Mounties Group has lodged a Development Application (DA2026/1236) to transform the fenced-off eastern carpark at Harbord Diggers into “a public open space for passive outdoor recreation,” as part of the revitalisation of McKillop Park on the Freshwater headland promised seven years ago.
The $2.7 million DA proposes demolition of the existing carpark and a landscape-led renewal of the 4.5-hectare site, including:
- a nature walk from Lumsdaine Drive to Harbord Diggers
- sandstone stairs
- mounded open spaces and communal spaces
- a ‘Mother and Child’ statue
- a ‘Whale Lookout’ area
- addition of Letham’s Memorial
- upgraded access to, and commemoration of, the ANZAC and Duke Kahanamoku memorials
- expanded heathland planting
The DA will go on public exhibition from 24 September to 22 October 2026.
“We’re delighted to have reached public exhibition, which is a significant milestone following years of planning, technical assessment and collaboration with Northern Beaches Council, Crown Lands, community organisations and other stakeholders,” a Mounties spokesperson told Manly Observer.
“As a community club, our focus has always been on getting the proposal right and ensuring it delivers the best possible outcome for the site and the broader Northern Beaches community.
“We now look forward to hearing the community’s feedback as part of the formal exhibition process.”
The backstory
As we reported earlier this month, the site at Crown Reserve 145 beside McKillop Park and near the Duke Kahanamoku statue and Surfers Walk within the Manly-Freshwater World Surfing Reserve, was used as a construction compound during the Harbord Diggers redevelopment. Under its agreement with landowner NSW Crown Lands, Mounties agreed to rehabilitate the land and return it for “community use” once construction wrapped up in 2019.
Concerned community members, along with Curl Curl ward councillors Joeline Hackman and Kristyn Glanville, have long advocated for the site’s return as open public space, and have raised concerns that formulating and lodging a development application was taking far too long. Seven years, in fact.
However, Mounties say the project has required ongoing collaboration between multiple stakeholders and government authorities due to the site being owned by NSW Crown Lands. According to the Statement of Environmental Effects, a pre-lodgement meeting with Northern Beaches Council in May 2024 resulted in Council advising that the work could be assessed under Part 5 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979, with Council itself acting as proponent. That was confirmed in a follow up meeting in July 2025.
However, Council later found it would require setting up a formal Public-Private Partnership under the Local Government Act 1993, a process needing Ministerial approval and up to two years to complete.
Given that, Council advised in August 2025 that Mounties should instead lodge a conventional Development Application, to be independently assessed by the Northern Beaches Local Planning Panel (NBLPP). This resulted in additional planning, assessment, and consultation requirements before a DA could be lodged.
Councillors welcome the DA, but want more
Cr Hackman and Cr Glanville, who have both been vocal about the delays, gave a mixed response to the plans.
Cr Glanville said the proposal was respectable, but was also a missed opportunity.
“I am disappointed that there was not deeper consultation with the local community about what they wanted from the site, rather than merely being asked to comment on a pre-formulated plan,” she said.
“For example, I think the community would like to see an expansion of the Surfers Walk to update it with more recent surfers, particularly female surfers.
“I also think the community would have liked more of a space for community events, but the sitting areas and spaces are fairly compact.”
Mounties reiterated that during the development of the DA, they consulted “Northern Beaches Council, Crown Lands, community organisations and other stakeholder groups.”
Cr Hackman was equally pleased the DA had been lodged, however, said locals imagined the space to be more in line with somewhere like Darling Quarter, with play, seating, shade and space for families to take in the view.
“The proposal has some strong elements, like coastal planting, walking connections, lookouts and recognition of our ANZAC and surfing heritage, but the community wants to see it become more of a true community park, with the kind of seating, shade, family-friendly spaces and reasons to stay that we see in great parks elsewhere, on the best headland in Sydney,” she told Manly Observer.
“I’d also love to see us recognise Layne Beachley [Manly’s former professional surfer].
“2028 would be a perfect opportunity, 30 years since her first world title and 25 years since her sixth consecutive world title.”
According to Cr Glanville, on updating Surfers Walk, Mounties indicated this would be a matter for Council.
Both councillors encouraged community members to make a submission during the exhibition period (24 September to 22 October 2026).
Read our earlier coverage:
Seven years on: Harbord Diggers carpark DA finally lodged for public return
