A lot has changed at Little Manly in the last few years, with major redevelopment and demolition along the beach and new facilities up the hill at Little Manly Point. Now, Council wants to hear from community groups and businesses with a proposal to make use of a federation cottage right on the beachfront. Any takers?
You’ve got about a week left to submit your idea, with Northern Beaches Council is seeking expressions of interest (EOI) from community groups to lease or license 34 Stuart Street, Manly to deliver community cultural, social, recreational, environmental or education programs and services, due by 26 September.
This is part of the Council’s Little Manly Reserves Landscape Masterplan which involves redeveloping the foreshore to be more community friendly.
The heritage-listed building, located between the carpark on Craig Avenue and the boat storage at 36 Stuart Street Manly, is a single-storey Federation Queen Anne style weatherboard house.
Council has owned the property since 1977 and has leased it out as a residential property.
The building is 150 square meters, consists of three bedrooms, a kitchen and a bathroom.
“It will be available for community groups to offer services and programs to the community,” Council’s statement reads.
Over the years, community groups have floated a few ideas for the space, including a recreational business supplying kayaks (given 36 Stuart Street is currently a boat storage facility) or an indigenous cultural education centre.
The caveat is the land is only authorised for use as a residential premises (zoning RE1 Public Recreation). The successful tenant will need to submit a Development Application (DA) to authorise their service and will have to bear the cost of the application and any associated fees. The lease will be for up to five years.
The site will be open for inspection on Thursday 26 September at 10:30am.
The Big saga of Little Manly
The debate on the best use for Little Manly Reserve has been going on for decades, and until recently, has been a fight between community members and Council. Save Little Manly Beach goes in depth on the decisions over the years from a community perspective, and we’ve summarised it below.
Both 34 and 36 Stuart Street has been council owned since 1977 and 1998, respectively.
As early as 2007, Manly Council considered purchasing 38 Stuart Street (the only address not owned by Council today) before changing its mind and putting forward a motion to rezone Little Manly for residential use. This was rejected. They tried once again in 2011, where the motion was almost passed before being rescinded after the local community loudly voiced their objections.
In 2012, Council purchased 40 Stuart Street for $4.225 million. The purchase put a massive dent in Manly Council’s budget, so they decided to sell 34 and 36 Stuart Street for private residential use. This led to Save Little Manly Beach Foreshore Inc taking Manly Council to the Land and Environment Court twice in 2013 and again in 2014. The Council’s argument was that 34 and 36 Stuart Street were operational land, while community members argued that it was defined as community land (according to Save Little Manly Beach Foreshore Inc, Manly Council had a resolution in 2008 which stated number 36 as community land), which Council is unable to sell. The Court ruled in favour of the community and Manly Council had to fork out $200,000 to cover court and legal costs.
In 2017, a year after the amalgamation of councils, Northern Beaches Council motioned for Council to prepare a masterplan for Little Manly Reserve. A draft Masterplan went on public exhibition in 2019.
The main points from the community consultation were keeping the kiosk but expanding seating options, dismissing Council’s idea of a boardwalk, resolving safety issues around Craig Avenue (currently a small car park and boat ramp), adding in new public amenities, upgrading the local playground, enhancing of the landscape and leasing 34 Stuart Street to a recreational business.
In 2019, the plan was adopted by council and in 2023 construction to upgrade the seawall began (which saw historical Aboriginal remains being found, read about it in more detail here).
So far, this year, a new toilet block has been built at Little Manly Point, the playground has been upgraded and as for that $4 million home at 40 Stuart Street, that caused havoc for Manly Council, demolition began in August this year and the area will be incorporated into Little Manly Beach Reserve.
Amongst all of this is 38 Stuart Street – the only property privately owned.
In 2018, Council rejected the owner’s application to modify the original Development Application (which was to demolish and build two dwellings) and add beach access to the property.
As a result, the property went on the market and was sold for $15 million in 2019. The land value is estimated at close to $8 million. So, not much chance of Council buying it anytime soon and it will remain a home, with an incredible view, in a beautiful community reserve.
More information is available here.
