown Land (clear).

Zone RE1: Public Recreation - Objectives of zone

  • To enable land to be used for public open space or recreational purposes
  • To provide a range of recreational setting and activities and compatible land uses
  • To protect and enhance the natural environment for recreational purpose.

The RE1 zone is placed between C1 and C2 environment zones. Environment zones are now known as conservation zones across local environmental plans prepared under the Standard Instrument Order

There are 4 types:

  • Zone C1 – National Parks and Nature Reserves
  • Zone C2 – Environmental Conservation
  • Zone C3 – Environmental Management
  • Zone C4 – Environmental Living.

Council Motion: Ordinary Council Meeting 8 December 2023

In response to community wanting to form a “Friends of Camden Haven Headland” to co-manage the site, at 8 December 2022 Ordinary Council Meeting, Council Resolved on Agenda item 13.01:

  • To undertake engagement with existing volunteer groups working on the Camden Haven Headland, nearby residents and the Camden Haven community, in considering the “Friends of” volunteer framework.

Site Context

Historically, the reserve has been the site of competing priorities including illegal poisoning and clearing of trees and Council addressed this vandalism once again most recently via notification in May 2023.

Hastings Landcare

On 2 May 2023, Council entered into a Memorandum of Understanding for Ecological Restoration Works on Council owned or managed land with Volunteer Group - Hastings Landcare.  To read how an MoU is formed, click on the document file to the right.

Hastings Landcare are operating under the agreement outlined in the MoU to:

  1. Improve the ecological condition of PMHC owned and managed reserves
  2. Ensure PMHC owned and managed reserves comply with the Biosecurity Act 2015 and the local PMHC weeds plan; and
  3. Create social capital.

There are Management Plans for each of the areas that are the subject of the MoU that are designed to ensure the land is managed in accordance with the zoning or reservation of the land. If a “Friends of Camden Haven Headland” group is supported by the wider community and formed, there would be a management plan and MoU required for the area managed.

If an expansion of the passive recreation footprint of the RE1 zoned land, is desired by the community, resources will need to be secured for its ongoing maintenance. The source of these resources is currently not allocated in Council's budget.

How to get involved and Have Your Say:

As there are conflicting community views, we are engaging the community to Have Your Say and provide feedback on the future management and use of the site. Council wants to ensure that the plan for the area aligns with the community’s vision, considers the needs of current and future users, the natural environment, residents and businesses.

Would you like to see the management of the site change? Would you support expansion of the recreation reserve within the RE1 Zone?

The engagement and submission period will be 42 days from 14 August to 25 September. Signage with a QR code to the survey will be placed at the site and immediate residents will be notified via letter.