Port Macquarie's Coastal Walk from Westport to Lighthouse, has 9km of pristine sandy beaches, rainforest, and headlands fringed in native vegetation. No wonder Port Macquarie is an eco-tourism destination.
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Few residents and visitors know that these highlights of Port Macquarie's Coastal Walk are the legacy of decades of community efforts and collaborative conservation campaigns. Led by residents against high-rise, who fought for public access to our headlands and waterways and to preserve precious habitat.
They persisted for decades, despite endless opposition from council, State Government and developers. The great irony of course, is that now it is these thriving green places that attract tourists and support our local economy
Krissa Wilkinson presents how this remarkable story unfolded at each location, and how residents who loved where they lived, worked on so many significant projects, from Westport to Lighthouse.
THE BATTLE FOR WINDMILL HILL, 1971 -1982
On 29 November 1971, in response to a high-rise proposal, a remarkable, 60 year old woman, Grace Easterbrook, held a meeting at her home and formed the Port Macquarie Conservation Society (PMCS).
Grace lobbied Council and State Government, including the first Liberal Minister for Conservation, Jack Beale; the State Planning Authority; the National Party Member for Lyne Bruce Cowan; and the Deputy Premier Sir Charles Cutler.
This grassroots, kitchen-table community campaign, was one of the most important events that shaped the town of Port Macquarie and saved much of its natural beauty from ugly high-rise development.
Grace Easterbrook also organised a petition of 1,000 signatures from concerned ratepayers and made an 11th hour deputation to council.
The controversy and interest in this issue led council to dramatically reverse their policy, and actually open the council chambers doors for the first time, so that the public and press could hear the debate firsthand at their 30 November meeting.
Under such scrutiny, council voted against the high-rise development, following Alderman Matesich's motion arguing the application would not enhance the ecology of the area in question.
On the same day, the editor of the Port Macquarie News, wrote "Port Macquarie is our little piece of nature's garden and we must at all costs ensure that we continue to preserve the historical small town feeling of Port Macquarie. Our town is still one of the most natural resorts along Australia's seaboard: most people can still rejoice at seeing the sun rising and setting on distant horizons".
Council's decision led to hundreds of town folk dividing themselves into two main camps. The first group represented the conservationists and nature lovers. To counter this particular movement, the Port Macquarie Progress Association was formed by businessmen, land developers, real estate agents and other financially interested people.
On 18 January 1973 the PMCS purchased a full-page advertisement in the Port Macquarie News.
The minute book of the PMCS, supported by Port News archives, provide an insight into the strategies Grace Easterbrook and PMCS, would use for another ten years, opposing countless high-rise development proposals for Windmill Hill, lobbying politicians and councillors, fighting for public access to our headlands and foreshores, for coastal protection and a town plan with appropriate development controls, building heights and sight lines to preserve our heritage.
In 1982, 11 years after numerous proposals for high rise at Windmill Hill, Grace Easterbrook, supported by the National Parks Association (NPA), persuaded Paul Landa (Minister for the Environment in the Wran Labor Government), to purchase Windmill Hill to establish a nature reserve and protect it from high-rise development.
Demolition of the houses on the headland began in March 1982 and this set the scene for the coastal walk.
In 1984, Grace Easterbrook died but other members of the PMCS, including the late Phyl Tuite took up her campaign and eventually all of the houses were removed from Windmill Hill
THE DOCTOR'S WAY 1987-1988
In the 1980s, Port Macquarie was small enough that local doctors knew each other, and all were members of the Port Macquarie Medical Association.
Local Dr Peter Reed thought it would be a great idea if the doctors could do something for the community and suggested in 1987, that a coastal walk would be a good bi-centennial project, to encourage residents to enjoy our beautiful coastline as well as healthy exercise.
Initially the idea was a linking series of beach walks from West Port to the Lighthouse. Dr Reed met with council's parks and gardens director, Paul Pontifex, and they walked the path around the planned route, planning to install steps for access at Oxley and follow the contours, up to Mrs Easterbrook's lookout.
They constructed The Doctor's Way, from Flagstaff to Windmill Hill, under supervision of Paul Pontifex from council.
Dr Kevin Alford recalled that almost every doctor in the medical association contributed financially, which paid for the materials.
Working bees ran over several weeks with 6-8 doctors and their families digging trenches, building steps and balustrades under the supervision and support of Paul Pontifex and council crew.
KOOLOONBUNG CREEK 1974-1985
From 1974 the Port Macquarie Conservation Society also lobbied the Hastings Municipal Council for the protection and preservation of Kooloonbung Creek, concerned for ' the green lung of town', a valuable 67 hectares of wilderness right in the heart of Port Macquarie.
Unaware of the role mangroves play as fish nurseries, there was a grand plan to fill the wetlands for sports fields and units.
In a 1974 letter to Milo Dunphy, Director of the Total Environment Centre, Grace Easterbrook said Kooloonbung, was a designated sanctuary and wildlife reserve in early maps of the colony and that beautiful, historic Port Macquarie's unique and charming character should be preserved.
In 1977 the National Parks and Wildlife Service declared a policy to preserve the diminishing wetlands of NSW and the Conservation Society suggested that Kooloonbung Creek be included in the list for preservation. That this 67-hectare wildlife reserve, with its forests, woodlands, lagoon, mudflats and mangroves provides a viable habitat for aquatic birdlife and marine creatures.
In 1979, council commissioned a planning study of the Kooloonbung Creek area that recommended that the area should be managed as a natural ecosystem.
In October 1984 vice president Phil Tuite submitted the bi-centennial application for the Native Botanical Gardens project.
It is a brackish, swampy and sometimes wide area of water. Diverse bird population, particularly migratory types, the area serves as a buffer zone to the expansion of Port Macquarie.
Phil declared the aims of the PMCS as the encouragement for and the protection of a better, more beautiful environment.
Kooloonbung is listed as meaning a saltwater swamp or seeds beside a creek in the Birpai language.
On 19 April 1985 the NSW Government declared the Kooloonbung Creek area a Public Reserve for the promotion of the study and preservation of native flora and fauna, recognising that beyond the arboretum on Gordon street there are seven distinct habitats.
The Friends of Kooloonbung continue to care for the park, and guide visitors and school groups.
In May 1985 following the announcement of the bi-centennial funding the editorial in the Port Macquarie News included the following comment.
Far sighted people, such as the Conservation Society have long campaigned to retain the area and for once they have had very little opposition to their efforts.
The money will be used not to 'develop' the area but rather to ensure that it remains a nature reserve and to provide the public with some limited means of appreciating this natural heritage.
On 11 November 1988 Cath Le Page spoke at the official launch - "What I and the other members of The Friends and the Conservation Society have been concerned to do is to show a true and practical regard for the environment".
SEA ACRES 1981-2010
From 1981 National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) supported by the PMCS planned a nature reserve from Nobby Head to Tacking Point.
In 1987 Sea Acres, the 76-hectare park was finally declared a Nature Reserve on 11 March and gazetted as a National Park in October 2010 under the National Parks & Wildlife Act of 1974.
The primary purpose for dedication of Sea Acres Nature Reserve was to preserve an area containing significant geological features and an outstanding remnant of coastal littoral rainforest for an area so far south and because of its important scientific and educational value.
The littoral rainforest which covers a significant area of the reserve is one of the largest and least modified remnants of littoral rainforest in New South Wales. Its species diversity is nearly double that of other coastal rainforest sites surveyed in the area.
In 1989 The Hawke Labor Government's grant of $1 million dollars funded the construction of Sea Acres Rainforest Centre and the 1.3 kilometre boardwalk under the National Rainforest Conservation Program.
According to former NPWS Officer Harry Creamer, the grant made an enormous difference and meant that there was a visitor centre to inform and inspire people about the value of special places.
The 1980s, when Sea Acres was protected, was still a time when ordinary people were listened to and jewels in our environment were protected.
In 2009-2010 the southern end of the Coastal Walk, from Shelly Beach, through Sea Acres to Miners Beach and the Lighthouse was completed by the National Parks & Wildlife Service by constructing pathways, walkways, and a lookout platform, and adding signage.
WESTPORT PARK 2007-2012
In 2007, in response to concerns raised by the community about open space being developed by private commercial interests, the Foreshore Protection Association was formed, including members of the of the PMCS, Steve and Jackie Cartwright.
In 2009, Hands Off Our Foreshores were still rallying against the State Government's plans to give public land at Westport Park to private enterprise.
In 2012, when the State Government gazetted Westport Park, supported by Nationals MP Leslie Williams, it was another victory of public access over profit and completed the initial vision of a walk from Westport to Lighthouse.
GRACE EASTERBROOK'S LEGACY
Grace is remembered as someone who knew the importance of taking a stand on a principle and how to successfully advocate for it.
NPA member Frank Dennis, said Grace had an enormous influence still reflected in the character of Port Macquarie today. It was her campaigning and initial lobbying on high-rise which led the council to put in place a plan for appropriate development controls for building heights in Port Macquarie.
Grace Easterbrook understood that it was the ocean front and beaches, the lakes, rivers and waterways and wetlands, the coastal forests and mountains that made Port Macquarie such a special and attractive place to live.
Grace knew that urban development should fit into this landscape, not dominate it, destroying the all-important landscape features which made it so special.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Beyond these walking tracks, we must give thanks to other achievements of the PMCS, including saving the sightlines of our heritage, our Historic Courthouse and Mrs York's Garden from development.
We must also acknowledge the many people who contributed, from many families in the Hastings and from other organisations who supported and networked with the PMCS.
It must be acknowledged that Port Macquarie-Hastings Council constructed other sections of the Coastal Walk, linking the sites listed in this article. They do a great job maintaining, upgrading and promoting our walks.
In addition, they provide an outstanding library service, with wonderful staff, that enables people like me, academics, writers, journalists and researchers to do our jobs.
This story is a celebration of community contribution and claiming public access, to public space over profit driven, private development.
People who loved living in Port Macquarie who wanted to preserve it, worked so hard, so that we can enjoy this beauty today.
We must not be complacent.
REFERENCES/ SOURCES
- Port Macquarie Conservation Society Minute Books 1971-1981 & 1983 -1987
- Port Macquarie News archives Port Macquarie Library
- Personal conversations with Associate Professors Peter Reed and Kevin Alford September 9, 2019
- https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au Parks-reserves-and-protected-areas
- https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/-/media/OEH/Corporate-Site/Documents/Parks-reserves-and-protected-areas/Parks-plans-of-management/sea-acres-nature-reserve-plan-of-management-950097.pdf