An iconic Sydney Harbor island will be returned to the Indigenous community, and the NSW government will allocate $ 43 million for its restoration.
Key points:
- The island is one of 13 in Sydney Harbor National Park
- The $ 43 million will pay for projects such as dock improvements and asbestos removal
- The vice-president of the Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Lands Council says the return must take a long time
Me-Mel, also known as Goat Island, is one of the 13 islands in Sydney Harbor National Park and was formerly inhabited by Bennelong and Barangaroo.
NSW Prime Minister Dominic Perrottet on Sunday announced the first step in the transfer process, which he said had been “in the process for decades”.
“Returning Me-Mel to the Aboriginal community is the right thing to do,” Perrottet said.
“A big part of my commitment is to make sure the island is remedied before it is transferred to the Aboriginal community.”
The money will be invested for four years and will cover maintenance tasks that include repairing the island’s buildings, improving water and sewer services, removing asbestos and restoring the pier.
The site, declared a State Heritage Site, includes more than 30 buildings dating back to the 1830s. It was formerly used as a home for gangs of convicted workers.
The island is home to more than 30 heritage buildings. (Provided by: NSW government)
Perrottet said he hoped the island would attract both interstate and international tourists once the relocation was complete and the site opened to the public.
“This [island] is the jewel in the crown of Sydney Harbor and has sat here latently for many years.
“It tells the great dream story of our city, our state and our country.”
Me-Mel is important in the history of Boora Birra creation, where the great spirit of the eel created the waterways known today as Sydney Harbor.
Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Lands Council Vice President Yvonne Weldon said the relocation of Me-Mel had to be done for a long time.
“It’s been a long time coming, it’s so important for us to be able to do it right,” Ms. Weldon said.
“Me-Mel is a place where we can go to be within our culture, pass on the culture to our younger generations and share it with other people.”
Ms. Weldon says it’s important to get the process right. (Twitter: Councilor Yvonne Weldon)
A 12-member committee will be established to develop a business case and make recommendations for the relocation of the island.
The group will determine how the island is managed and how it will be used in the future.
The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) has asked for expressions of interest from members of the indigenous community who want to join the committee.
“This [island] it is Eora’s cultural … sacrosanct place, “said Nathan Moran, director general of the Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council.
“We hope that this cultural space will be returned to us, managed by us but for the benefit of all.”
The move is expected to take place in 2026.
The rehabilitation of the island will be done in parallel with the work of the Me-Mel transfer committee. (Provided by: NSW government)