Peat Island and Mooney Mooney

Unlocking and revitalising Peat Island and its affiliated lands at Mooney Mooney, which are currently zoned to reflect their former institutional uses.

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A place of great significance

Peat Island and Mooney Mooney is a place of great significance, especially to Traditional Owners and Aboriginal communities, the local community and those with links to Peat Island’s institutional past.

In 2021 we sought to rezone Peat Island and Mooney Mooney for new land uses including an activated foreshore and open spaces, community facilities, new homes and job opportunities.

We consulted widely and listened to the community’s views to develop a planning proposal that recognises and protects the site’s significant Aboriginal and European heritage.

The proposal was lodged with Central Coast Council and placed on public exhibition for 3 months from 20 September to 20 December 2021, to give the community and other interested stakeholders time to review, consider and respond.

After careful consideration of the submissions and feedback, the planning proposal was withdrawn while the next steps are determined.

Alt text to be added. — Peat Island buildings at Mooney Mooney.

Peat Island’s Aboriginal history and institutional past

In October 2022, a deed of agreement for the transfer of ownership of Peat, or Kooroowall-Undi, to the Darkinjung Local Aboriginal Land Council was executed.

The land council had submitted a land claim for Peat Island and sought to use it to further economic and cultural opportunities for the local Aboriginal community and all Australians.

The land council is considering the development of an Aboriginal Discovery Centre, Indigenous Walking Path and cultural tourism opportunities that will help preserve the area’s rich Aboriginal cultural heritage in ways that will also respect Peat Island’s past institutional use.

Proposed development and works on Peat Island and Mooney Mooney will be subject to separate planning assessment processes including extensive public consultation.

To prepare the island for return to the land council, we are undertaking maintenance work on the island and its associated foreshore sites at Mooney Mooney. We will restore the island’s music bowl roof, demolish derelict structures to address significant health and safety risks, and clean up debris.

Overgrown vegetation on the mainland foreshore has been cleared.

Next steps

We will work with the Darkinjung Local Aboriginal Land Council to develop its vision for Peat Island to be used in ways that will create economic and cultural opportunities for the local Aboriginal population and all Australians.

Background

In late 2016, a revised planning proposal was lodged with Central Coast Council.
In March 2017, the council endorsed the planning proposal. It was then lodged with the Department of Planning.
A gateway determination was achieved on 10 August 2017, subject to conditions.
Extensive technical studies, public and other stakeholder consultation and public hearings were undertaken.
In September 2021, a planning proposal to rezone Peat Island and affiliated lands at Mooney Mooney to allow a mix of public and community space, cultural tourism and residential land uses was lodged with Central Coast Council.
The proposal was placed on public exhibition for 3 months period, supported by additional community information webinars and a drop-in session.
In May 2022, the planning proposal was withdrawn. In October 2022, a deed of agreement for the pending transfer of ownership for Peat Island to Darkinjung Local Aboriginal Land Council was executed.

Peat Island and Mooney Mooney Community Reference Group

The Community Reference Group’s role is to help guide the future use of community facilities and public spaces as part of the revitalisation of Peat Island and Mooney Mooney.

This community forum is chaired by former Federal Government Minister and Mooney Mooney resident, Jim Lloyd. Members have been selected with different roles and interests in the community.