North Arm Cove Initiative

Initiative for preserving and sustainably developing part of the unique Australian urban heritage.
Building sustainable, resilient community for 21st century.
More than 3000 lots on the urban layout planned by Walter Burley Griffin 1918
In collaboration with community of North Arm Cove land owners and their association NACRPA

North Arm Cove Initiative - Facebook Page

Media

Sydney Morning Herald: “The fight to revive Walter Burley Griffin’s lost city”

ABC Sydney Radio: Afternoons Broadcast Tue 28 Feb 2023

Architecture & Design: Designing a city influenced by 20th century vision

The beginnings

The Worimi people are traditional custodians of the land of Port Stephens Area, with a rich cultural heritage and history that stretches back thousands of years, the Worimi people have been stewards of the land and marine environment, which they consider sacred. The community is known for its unique language, customs and traditions, which have been passed down orally from generation to generation. Today, the Worimi people are committed to preserving their cultural heritage, while also working towards sustainable economic development and social justice for their community. The Worimi people continue to share their knowledge, art and stories with the wider community, celebrating their cultural identity, and preserving the legacy of their ancestors.

The first Australian Agriculture Company was formed by an Act of the British Parliament and incorporated by royal charter on 1 November 1824 for the cultivation and improvement of waste lands in the colony of New South Wales. In 1826 its headquarter was established with in Port Stephens village of Carrington. The company's operations in Port Stephens included wheat cultivation, cattle and sheep farming, and timber harvesting. The company was also involved in developing the infrastructure of the Port Stephens area, building roads and wharves for transportation and storage of goods. The Australian Agriculture Company played an important role in the growth and development of the Australian agricultural industry, and its impact is still seen today in the thriving rural communities in the Port Stephens region.

Port Stephens City Heritage Story

*‘One of Griffin’s most elegant essays in site planning’*, **Peter Harrison, Australian town planner**
Original plan by Walter Burley Griffin, approved by Stroud Shire Council at the meeting on 6th May 1918

Original subdivision with over 100ha of proposed open space, in addition to long coastline and wide boulevards lined by trees.

Current MidCoast Council work on LEP disregards past approvals for URBAN development at North Arm Cove and treats the area as RURAL, proposing down-zoning of the area to Environmental.

Location map of North Arm Cove from the Hunter Regional Plan 2041. Map clearly indicate that NAC is surrounded by large areas of natural conservation and that adding further 7.5 square kilometers of NAC land to Environmental Protection would have no significant benefits.

Current situation in “non-urban” area is that reflecting neglect of past few decades. Area is used for dumping rubbish, including asbestos, claring of land and poaching timber for firewood.

Failure of planning - URBAN Community in the Rural Strategy

Local community of landowners has actively participated in the process of creating Council’s strategic documents and new Local Environmental Plan. Thousands of submissions have been provided on various draft documents, from Zone In review, Local Community Plans and Community Strategic Plans. Overwhelming majority of these submissions have been in support of substantiated community’s proposals for sustainable urban development. Final documents for Rural Strategy had over 65% of submissions related to Paper Subdivisions. All of this has been disregarded and Rural Strategy proposed down-zoning of North Arm Cove into Environmental Zoning.
All this despite Council’s Paper Subdivision Analysis Report, part of Rural Strategy, despite claims of being “comprehensive review”, didn’t include basic economic analysis of calculating land values as result of proposed down-zoning to Environmental Management - that was outside of the project’s scope.
While Report has concentrated on overstating constraints of development, it has completely failed to address significant OPPORTUNITIES for sustainable URBAN development - provision of desperately needed housing, employment, education and healthcare for future generations.

Down-zoning North Arm Cove into Environmental Zone would also mean a loss of a significant part of Australian urban planning heritage, opportunity to learn from the past and improve the future.

MidCoast Council’s disregards for previous approvals for URBAN development at North Arm Cove are also disregard for NSW’s and Hunter Region’s strategies clearly outlined in Planning Priorities of Hunter Regional Plan 2041

Hunter Regional Plan 2041 - Greater Newcastle (including Port Stephens)

Priority for housing in areas 30min from Newcastle International Airport (Williamtown Special Activation Precinct)

Hunter Regional Plan 2041 - Coastal District

PLANNING PRIORITY 1:
Prioritize housing growth in existing urban areas and support sustainable communities

PLANNING PRIORITY 2:
Offer more diverse housing choices

PLANNING PRIORITY 6:
Consider historical paper subdivisions

Council’s investigation has confirmed that provision of local water and sewerage treatment is possible. Expected investment would be about $60,000/lot with expected uplift in land values of $300,000/lot.

With Council owning 1000 lots, investment of $60mil would bring $300mil in improved asset value. That is in addition to providing affordable housing and employment.

Our research into cost-effective, sustainable options for development of historic subdivision of North Arm Cove was awarded international recognition - SEEDS Conference 2022, Bristol, UK.

We need to learn to do things differently

Circular Economy’s alternative for Planning and Design

Measurable outcomes on three basic bottom lines - Social, Environmental and Economic. And two additional Innovation and Esthetic.

Case study project for preserving and developing part of Australian unique urban heritage. Building sustainable, resilient community for 21st century. More than 3000 lots on the urban layout planned by Walter Burley and Marion Mahony Griffin in 1918
- LEARN MORE about North Arm Cove history
- LEARN MORE about Griffins’ planning vision