Newcastle council has endorsed a proposal to list Newcastle Recreation Reserve excluding the old Newcastle Bowling Club site on the State Heritage Register.
The council voted (11-1) on Tuesday to endorse the NSW Heritage Council's proposed nomination, which does not include King Edward Headland Reserve - the club site successfully claimed by the Awabakal Aboriginal Land Council in 2018.
The council's motion noted it had previously endorsed the entire reserve for inclusion on the register, but that occurred prior to Awabakal taking ownership of the 0.6 hectare coastline site.
Cr John Mackenzie (GRN), who moved an unsuccessful amendment to include the land in the council's motion, said there "was nothing to suggest that any aspect of the heritage value of the site" had change since 2016 when the council endorsed it.
"A change of ownership does not impact on the heritage values," he said. "On what heritage basis is that area being excluded?"
Crs John Church and Kath Elliott (IND) argued for the council to send a "clear message" by endorsing the "whole area", but Cr Nelmes (ALP) said it already done so and the Heritage Council had chosen to exclude the club site after its previously rejected nomination.
Cr Mackenzie said he disagreed with Awabakal CEO Rob Russell, who argued in a presentation to council last week that the listing would prevent development.
"Listing of this land, and the consequential environmental controls, would negatively impact on Awabakal land council's opportunities to achieve any financial reward to distribute to its community," Mr Russell said.
"It will, in fact, do the opposite and become a financial burden as site owners are responsible for maintaining the heritage values."
Cr Mackenzie said it would "prevent a certain type of development" but any proposal "not attentive" to the surrounding area would be "unlikely to see its way through the development application approval process anyway".
Mr Russell, who described the land as "the premier piece of real estate in Newcastle", said the listing would kill-off a tourism-style facility, and the construction and ongoing jobs it would create.
"Any structure built on this site will need to be architecturally significant and will ultimately be a key destination in Newcastle," he said.
"As well as an opportunity for Awabakal land council to return Aboriginal culture to King Edward Park as part of any operational facility."
Friends of King Edward Park questioned the lawfulness of the previously rejected nomination and current process in a written submission to the Heritage Council.
Minister Don Harwin will determine the nomination.
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