Since 1952 the National Trust has been campaigning to protect historic Kurnell, its landscape and rare native vegetation. The site of the landing of Cook in 1770, the first meeting between the Aboriginal people and new settlers, the collection of plant specimens by Sir Joseph Banks, the death of seaman Forby Sutherland and the nearby first burial site of a European in eastern Australia should be treasured by Australians. But Kurnell has been heavily industrialized, its mighty sand dunes carted away, year after year with little regard for the damage to this wonderful landscape enjoyed by generations of Sydneysiders and the site for filming of classic movies from Chauvel’s ‘40,000 Horsemen’ to George Miller’s ‘Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome.’

 

Sandmining at Kurnell is ecologically unsustainable whereas off-shore sand mining may be possible on a sustained basis if strict environmental controls are put in place. Following the precautionary principle and in view of the storms that have already caused severe damage to beaches at Kurnell and the honeycomb nature of deep sand mining ponds and the prediction of more severe and unpredictable storm events associated with global warming, the Kurnell peninsula should no longer be subjected to the threats associated with sand mining.

 

The National Trust of Australia (NSW) was formed in 1945 with one of its specific objects – “the preservation of natural features and fauna and flora”.

 

In 1952 then Vice-President of the National Trust, Mr Guy Moore became Chairman of the newly formed Kurnell Peninsula Oil Refinery Protest Committee, supported by individuals and eighteen organizations to strongly oppose the proposed oil refinery at the birthplace of Australia..

 

The National Trust played a prominent role in this campaign and on 1st December, 1952 the Trust’s other Vice President Mrs Annie Wyatt wrote to Mrs Eleanor Roosevelt in America seeking her support for the campaign: -

 

‘Enclosed herewith is the story of Kurnell, whose rapidly approaching desecration fills thousands of Australian hearts with dismay and indignation. Desperation has driven me to take the liberty of making this appeal to you, and through you to the women of America, to intercede on our behalf. At a time when civilization demands the unity of America and Australia, should we permit mere business interests to imperil friendship? I plead with you to use your great influence to prevent this act of irreparable vandalism. You would earn our warmest gratitude thereby.’

 

In 1961 the Trust voiced strong opposition in mid-1961 at the proposal by the Heffron Government to alienate further public land at Kurnell for an oil refinery, expressing the view that the area should be retained in a natural state for its botanical value and historical importance.

 

In June 1970 the Trust distributed 5,000 illustrated pamphlets entitled Just Do Nothing and Watch It Die – Who Cares? These pointed out Kurnell was a landscape in distress, suffering from erosion, sand extraction, chemical fumes, oil spills, the stench of sewage, the haze of industrial smoke and valleys stripped of vegetation. The Trust urged that all unoccupied Crown and freehold land be rezoned as public open space to prevent industrial expansion stating: ‘Kurnell belongs to people’.

 

The notes of a visit to the Kurnell Peninsula by the National Trust’s Women’s Committee on 18th April, 1970 included: -

 

“The Kurnell Peninsula is an area of considerable interest to the student of natural history, to geologists, anthropologists, botanists and all people who are becoming increasingly aware of their environment. It is the serious concern of those interested in saving an area of naturalness within the metropolis of Sydney.”

 

The spinifex colonies on the sand dunes facing the seaboard are apparent and the effects on the dunes of the vast sand-removing operations. This sand-taking not only altered the seaboard but causes sand to shift into Botany Bay with ensuing shallows at the shore line.

 

Since the arrival of Captain Cook changes in the landscape of the Kurnell Peninsula have accelerated.”

 

Over the following years the Trust also campaigned vigorously for the conservation of Botany Bay and Towra Point particularly the effects of erosion on Towra Point caused by development induced changed wave patterns.

 

In 1997, the Trust supported an application for a conservation order to protect from development the largest remaining sand dune on the Kurnell Peninsula. In its submission the Trust noted that: -

 

“It is tragic that most of this vital feature with its cultural heritage links such as the Chauvel filming of the motion picture ‘Forty Thousand Horsemen’ has now been lost. But this simply underlines the importance of protecting the last high sand dune as recommended by Commissioner Woodward in his Commission of Inquiry.”

 

‘The Trust must also note the importance of the Calsil Sand Dune at Kurnell which is smaller but retains its original native vegetation, rare Eastern Suburbs Banksia Scrub.”

 

“The Kurnell Peninsula is of vital heritage importance to the Nation. The last high sand dune with its aboriginal and landscape values is an integral and essential element   of the Peninsula. The Trust supports any moves  by the Heritage Office to consolidate, protect and conserve the Kurnell heritage and the high sand dune.”

 

 In August 2002, the Trust commented on the Rocla proposal for sand extraction on Lot 8 DP 586986 at Kurnell: -

 

“The National Trust has campaigned vigorously for the conservation of the Kurnell Peninsula, its landforms, flora and for the better recognition of its national historic significance since our organisation’s earliest days in the 1950s.”

 

“The Kurnell Peninsula is equivalent in importance for the Australian Nation to Plymouth Rock and its surroundings for the people of the United States. The Trust has consistently opposed the industrialization of the Peninsula including the original establishment of the oil refinery. We look forward to the day when the refinery will be relocated, the land rehabilitated and added to the adjoining Botany Bay National Park. The treatment of the Kurnell Peninsula should be exemplary in presenting this area’s unique sense of place in its natural setting for Australians and overseas visitors. It is currently a disgrace.”

 

“The Rocla proposal will make this situation even worse and further complicate the Peninsula’s restoration and rehabilitation.”

 

“The Trust has attended a number of Commissions of Inquiry into the Peninsula and sand mining proposals and has commented on numerous planning instruments intended to establish some form of coordinated planning for this unique environment.”

 

“However, the only constant over the past fifty years has been the relentless onslaught of sand mining and the industrialization of the Peninsula to the detriment of its historic and ecological values.”

 

“The present proposal can only be interpreted by the Trust as an ill-considered and outrageous attempt to destroy one of the last examples of the Peninsula’s sandhill landscape, the very essence of the scenic backdrop to Botany Bay.”

 

“The Trust strongly opposes both the sand mining proposal and the ultimate landuse proposal – industrialization of this site.”

 

“It is of great concern to the Trust that the Department of Planning does not appear to have learnt from the mistakes of the past. There have been decades of ad hoc and incoherent development of the Kurnell Peninsula and Botany Bay and this is manifested in the repeated consideration of individual development proposals and their associated Environmental Impact Statements. Repeated recommendations that a more holistic approach is required have been effectively ignored.”

 

“The most recent of these reports by the Healthy Rivers Commission into the Georges River and Botany Bay discusses the establishment of a controlling authority and, in the Trust’s view this Authority must be set up without any further delay.”

 

“If indeed the shortage of sand is a justification for classifying this proposal as State Significant Development and that resource is not limitless then surely we need to revise the entire strategy for developing and expanding Sydney and for the recycling of building materials.”

 

“The adjoining Towra Point Wetlands are of international significance and the Environmental Impact Statement’s findings on the likely impacts of the development need rigorous, independent assessment. Also the proposal to backfill with foreign (non-local) stone and rubble needs to be independently and rigorously checked to determine the likelihood of adverse impacts on the groundwater.”

 

“Notwithstanding the comments above regarding possible groundwater investigations the Trust reiterates its outright and firm objection to this development proposal.”

 

“The Trust understands that the development proposal will trigger the involvement of the Commonwealth in assessment under the provisions of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, and that this submission will be provided by Planning NSW to Environment Australia.”

 

The Trust was subsequently advised by Planning NSW on 5th October, 2002 that the Applicant, Rocla Ltd withdrew the Development Application after the close of the exhibition period.

 

In February, 2003, the Trust welcomed the announcement by the then Premier Bob Carr and then Minister for Planning and Deputy Premier Andrew Refshauge that the last remaining major sand dune at Kurnell was to be placed on the State Heritage Register.

 

On 17th February, 2005 the Trust wrote to the then Minister for Infrastructrure and Planning and Minister for Natural Resources Craig Knowles noting the reintroduction of the Rocla Development Application for yet more sand mining at Kurnell and making the point that its appeared that the sand construction industry will seek to get access to all available sand resources regardless of consequent damage to and destruction of historic landscapes and important remnant native vegetation.

 

The Trust argued for a moratorium on major new and expanded sand extraction developments pending a full public inquiry into this industry. The demand for sand should be fully identified in all its varied components and the inquiry should address recycling opportunities, the history of rehabilitation of mined sites such as those on the Newnes Plateau, alternative materials and interstate and overseas experience.

 

Most importantly the Inquiry should be fully open to the public and all sand sources including off-shore and river sand extraction should be addressed. While some of these options have previously been rejected changing technologies and improved data on marine environments may allow carefully controlled and monitored sand extraction from these sources.

 

References to all sources of construction sand should include recycling. Any inquiry should also review previous failures to rehabilitate old sand quarries such as those on the Newnes Plateau which have been abandoned.

 

The Trust believes that this industry cannot be allowed to proceed in the haphazard, damaging manner of the past and a public inquiry should lead to a better co-ordinated and more environmentally sensitive approach to the provision of this vital resource.

 

The Minister’s response noted that he understood the concerns of the National Trust and the reasons that prompted the Trust’s submission. He confirmed that he had instructed his Department to assess the Rocla Development Application within the strategic context of phasing out sand mining at Kurnell.

On 29th April, 2005 the Trust wrote again to Minister Craig Knowles welcoming the announcement of his refusal of Rocla’s Development Application.

 

The Trust strongly supported the view of DIPNR that the sand mining proposal would ‘destroy a groundwater aquifer, remove one of the last remaining sand dunes on the Peninsula and pose an unacceptable risk to the ecosystems of the nearby Towra Point Nature Reserve.”

Kurnell Peninsula honeycombed with ponds and at threat from major storm events

 

The Trust also welcomed the Government’s commitment to phase out sand mining on the Kurnell Peninsula reflecting the ‘strong community feeling against the proposal.’

 

The Trust finally noted in the Minister’s media statement that ‘DIPNR is currently preparing the Sydney Construction Materials Strategy in consultation with relevant Government agencies, industry and community representatives, which will identify the most likely sources of construction sand to supply the Greater Sydney Region in the short to long term.’

 

The Trust welcomed this initiative and requested confirmation as to whether the issues raised by the Trust will form part of the terms of reference for the strategy preparation.

 

On 9th June, 2005 Minister Knowles replied expressing the view that it was pleasing to note the National Trust’s support for his decision regarding the Rocla proposal and the Government’s commitment to phase out sand mining on the Kurnell Peninsula.

 

The Minister then noted:-

 

“…it is especially gratifying to note the Trust’s support for the preparation of the Sydney Construction Materials Strategy.”

 

“I can assure you that the development of the Strategy will examine all material information regarding supply, demand and current and potential sources of sand to supply the Sydney market. The Strategy will certainly examine additional opportunities to supply sand and aggregate from recycled materials. It will also examine past and current rehabilitation practices and identify best practices which should be applied to the environmental management and rehabilitation of various types of quarries.”

 

The Board of the National Trust has recently adopted a “National Trust Position Paper – Sand Extraction detailing the history of the Trust’s actions, our concerns and proposals.