The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) and the Worimi Conservation Lands Board of Management (WCLBM) have joined forces on a new facility at Anna Bay.
Construction on the single-storey office and two-storey works depot, at 4154 Nelson Bay Road, is expected to be completed in early 2024, weather permitting.
NPWS Hunter Central Coast director Kylie Yeend participated in a ground-breaking ceremony with Worimi elders, members of the WCLBM and NPWS staff during the week.
“Uncle Neville Lilley gave a Welcome to Country and a traditional smoking ceremony was led by Worimi Aboriginal owners to cleanse the site and bless the new project,” she explained.
“We’re so excited to have broken ground on our office, which will bring up to 40 local Hunter Coast NPWS staff together on the same location for the first time.
“We have more than 20 national parks and conservation areas across the Hunter Coast area.
“As our team has expanded to care for these areas, we’ve outgrown our current leased office space in Nelson Bay and works depot in Boat Harbour.
“Having everyone together on the same site will enable us to better protect and manage the precious environments that make the Hunter Coast region so special.”
Worimi Conservation Lands board chair Jamie Tarrant highlighted the value of the jointly-funded project.
“The site of the new build is part of the Worimi Conservation Lands (WCL), which is an Aboriginal-owned park co-managed by the Worimi Conservation Lands Board and NPWS,” he said.
“The office will also provide a meeting place for the Worimi Conservation Lands Board and allow for better communication and strengthen the co-management relationship between NPWS and the WCL board.”
Although the premises will have a public reception area, it will not function as a visitor centre.
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