Peat Island: Gateway to the Hawkesbury

Join our campaign to keep Peat Island in community hands for future generations.

In September 2021, the situation is as follows:

The latest Peat Island Planning Proposal is now on

Public Exhibition

According to the NSW Government, the proposal aims to "open Peat Island to the public, while also revitalising Mooney Mooney with new housing, community facilities and job opportunities".

The community has made progress since previous iterations of plans to develop and privatise Peat Island lands and this latest proposal has been in the pipeline since 2016.

Key features of the latest proposal include: - Nearly 270 new houses at Mooney Mooney, - Retention of nine historical buildings on the island, and four on the mainland, - New retail and café or restaurant opportunities, - Approximately 9.65 hectares of open space, including opportunities for walking and cycling tracks, parklands and recreational facilities, - Retention of the chapel and surrounding land for community use, and - 10.4 hectares of bushland dedicated as a conservation area.

At first glance this is a vast improvement on previous proposals but could there be an even BETTER VISION for this iconic site?

For the past 12 months CEN has been championing the formation of the Dyarubbin Peat Island Lands Association (DPIA), an incorporated, not-for-profit community-driven movement to transform Peat Island and lands west of the M1 into the nationally and globally significant location it deserves to be.

We are now working with the Lower Hawkesbury River communities to campaign for a BETTER VISION for Peat Island Lands - a vision that incorporates culture, heritage, history, environment and community. Our vision has all the positives of the planning proposal with none of the negatives and will guarantee Peat Island's preservation as a public asset for future generations.

Sign up (see Friends of Peat Island on the right of this page) to receive updates about the new Association, including assistance with making a submission in response to the latest planning proposal and for more information about our a BETTER VISION.

Read more about the DPIA's BETTER VISION here DIPA_Presentation_2021.pdf

Follow the campaign on facebook

Read on below to find out how long CEN has been actively working to protect and enhance Peat Island from privatisation and over-development.

In February 2019, the situation was as follows:

“An Addendum Planning Proposal has been lodged with Council, who are working with Property NSW towards a public exhibition period in 2019, with rezoning gazettal later in the year.

This is a significantly improved proposal over the previous plans which would have overdeveloped the site, limited public access and seriously reduced the aesthetics from the Freeway.

The revised proposal includes the potential to open up more than 2 kilometres of public access along the foreshore and more than 21 hectares of open space for the community, including an 11 hectare expansion of the adjacent bushland and Popran National Park.”

On the western side of the M1:

• all the towers planned in 2014 now gone
• the major remaining residences are tucked up near the M1;
• on Peats Ferry Road leading down to the Deerubbin boat ramp there is a small group of houses on each side of the road, On the northern side there are some dwellings behind mangroves. On the southern side there are some houses on the back of that hill.
• CEN wants to see further improvements, with no loss of views from the M1 by adding sound barriers if residences are allowed.

On the eastern side of the M1:

• The Chapel becomes community, with likely Council ownership. The Chapel building would be both a church and a meeting room. Needs a small library and kitchen added although there is no allocated parking.
• There is some concern that the Revesby Workers Club will propose an old peoples’ home near the club.

What’s next:

The Central Coast Council Administrator promised a 3 month consultation period

Click here to read more about the proposal and watch the video

Thank you to everyone who helped to gain these improvements, keep involved so that we end up with the best result possible.

This is what was planned in 2014,

• 450 Houses
• Limited Public Waterfront Access
• Motorway Service Centre
• Houses on Tank Hill
• Buildings visible from Freeway
• 5 Storey buildings

Help CEN stop this over development that will cause:

• Loss of Public Land;
• Clearing of Hill;
• Houses, shops and service station in near pristine area;
• Freeway Sound barriers to enable housing;
• More sewerage into Hawkesbury
• Loss of views and amenity
• Loss  of Heritage Values.
• Minimal Public Waterfront Access

Contact your local MP and tell them you want Peat Island for everyone.
or Become a Friend of Peat Island to be kept informed – click here:

Save Peat Island and Pick Your Future

Rabbit Island 1900

Background;

Peat Island was originally established as a hospital for mental health patients. It has been closed for 5 years and the land is now being considered for other uses.

CEN supports:

• Aesthetic of the Hawkesbury Valley to be maintained;
• Public Use and Access Improved.

For Example:
The western area should be for day-trippers to stay at (picnic, walks, etc. places to buy food and for large numbers to move through, on to the river and the National Parks. There would be opportunity for basic waterfront camping and heritage buildings would hold displays on National Parks, Hospital and Tourism.”