The future of Tomaree Lodge at Shoal Bay has become the latest hot election topic in the Hunter with both Liberal and Labor candidates for Port Stephens vowing to keep the site in public hands.
Port Stephens MP Kate Washington this morning pledged that under a Labor Government in NSW, the site would remain in public hands, calling on the Government to "come clean on its plans".
Following this announcement, Liberal Party Candidate, Jaimie Abbott has said the NSW Government will "guarantee" the Tomaree Lodge will not be sold off.
Kate Washington said the Government had refused to disclose their plans for the site, other than to say its future would be determined by Property NSW, whose job it is she says is to "sell surplus land".
"Property NSW sold off the Mambo Wetlands. We do not want to see a 'For Sale' sign put up on this site," she said.
However, Jaimie Abbott has made her position clear, saying the site definitely will not be sold off.
"I'm really pleased to announce the New South Wales Government will guarantee that Tomaree Lodge will remain in public hands," she said.
"Tomaree Lodge is strongly supported by the local community and I'm really pleased to see it will be kept for community use and as an open space."
Both candidates confirmed the site's tenure as a residential disability care service will still come to an end in 2020 as planned. About 30 residents still live in the facility, but will be relocated to allow for new possible uses of the site.
It's still unclear what the site will be used for in future, but both the Liberal and Labor parties say it's sure to be used as a community site.
"The site is not expected to be vacated until late 2019 or early 2020. Over this time the Berejiklian Government will consult with the community on the best use for the site," Jaime Abbott said.
"The future of the site will be in the hands of community. They can determine what will work best on the site," Kate Washington said.
"I know that the community has a number of ideas for what they'd like to see there."
The pledges come as a victory for the eight Port Stephens community groups who have formed the 'Friends of Tomaree Headland' and advocated for the site remaining public in perpetuity.
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| Port Stephens MP Kate Washington today at the Tomaree Lodge to pledge it would remain public, an announcement echoed by Liberal candidate Jaime Abbott. |
