ENCLOSURE

REPORT ON KINGS TABLELAND WENTWORTH FALLS

Compiled by City Planning Branch November 2006 File:C07886

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1. Background

At the 21 March 2006 Council Meeting a Notice of Motion was put before the Council on the Kings Tableland Plateau, Wentworth Falls. As a result the Council resolved:

That a report be submitted to Council on the Kings Tableland Plateau, Wentworth Falls, with particular reference to the Queen Victoria Hospital site, such report to address the following:

• adequacy of zoning and other planning controls; • preservation of environmental and cultural values in this unique area • protection of the surrounding world heritage areas; • protection of nationally endangered and regionally significant Blue Mountains swamps and the identification of adequate buffer areas; • protection of significant communities and species (both flora and fauna); • protection of indigenous sites and values; • assessment of the heritage values of the Queen Victoria buildings; • assessment of bushfire history and the risk to existing and potential future development; and • consideration of suitable size and location of any future development on Kings Tableland. (Minute No. 517, 21/03/06)

This Report (Report on Kings Tableland, Wentworth Falls) has been prepared in response to the above Council Resolution. The Report is structured into ten parts:

1. Background 2. Introduction to the Kings Tableland 3. Values of Kings Tableland including environmental, cultural, social and economic 4. Current land use in the Kings Tableland 5. Risks, including bushfire 6. Current threats to the values of Kings Tableland 7. Future development and the adequacy of current planning controls 8. Conclusion and Recommendations 9. Bibliography 10. Maps

Limitations of the Report This Report and the attached Maps were developed internally using existing information such as already published material, previous heritage, environmental or planning reports prepared by the Council or information collected during past development assessment processes (see the Bibliography for details). No new studies were commissioned in the preparation of this Report. It is also important to note that no community consultation was undertaken in the preparation of the Report. If community consultation was undertaken additional issues such as further social, environmental, cultural and economic values of the Tableland may have come to light, as well as additional issues in terms of future development. Moreover, relevant external agencies such as government departments were also not consulted.

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While there are limitations to this Report, given no community or agency consultation was undertaken, it is not recommended that this Report is publicly exhibited to seek community comment at this time. The conclusions of the Report do not recommend any major changes to the current planning regime, and the issues identified in the Report will be more comprehensively addressed as part of the review of LEP 1991 which will include community consultation. Given the time lag until the review of LEP 1991, community consultation at this stage is not considered appropriate.

Internal consultation was undertaken within the Council in preparing this Report, including consultation with specialist staff in Environmental Management, City Planning and Environmental and Customer Service.

This Report only provides an overview of the issues in the Notice of Motion and does not constitute a comprehensive Local Environmental Study or Environmental Management Plan of the area.

2. Introduction

Kings Tableland (the Tableland), Wentworth Falls is the major southerly spur of the main spine of the Blue Mountains Range and forms the beginning of the Southern Escarpment, an unbroken series of tall sandstone cliffs which fringes the Jamison, Megalong, Kanimbla and Hartley Valleys. On the western side of the Tableland, the massive cliffs of Kedumba Walls overlook the Jamison and Kedumba Valleys. On the eastern side of the Tableland the cliff edge is less steep and the area has been dissected by many creeks, some of which have formed deep gullies. From the western edge of the Tableland there are spectacular views across the Jamison and Kedumba Valley, while the eastern side affords views across the lower mountains and the Cumberland Plains to Sydney.

The majority of land on the Tableland (from the former Queen Victoria Hospital site to the most southerly point at McMahons Lookout) is within Blue Mountains National Park, where all private development is excluded. Private land ownership occurs mainly at the northern end of the Tableland (from the former Queen Victoria Hospital site to the Great Western Highway), and is confined along the main road (Tableland Rd) and some smaller roads leading off Tableland Rd (these include on the western side of Tableland Rd: Shortland St, Yester Rd, Maple Grove, Chester Rd, Hordern Rd, Coronation Drive, Little Switzerland Drive and on the eastern side: John St, Miller St, Daintrey St, Bodington Drive and Queen Elizabeth Drive). The Blue Mountains National Park surrounds and borders nearly all the private land at the northern end of the Tableland (see Map 1: Land Ownership and Heritage).

All of the Blue Mountains National Park, including the areas bordering Kings Tableland, forms part of the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area and therefore has international significance in terms of its natural values.

Except for an isolated parcel in private ownership (outside of the City boundary) all land south of the former Queen Victoria Hospital site is National Park (in addition some areas of National Park are also within the Water Catchment Special Area). Tableland Rd continues through the Blue Mountains National Park and terminates at the most southern end of the Tableland at McMahons Lookout. The southern boundary of the City of Blue Mountains is located just beyond the former Queen Victoria Hospital site.

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This Report examines the values, threats, land planning controls and development potential of the northern portion of Kings Tableland only where the vast majority of privately held land on the Kings Tableland exists. The Report area, from north to south, encompasses land along Tableland Rd (and subsidiary roads) from the Great Western Highway to the former Queen Victoria Hospital site, and all the land up to the National Park which borders the Tableland to the east, west and south. The Report primarily examines issues associated with private land, excluding National Park estate. However, as the area covered by the Report is surrounded by National Park estate, the importance of maintaining the natural and cultural values of the National Park and World Heritage Area is also covered.

3. Values of the Kings Tableland Area

The Southern Escarpment, including Kings Tableland, has previously been identified has having particular significance to the City of the Blue Mountains (BMCC 1989, p52-54) due to the: • unique and varied ecosystems created in a relatively small area; • presence of a relatively high proportion of environmentally sensitive vegetation communities, including heaths and hanging swamps; • the many waterfalls and cascades; • relatively pristine downstream catchments due to limited development impacts; • the very high intrinsic visual quality of the escarpment itself; • the views from the escarpment; • the significant recreational and tourism opportunities the escarpment offers; and • the Aboriginal and European cultural sites and history of the Southern Escarpment.

In addition, the Tableland has considerable social and economic value. A brief overview of the values of the Tableland is outlined below.

3.1 Natural Values of the Kings Tableland Area

Soils and climate

The Tableland is dominated by the sandy skeletal soils of the Hawkesbury series (BMCC, 1984, p4). The soils are shallow, particularly close to the cliffs. Deeper soils occur in isolated pockets and creek gullies. Soils on the Tableland have a low pH value, are generally infertile and erode rapidly if disturbed (ibid).

The shallow soils of the Tableland mean that small lots are generally inadequate to cater for full on-site effluent disposal. Agricultural activities such as grazing and any activity which involves large scale clearing is not suitable for the Tableland given the thin and sandy nature of the soils (ibid, p20). This is evident on the site of the former Deer Park off Hordern Rd, which is still environmentally degraded from the impacts of grazing despite the Deer Park being closed for a number of years. Kings Tableland, given its exposed location, is well known for the frequent high winds it experiences which have contributed to the development of the heath vegetation. High winds

City Planning Branch - November 2006 Page 4 of 33 File: C07886 have also contributed to erosion issues and have caused problems during construction of dwellings. The Tableland is particularly exposed on the western boundary.

Watercourses and groundwater

Three minor creeks on the western side of Tableland Rd above Hordern Rd run directly into Jamison Creek, and therefore contribute to the flow and water quality of Jamison Creek and Wentworth Falls (see Map 2: Significant vegetation and watercourses). The Falls are habitat for the threatened plant Micostrobus fitzgeraldii which is impacted by poor water quality and changes to natural flow regimes (Smith and Smith 1995, p28). The creeks on the eastern side of Tableland Rd flow into Erskine Creek and Blue Mountains National Park, where again it is a priority to maintain healthy watercourses.

Aquatic habitats, such as streams or creeks, are narrow linear ecosystems that have a limited overall extent within the landscape. Many relatively pristine examples have their headwater on the Tableland. A change in water quality or quantity can have a marked impact upon the range and quality of aquatic ecosystem habitats and biodiversity on the Tableland. Urban run- off will alter the quality and quantity of water within the streams and the biodiversity value of the waterway. Moreover, the impact derived from urban run-off may be present for many kilometres from the source.

The vegetation type Blue Mountains Swamp is one of the significant vegetation communities which dominate the Tableland (see below). This vegetation community is highly groundwater dependent and can be impacted from changes to both surface and groundwater flow regimes. Blue Mountains Swamps are of considerable ecological value to the Upper Mountains (BMCC 1986, p4). These swamps act as a sponge detaining subsurface water and sediment in upper catchments. Even minor changes in hydrological flow can result in impacts sufficient to cause a complete and permanent breakdown in ecological function that becomes apparent with the decline in extent and quality of the vegetation, a shift towards a similar vegetation type such as heath and even the loss of thousands of tonnes of sediment into the catchment within the swamp.

A discussion on how watercourses are protected under the current planning controls which exist on Kings Tableland, including buffers, can be found in Section 4 below.

Significant vegetation communities

A number of locally and nationally significant vegetation communities can be found on Kings Tableland (see Map 2: Significant vegetation and watercourses). These include: • Rainforest Ceratopetalatum apetalum - Doryphora sassafaras (Community 1A) • Tall Open Forest Eucalyptus deanei – E. piperita (Community 2E) • Open Forest/Tall Open Forest Eucalptus oreades (Community 2G) • Blue Mountains Heath and Scrub (Community 5A) • Blue Mountains Swamps (Community 5B) • Blue Mountains Riparian Complex (Community 6) • Blue Mountains Escarpment Complex (Community 7)

Six of these communities are significant at a local level (BMCC 2002a, p126), while the seventh, Blue Mountains Swamps, is a listed nationally endangered ecological community under the Commonwealth Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. As a consequence, approval of the Commonwealth Minister for the Environment and Heritage

City Planning Branch - November 2006 Page 5 of 33 File: C07886 is required for any developments which have a significant impact on Blue Mountains Swamps, including developments which may impact on hydrological conditions on which the swamps depend.

In addition, the Blue Mountains Heath and Scrub which occurs on the Tableland is considered the largest area of heath in the Blue Mountains (BMCC 1984, p6). The Kings Tableland Heath community being very large is of particular scientific value as it contains not only a complex mosaic of vegetation units but also shows examples of all gradations from heath to scrub and from heath to sedge swamp (ibid, p46). The Blue Mountains Heath and Scrub community on the Tableland also supports a number of bird species which are specialised heathland and swamp dwellers that are uncommon and regionally significant in the Blue Mountains, such as the Beautiful Firetail. The other significant vegetation communities on the Tableland also provide habitat for a range of native flora and fauna, including a number which are threatened (BMCC 2002a, p126).

A number of individual trees on the Tableland are also listed under the Council’s Significant Trees Development Control Plan No 9. This includes trees within Yester Grange, on Yester Rd and the grounds and gardens of the former Queen Victoria Hospital Site.

A discussion on how significant vegetation communities are protected under the current planning controls which exist on the Tableland, including buffers, can be found in Section 4 below.

Threatened Flora and Fauna

A study of the native flora and fauna between Katoomba and Wentworth Falls, which included Kings Tableland, recorded 558 native plant species (Smith and Smith 1995, p4) This diversity is typical of the Blue Mountains which is considered one of the richest floristic regions in Australia (ibid, p4). Blue Mountains flora is characterised by an unusual number of species with restricted distributions, many endemic to the region. Consequently, the Blue Mountains has one of the highest densities of rare species in Australia (ibid, p4).

The Smith and Smith study of Katoomba to Wentworth Falls recorded 43 species of plants which have special conservation significance at either a regional, local or statewide level (ibid, p4). Of these 43, the following have been recorded on Kings Tableland:

• Pultenaea glabra (DEC Wildlife Atlas) • Acacia baueri (DEC Wildlife Atlas) • Persoonia acerosa (DEC Wildlife Atlas) • Micostrobus fitzgeraldii (DEC Wildlife Atlas – this species is found at Wentworth Falls outside of Kings Tableland but is impacted by poor water quality and changes to natural flow regimes of creeks whose headwaters are on Kings Tableland and which flow to Jamison Creek) • Eucalpytus ligustrina (BMCC, 1984, p47) • Monotoca ledifolia (BMCC, 1984, p47) • Eucalyptus apiculata (Consoc, 2001) • Sprengelia monticola (Consoc, 2001) • Hakea constablei (Consoc, 2001)

The first four species on the above list are threatened species listed under the NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act and any development which has a significant impact on these

City Planning Branch - November 2006 Page 6 of 33 File: C07886 species requires a Species Impact Statement and the concurrence of the Dept of Environment and Conservation. Both Persoonia acerosa and Pultenaea glabra are found within the former Queen Victoria Hospital site.

The Blue Mountains also support a wide variety of fauna including one species endemic to the region, the Blue Mountains Water Skink (Smith and Smith 1995, p18). A total of 230 native fauna species have been recorded in the vicinity of Kings Tableland, including 26 mammals, 155 birds, 29 reptiles and 20 frogs (Urban Bushland 1999, p35). Out of these 230 species of fauna, 24 are listed as threatened species listed under the NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act and any development which has a significant impact on these species requires a Species Impact Statement and the concurrence of the Dept of Environment and Conservation. These include Eastern Pygmy-possum*, Spotted-tailed Quoll*, Yellow-bellied Glider*, Large-eared Pied Bat, Eastern False Pipistrelle, Common Bentwing Bat, Large footed Myotis, Glossy Back Cockatoo*, Gang Gang Cockatoo*, Swift Parrot*, Turquoise Parrot, Powerful Owl, Barking Owl, Sooty Owl, Masked Owl, Regent Honeyeater, Blue Mountains Water Skink*, Broad-headed Snake, Giant Burrowing Frog, Green and Golden Bell Frog, Booroolong Frog, Stuttering Frog, Red-crowned Toadlet and the Giant Dragonfly*. Of the above species, those marked with a (*) have also been recorded as occurring on Kings Tableland on the Wildlife Atlas of the Dept of Environment and Conservation. This includes a population of the Blue Mountains Water Skink on the former Queen Victoria Hospital site (this population has been included in this species’ Recovery Plan). An additional six bird species found on Kings Tableland (Beautiful Firetail, Southern Emu-wren, Brush Bronzewing, Tawny-crowned Honeyeater, Lewin’s Rail and Azure Kingfisher) are considered to have regional conservation significance (Smith and Smith 1995, p19).

A discussion on how rare and threatened flora and fauna are protected under the current planning controls which exist on Kings Tableland can be found in Section 4 below.

Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area

Nearly all private land on the northern section of the Tableland is either bordered by, or adjacent to, the Blue Mountains National Park. The Blue Mountains National Park forms part of the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area (GBMWHA). World Heritage listing is the highest level of international recognition that maybe given to an area, which acknowledges its outstanding international values and global significance. The GBMWHA was nominated on the basis of its unique natural values, predominantly on the basis of its outstanding examples of highly diverse ecosystems and communities of plants and animals, particularly eucalypt-dominated ecosystems.

One of the biggest impacts on the ecological integrity and therefore the World Heritage values of the GBMWHA are impacts from activities and developments outside the GBMWHA. These have been identified in the GBMWHA Strategic Plan (draft) as including: • properties adjoining the GBMWHA which are highly valued but are under pressure from increasing residential and tourism development (DEC 2005, p16); • the diversity of local government zonings and policies across the 12 different local government areas adjacent to the GBMWHA creating the potential for incompatible development or land use adjacent to the GBMWHA (DEC 2005, p16); and • incompatible land management of adjoining land by private land holders and government agencies (DEC 2005, p19).

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Under the Commonwealth Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 approval of the Commonwealth Minister for the Environment and Heritage is required for any developments which have a significant impact on the GBMWHA, whether they occur within or outside of the GBMWHA.

Bushland areas covered under BMCC LEP 1991, such as Kings Tableland, which directly border the GBMWHA are therefore particularly important in terms of avoiding impacts on the GBMWHA. As part of the review of LEP 1991, a key consideration will be avoiding or minimising the impacts developments could have on the GBMWHA. This mirrors the approach taken in BMCC LEP 2005, where one of the key objectives of the LEP was to maintain, conserve and enhance the world heritage values of the GBMWHA (BMCC 2005, Clause 12, p 1.6). The importance of conserving the values of the National Park is already recognised in LEP 1991 (which was gazetted before the listing of the GBMWHA) through Clauses such as 10.5(f) (which seeks to minimise the impacts of developments on the National Park within the Residential - Bushland Conservation Zone).

3.2 Cultural Values of the Kings Tableland Area

Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Values

No comprehensive Aboriginal cultural or archaeological assessment has been undertaken over the northern section of Kings Tableland. However, it is well established that Kings Tableland is highly significant to the Aboriginal community of the Blue Mountains. Kings Tableland is recognised as traditional land of the Gundungurra people. The Gundungurra Native Title Claim (over National Parks, vacant Crown land, State Forest and Sydney Water Catchment Special Areas south of the Great Western Highway), which is currently before the Federal Court, extends over Kings Tableland.

There are a number of recorded Aboriginal cultural sites located on Kings Tableland including open camp sites, occupation shelters, axe grinding grooves, stone arrangements and art sites including cave paintings and rock engravings (Stockton 1996, p57, DEC). One of the most significant of these is the Kings Tableland art site and occupation shelter on the north eastern side of the plateau which is listed as a heritage item in LEP 1991. This shelter is associated with a set of grinding grooves, and bird and kangaroo tracks are engraved on the wall of the shelter. Excavation of this shelter has revealed that Aboriginal people occupied the shelter 22,000 years ago (Stockton 1974, p42), making it the oldest dated Aboriginal site in the Blue Mountains (Stockton 1996, p32). Such a date is highly significant as it shows Aboriginal people living in the higher mountains, during the extreme cold and dry of the last Ice Age. Kings Tableland was also used as route by Gundungurra people to access the high ridges from the Megalong and Burragong Valleys (Stockton 1996, p58).

Kings Tableland is also the site of one of the first Aboriginal and European contacts in the Blue Mountains. Blaxland in his journal noted that they surprised, but did not see again an Aboriginal woodcutter on Kings Tableland, and that an unseen presence of groups of Aboriginal people followed them from Kings Tableland as far as Mt York (BMCC 1997, p48). There is likely to be other post contact heritage associated with Kings Tableland.

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As outlined above, no systematic surveys of Aboriginal sites has been undertaken for Kings Tableland, and potentially there are many more Aboriginal sites on the Tableland than those already recorded. The Sydney-Hawkesbury sandstone area, which includes the Blue Mountains, is recognised as one of the major rock art regions in Australia, along with places like the Kimberley, Kakadu and Arnhem Land (Flood, 1995, p148). Recent surveys for art sites in the lower Blue Mountains within the Blue Labrinyth, for instance, have resulted in numerous new Aboriginal site records.

The Aboriginal cultural values of Kings Tableland as outlined above are based on previous published material as no community consultation, including no Aboriginal community consultation, was undertaken to determine social or cultural values of the Tableland for this Report or to comprehensively identify Aboriginal sites on the Tableland. It is likely that there are other significant Aboriginal cultural values associated with the Kings Tableland than those outlined here, especially given the prominence of the Tableland as an environmental feature and the relative undisturbed bushland covering most of the Tableland.

The Kings Tableland shelter is the only Aboriginal heritage item listed in LEP 1991, and therefore the only site on the Tableland protected by LEP 1991’s heritage provisions. However, all Aboriginal sites in NSW are protected by the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Act which makes it an offence to destroy, damage or deface an Aboriginal site. BMCC’s Aboriginal cultural heritage study (Mapping Country) which is being undertaken jointly with Aboriginal communities, the Hawkesbury Nepean Catchment Management Authority and the Dept of Environment and Conservation, is aimed at improving our understanding of the Aboriginal cultural heritage across the Blue Mountains, including Kings Tableland. The project is due to conclude in December 2006 and will contribute to the review of LEP 1991 areas such as Kings Tableland. However, given the known Aboriginal cultural importance of Kings Tableland, the Council should consider a more detailed Aboriginal heritage study of the area, in consultation with Aboriginal communities, if major land use changes are considered in the future as part of the review of LEP 1991. It is recommended that any major development proposed for the Tableland should include an Aboriginal archaeological study and consultation with the Aboriginal community.

European Heritage Values

The first known European association with Kings Tableland is the arrival of explorers Blaxland, Wentworth and Lawson in May 1813, who set up camp it is believed near the present Hordern’s Rd (BMCC 1984, p11). The Tableland was named by Governor Macquarie in 1815, the name inspired by the “majestic grandeur of the situation” (quoted in BMCC 1984, p11). Early visitors were also similarly impressed by the scenic attractions and several vistas of Kings Tableland were painted by colonial artists (ibid).

The first vehicular access to Wentworth Falls was established in 1815 (BMCC 1997, p49). Before the turn of the century Kings Tableland began to be settled by Europeans. J L Hordern was granted 600 acres on either side of Tableland Rd in 1860, and built “Cherrywood”, which was later rebuilt when the original house burnt down. “Yester” (now “Yester Grange”) was built in the early 1870s by a Captain Smith. A country house built by Sir Kelso King later became the nucleus of the Queen Victoria Homes which opened as a tuberculosis sanatorium in 1903 and then later used as an aged care facility. The superintendent of the Queen Victoria Homes, Dr Malcom McIntrye Sinclair, later founded the Bodington Sanatorium (now Bodington Community Aged Care) in 1908 which he later sold to the Australian Red Cross

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(BMCC 1997, p50). By 1930s there were only three additional dwellings than the ones described above on Kings Tableland (BMCC 1984, p11).

The present subdivision pattern was established in the 1950s, including the establishment of residential lots around Yester Rd and Shortland St, and the creation of the ribbon development of lots along Tableland Rd, as well as the lots along Queens Elizabeth Drive, Hordern Rd and Little Switzerland Drive (BMCC 1984, p11). By 1958 only five houses were built at the upper northern area of Kings Tableland, including “Yester”, and further nine along Tableland Rd including “Cherrywood”. In the 1970s residential development expanded rapidly, which has continued up today. Currently, nearly every residential lot available for development on the Tableland has been developed, with very few undeveloped lots remaining (see discussion below in Section 7 for more detail). Bodington Hospital has been expanded and renovated in recent years, and continues to be used as an aged care facility. The Queen Victoria Hospital on the other hand was closed in 1999/2000 and then subsequently sold off by the State Government via public tender in 2000. The proposed re-development of the former Queen Victoria Hospital site in 2001 as the Queen Victoria Hospital Wellness Centre and Aged Care Facility by Longevity Management Systems was a controversial development that ultimately did not proceed as the applicant withdrew the development application and the company went into receivership. The site remains in private ownership and there is no current development application for the site before the Council.

Listed Heritage Items under LEP 1991

Currently there are eight heritage items listed in LEP 1991 for Kings Tableland (see Map 1: Land Ownership and Heritage). Only those items listed are accorded the protection of the Heritage Provisions of LEP 1991 (Clause 25).

ITEM No. DESCRIPTION Kings Table WF010 Aboriginal Site (under the management Dept of Environment and Conservation) Queen Victoria Sanatorium* WF025 Former Tuberculosis Hospital (Hospital) Land at Jamison Creek^ WF030 Recreation Reserve Cherrywood* WF024 Residence Yester Grange* WF027 Residence Jamison Creek* WF090 Public Reserve Bodington Hospital* WF047 Former Tuberculosis Hospital Mature Pine Streetscape^ WF048 300m Mature Radiata Pine Streetscape Jamison Valley Heritage K007 Public reserves including land within Blue Conservation Area Mountains National Park * Recently re-assessed items as part of the heritage review of LEP 1991 ^ Items yet to be assessed as part of the heritage review of LEP 1991

Five items have recently been re-assessed for their heritage values as part of the review of heritage items listed under LEP 1991. The re-assessment of these items has not yet been finalised and endorsed by the Council. The two most significant European items on Kings Tableland currently listed under LEP 1991 are the former Queen Victoria Hospital and the Bodington Hospital. As part of the re-assessment process, both of these items were assessed as having State heritage significance and therefore could be eligible for listing on the NSW State Heritage Register (to be included on the NSW State Heritage Register, a place or object must assessed as being of State significance). Once listed on the State Heritage Register by

City Planning Branch - November 2006 Page 10 of 33 File: C07886 the NSW Heritage Council and the Minister of Planning, an item is then legally protected as a heritage item under the NSW Heritage Act and approval is required from the NSW Heritage Council for any major changes to the item. Because the re-assessment of the five heritage items on Kings Tableland has not yet been endorsed by the Council, listing on the State Heritage Register has not yet been pursued with the NSW Heritage Council for the former Queen Victoria Hospital and the Bodington Hospital. It is intended that further progression on the heritage assessments of items on Kings Tableland will form part of the LEP 1991 review.

However, it is recommended that the draft assessment heritage assessment of the former Queen Victoria Hospital Site be reported to the Council for endorsement separately so as to pursue with the NSW Heritage Council listing of the site on the State Heritage Register as soon as possible. It should be noted, however, that pursuing listing of a property on the State Heritage Register is a lengthy process, requiring extensive consultation by the NSW Heritage Office with the owner and the community. Pursuing the listing also has resourcing implications for the Council.

More detailed information on the heritage values of the former Queen Victoria Hospital are outlined below.

European Heritage Values of the former Queen Victoria Hospital

The original house on the site was first established as a country retreat around 1890 by highly significant Sydney businessman Sir Kelso King. He acquired a large portion of the Tableland, including parts of Kedumba Walls and parts of the Kedumba Valley below. In 1901 after the death of his first wife, King sold the house and land to the Committee of the Queen Victoria Diamond Jubilee Homes for Consumptives Fund (Jack et al 2005). The climate of the Blue Mountains was deemed highly suitable for the recuperation of consumptives and the Kings Tableland home was first of three major homes built in the mountains for this purpose.

The hospital complex was designed by George Sydney Jones over the years 1902 to 1921 (Jones was a major figure in the architectural profession), and included a number of small open-air chalets (ibid). Accommodation for 20 patients was opened in 1903. The hospital was run initially by Dr Malcolm Sinclair, who later established Bodington Hospital in the same area. After selling Bodington Hospital to serve in World War I, Dr Sinclair returned to Wentworth Falls as a general practitioner until his death in 1941, where he was a figure of local significance (ibid). After 1911, the Queen Victoria Homes became a hospital under the Public Hospital Act and was administered and funded by the State Government (ibid).

The hospital remained a chest hospital until 1958 when it was converted to a hospital for the aged and chronically ill, resulting in the re-organisation of the wards and facilities (ibid). It continued as a nursing home until it was closed in 2000. It was subsequently sold off by the NSW Dept of Health via public tender in 2000. The site remains in private ownership and is currently vacant. The site consists of a large complex of buildings, including the original Kelso King country house which is well preserved, two pavilions stretching north and south of the house which have been altered (including the addition of brick veneer and fibro cladding), a Federation-period cottage, a Federation period pavilion, three small open air chalets, and some large modern workshops and utility buildings at the rear of the site (ibid). The physical condition of the site has been assessed as fair to good (Jack et al 2005 and Noel Bell Ridley Smith & Partners and Cultural Resources Pty Ltd 1999, p57).

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The site also features substantial heritage landscaping and gardens, including an avenue of mature pine trees. The landscape surrounding the complex has undergone a number of changes over time; however, many of the original features can still be distinguished. Initially there was considerable clearing of the natural vegetation surrounding the complex to establish a fire break, followed by a donation of one hundred pine trees made by the Director of the Royal Botanic Gardens which were to be planted in an avenue on the northeastern boundary of the site (DM Taylor Landscape Architects Pty Ptd 2001, p7). Along with providing a fire break, the cleared areas allowed for livestock keeping (ibid). The landscape was then developed for the purpose of patient care and much of the maintenance was undertaken by patients as part of the treatment they were receiving (ibid). To maximise sunlight, the hospital was sited in a clearing with a backdrop of imported pine trees, surrounded by more formal gardens including specimen shrubs and flowers, lawns, paths and small flights of stairs (ibid, p8). After World War II the hospital garden was partly re-designed by the famous landscape gardener Paul Sorensen, who introduced more lawn and shrubs (Jack et al 2005). The grounds and gardens of the former Queen Victoria Hospital Site are listed under the Council’s Significant Trees Development Control Plan No 9.

The former Queen Victoria Hospital group of buildings and its surrounding gardens has been recently been re-assessed as part of the Blue Mountains City Council review of heritage items listed under LEP 1991. According to the draft Blue Mountains State Heritage Inventory - Former Queen Victoria Memorial Hospital the site is of State heritage significance because:

The continuous use of the Kings Tableland premises for health care for 96 years and the importance of the building and grounds give the complex heritage significance at the State level…Queen Victoria Hospital group is of outstanding importance as a purpose-designed sanatorium of the Edwardian period. While there have been substantial alterations and additions to the group, the original grouping of pavilions and cottages can be easily discerned…The survival of the “open air” chalets for consumptive patients is extremely rare. The pavilions are therefore of State importance (Jack et al 2005).

This assessment of the significance of the site is supported by a previous study undertaken in 1999. Prior to the sale of the site by the NSW Dept of Health, the NSW government commissioned the preparation of a Conservation Management Plan (CMP) (Noel Bell Ridley Smith & Partners and Cultural Resources Pty Ltd 1999), Queen Victoria Nursing Home Wentworth Falls, Conservation Management Plan prepared for the New South Wales Department of Health). The CMP assessed the site, including the buildings and landscaped areas, as State significant (ibid, p53).

The CMP was endorsed by the NSW Heritage Council in February 2000. In relation to the site’s significance, the NSW Heritage Council noted the CMP’s assessment of the site as State significant and based on this assessment the NSW Heritage Council concluded that the “…site is of State significance and should be considered for listing on the SHR [State Heritage Register]” (NSW Heritage Office 2002).

Additionally, the site was listed by NSW Dept of Health under its sec 170 Heritage and Conservation Register, when it was owned by the department. Section 170 of the Heritage Act requires government agencies to keep a register of heritage items, which is called a Heritage and Conservation Register.

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Lastly, the small ‘open air’ chalets for consumptive patients at the Queen Victoria Hospital site are listed on the Register of the National Estate by the Commonwealth Department of the Environment and Heritage as an Indicative Place. This means that data has been provided to or obtained by the Australian Heritage Council or the former Australian Heritage Commission and has been entered into the database and the place is at some stage in the assessment process. A decision on whether the place should be formally entered in the Register has not yet been made (Department of the Environment and Heritage 2006).

Currently, the site is in private ownership and a caretaker appears to be providing a security presence and undertaking some basic maintenance around the site such as lawn cutting and removal of dead timber. However, the site largely remains unoccupied and unutilised. Although the heritage buildings and landscape appear to be adequately protected from vandalism by a high fence, the heritage fabric and landscape appears to be deteriorating from the lack of use and the ongoing need for a high level of maintenance.

Possible re-development options for the site under existing planning controls are discussed at Section 7.

3.3 Social Values of the Kings Tableland Area

Scenic Values

The scenic values of Kings Tableland are significant and cannot be underestimated. The scenic values include not only the views from the Tableland but the scenic value of the Tableland itself. On the western side of the Tableland, there are scenic views overlooking the Jamison and Kedumba Valleys, while the eastern side affords views across the lower mountains and the Cumberland Plains to Sydney. The views of the Tableland itself include on the western side the spectacular Kedumba Walls, which can be seen from Wentworth Falls, Leura and Katoomba, and is considered a significant part of the scenic attraction of the lookouts located in these key tourist centres. These scenic attributes are valued not only by local residents, but also visitors and tourists, as well as the local tourism industry which depends on them.

It has long been recognised that maintaining the views and scenic outlook from, and as well as to, the Southern Escarpment including Kings Tableland, is an important goal and has been a major concern of previous planning studies (BMCC 1989, p52 and BMCC 1984, p9).

Recreational Values

The Tableland is heavily used for recreational purposes with residents and visitors accessing the Blue Mountains National Park along Tableland Rd out to McMahons Point, as well as to Ingar Picnic Area along Queen Elizabeth Drive and cliff top walks accessed from Chester Rd.

In addition, there are a number of informal working trails and dirt roads within the vacant Crown land on the eastern side of Tableland Rd and within the bushland areas of the former Queen Victoria Hospital site especially areas directly adjacent to Tableland Rd. Along these informal tracks and trails there is evidence of recreational activities such as walking, 4WD driving, camping and mountain bike riding, including unauthorised building of bunds and bike jumps.

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There are a number of informal scenic lookout points at the northern end of Tableland Rd which are accessed by tourists and locals, and in some cases commercial operators. These include a lookout on Little Switzerland Drive (which is on Council Community Land), a number of lookouts along the access road behind the former Queen Victoria Hospital and various vantage points with views to Sydney from the vacant Crown land on the eastern side of Tableland Rd. These informal lookouts are largely unsignposted, unfenced and with multiple foot tracks leading to and around them, as well as unformed carparks, resulting in some degradation of the immediate landscape.

Residential housing in a bushland setting

A major social value of the Tableland, especially the northern end, is that residential development has occurred in a bushland setting. Many houses back onto large bushland blocks privately owned or onto the National Park or Council reserves. Much like other areas of the Blue Mountains this gives the area a unique character, and provides residents with significant social value in terms of amenity, views and recreational opportunities.

3.4 Economic Values of the Kings Tableland Area

Kings Tableland is dominated by residential development with few exceptions. There is very limited industry currently located in the area, with a single retail outlet at the top of Tableland Road. The only other current commercial activities located on the Tableland are Bodington Hospital, Bodington Drive which operates as an aged care facility, and Yester Grange which operates as a boutique function centre and includes accommodation. Given the prevalence of small home businesses in the Blue Mountains, there is likely to be some home businesses operating on the Tableland.

A commercial development, in the form of a Deer Park (where deer were kept on a commercial basis and also to attract tourists) at the corner of Hordern Rd and Little Switzerland Drive has been abandoned a number of years ago. Other economic developments that have been proposed for Kings Tableland in the past but did not proceed include a holiday cabin development on a property along Hordern Rd (BMCC 1984, p 13).

The only other major industry on the Tableland is tourism and recreation. As outlined above, there a number of formal and informal recreational opportunities available on the Tableland. These include walks and scenic lookouts that are used on a commercial and non-commercial basis. For example, some of the Council managed lookouts on the Tableland have been used repeatedly for filming for a variety of commercial purposes. However, the more significant economic asset is the uninterrupted views of the Tableland itself from key lookouts at Wentworth Falls, Leura and Katoomba.

When operating as a hospital, the Queen Victoria Hospital also represented a significant economic asset to Kings Tableland. The closure of the hospital and the subsequent sale of the land by the State Government to the private sector mean that this site at the moment has an unrealised economic potential.

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4. Current land use

4.1 Current Development Pattern

Tableland Road is the primary access to Kings Tableland and all development is aligned with this road and a limited number of secondary streets. The top of Tableland Road (closest to the Great Western Highway) is the area most densely developed with residential housing. Further down Tableland Road, larger land parcels feature with some development set back off the road. Residential development ends roughly at the Civil Aviation Beacon, with some areas of Regional Open Space between, on the western side of the Tableland. From there, no development exists until the former Queen Victoria Hospital. After the former Queen Victoria Hospital the land is National Park (except for an isolated parcel in private ownership outside of the City boundary).

4.2 Existing Zoning and Planning Provisions under LEP 1991

The vast majority of Kings Tableland is zoned under LEP 1991 (see Zones, Provisions and Protected Areas, Maps 1-4 ). A small number of residential lots closest to the Great Western Highway (along Maple Grove, Yester Rd, Miller and John St) are covered by LEP 2005 and are dominated by the Living – Bushland Conservation Zone. Further down the Tableland, into the area covered by LEP 1991, the residential areas are primarily zoned Residential Bushland Conservation (No Subdivision) or Residential Bushland Conservation with a minimum lot size or defined lots per hectare, or are zoned part Residential Bushland Conservation (No Subdivision) and part Environmental Protection. There are also a number of large bushland blocks off Tableland Rd, Hordern Rd and Queen Elizabeth Drive zoned either Environmental Protection, or a combination of Environmental Protection and Residential Bushland Conservation (with minimum lot size or defined lots per hectare) or Environmental Protection and Bushland Conservation (No Subdivision). The dominant zone (in terms of the number of hectares) over the entire Tableland is Environmental Protection (see Table below).

Bodington Hospital complex is a mixture of Residential - Bushland Conservation (8 per ha) Zone, Bushland Conservation with a special use of Hospital and Environmental Protection. Along Little Switzerland Drive there are a mixture of undeveloped parcels that are zoned either Regional Open Space or Recreation – Environmental Protection. These lots are owned by the Council as Community Land under the Local Government Act 1993. The former Deer Farm off Hordern Rd is zoned Bushland Conservation (Consolidation). Approximately half- way down Tableland Road, there is an area of Crown Land zoned Regional Open Space. After the major residential development at the northern end of Tableland Road, the lots which make up the former Queen Victoria Hospital are zoned part Environmental Protection, part Bushland Conservation (No Subdivision) and part Bushland Conservation (No Subdivision), with the special use of Hospital.

There are approximately 415 lots on Kings Tableland in the Study Area, with a median lot size of 0.12 hectares. The Table below outlines the relevant Zones in the Study Area on the Tableland, the number of lots within each Zone, the number of hectares within each Zone and the percentage of each zone covers of the total Study Area.

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Zone % of Total Zone No. Parcels Hectares Area Environmental Protection 40 565.58 77.8% Recreation - Environmental Protection 33 13.55 1.9% Regional Open Space 63 33.76 4.6% Residential Bushland Conservation (No Subdivision) 186 38.42 5.3% Residential Bushland Conservation (8/ha) 5 3.52 0.5% Living - Bushland Conservation 107 7.45 1.0% Bushland Conservation (No Subdivision) 10 18.63 2.6% Environmental Protection (DCA) 1 2.73 0.4% Bushland Conservation (HOSP) 2 31.99 4.4% Residential Bushland Conservation (3000) 4 0.61 0.1% Residential Bushland Conservation (4/ha) 2 4.06 0.6% Bushland Conservation (Consolidation) 4 6.40 0.9% Residential Bushland Conservation (2000) 3 0.49 0.1% 461* 727.23 100.0% * Some lots have two or more Zonings hence this total exceeds the total number of lots in the Study Area.

In addition to these zonings, a number of Protected Areas under LEP 1991 feature on the Tableland, namely: • Protected Area – Water Supply Catchment. This Protected Area basically borders Tableland Rd from the northern end of the former Queen Victoria site and aims to protect the water supply catchment on the western side of the Tableland. Under Clause 11.6 of LEP 1991 development within a Protected Areas - Water Supply Catchment Area must be referred to the Sydney Catchment Authority to ensure the integrity of the drinking water catchments. Developments on the Tableland are also subject to the provisions SEP 58 Sydney Drinking Catchment. • Protected Area – Escarpment Area. This Protected Area covers most of the residential areas along Tableland Rd, as well as the residential lots along Coronation Drive, Hordern Rd, Little Switzerland Drive and Chester Rd and a large proportion of the Queen Victoria Hospital site. • Protected Area – Environmental Constraint Area. This Protected Area covers a large portion of the steeper slopes of former Deer Farm off Hordern Rd, as well as portions of lots off Tableland Rd, Coronation Drive, Chester Rd and Queen Elizabeth Drive and portions of one large lot off Miller St. • Protected Areas – Land Between Towns. This Protected Area covers a large portion of the Bodington Hospital land.

Developments on the Tableland are also subject to the other general provisions within LEP 1991 (eg Development Criteria and Special Provisions).

In terms of the some of the significant natural values outlined above in Section 3, and the issue of buffers and environmental constraints areas, the following should be noted. • Slope mapping and the establishment of slope constraint areas (similar to LEP 2005 Slope Constraint Areas) has not yet been undertaken for LEP 1991 areas on Kings Tableland. It is anticipated that this type of modeling or similar will occur as part of the review of LEP 1991, resulting in similar slope provisions being included in LEP 1991 areas as outlined in LEP 2005 (subject to negotiations with the Dept of Planning in regard to the standard local environment planning template). However, some Protected Area – Environmental Constraint Areas on Kings Tableland under LEP 1991 appear to be mapped largely due to slope issues.

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• Some watercourses on Kings Tableland appear on BMCCs environmental mapping. Clause 10.5 in LEP 1991 aims to ensure the conservation of environmental values, including surface and groundwater regimes, and the hydrological aspect of the locality (whether mapped or verified during a site analysis). However, as Kings Tableland falls within LEP 1991, ecological buffer areas as modeled in LEP 2005 areas, have not been modeled for the Tableland, including the variable ecological buffer area (20- 100m) for watercourses. The protection of buffers around watercourses would currently arise on Kings Tableland as part of the consideration of Clause 10.5 matters. As part of the review of LEP 1991 areas, ecological buffer modeling, using the same methodology as in LEP 2005 is planned, with corresponding provisions in the revised LEP (subject to negotiations with the Dept of Planning in regard to the standard local environment planning template). • Significant vegetation communities, whether mapped or verified during a site analysis, for Kings Tableland are protected by virtue of Clause 10.5 and Schedule 3 of LEP 1991. However, the ecological buffer area around significant vegetation communities (60 metres) as modeled in LEP 2005 areas has not been modeled for LEP 1991 areas. The protection of buffers around significant vegetation communities would currently arise on Kings Tableland as part of the consideration of Clause 10.5 matters. As part of the review of LEP 1991 areas, ecological buffer modeling, using the same methodology as in LEP 2005 is planned, with corresponding provisions in the revised LEP (subject to negotiations with the Dept of Planning in regard to the standard local environment planning template). It is also important to note that Amendment 31(Significant Vegetation) to LEP 1991is awaiting gazettal with the Dept of Planning (the Council lodged the amendment about 18 months ago with the Department). This amendment aligns the description and definition of significant vegetation communities in LEP 1991 to that used in LEP 2005, and will ensure a consistent approach to vegetation communities across the City. • Rare species of flora and fauna are protected by virtue of Clause 10.5 of LEP 1991. • A number of individual trees on the Tableland are also protected under the Council’s Significant Trees Development Control Plan No 9. This includes trees within Yester Grange, on Yester Rd and the grounds and gardens of the former Queen Victoria Hospital Site.

Lastly, as already outlined at Section 3, there are eight heritage items listed in LEP 1991 for Kings Tableland (see Map 1: Land Ownership and Heritage). Only those items listed are accorded the protection of the Heritage Provisions of LEP 1991 (Clause 25).

The development potential of the Tableland in light of the current planning and zoning provisions are further discussed below at section 7.

4.3 Land Ownership

Land ownership along the northern end of Kings Tableland is primarily private, consisting of residential blocks as well as some large bushland residential blocks along Tableland Rd, Queen Elizabeth Drive and Yester Rd (see Map 1: Land Ownership and Heritage). The largest private land holdings on Kings Tableland are the Bodington Hospital, former Queen Victoria Hospital and the Civil Aviation Beacon.

The majority of lots along Little Switzerland Drive are Council Community Land. There are also additional parcels of Council Community Land along the eastern and western sides of

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Tableland Rd past the last residential lots. Lots along Hordern Rd also include some Council Community Land. There is also a large parcel of vacant Crown Land on the eastern side of Tableland Road at the end of the residential development. All land past the former Queen Victoria Hospital site (except for an isolated parcel of private land outside the boundaries of the City) is in public ownership and included in the Blue Mountains National Park (in addition some areas of National Park are also within the Water Catchment Special Area). It should be noted that there is a parcel of land after the former Queen Victoria Hospital site along Tableland Rd (276-293 Tableland Rd) which is zoned under LEP 1991 as Environmental Protection and Bushland Conservation, and therefore could be construed to be in private ownership. This parcel is, in fact, part of the Blue Mountains National Park.

As part of the Public Lands Rationalisation Project the Council, the Dept of Environment and Conservation (formerly the National Parks and Wildlife Service) and the Dept of Lands reviewed the vacant Crown Land and the Council Community Land on Kings Tableland. As a result of that review, the Council Community Land along the western edge of Little Switzerland Drive (i.e. the portions closest to the escarpment), and the Council Community Land along Tableland Rd past the residential development were recommended to be transferred to the Dept of Environment and Conservation for inclusion in Blue Mountains National Park (BMCC 2002c, p13). The large parcel of vacant Crown Land on the eastern side of Tableland Rd was also recommended to become National Park (ibid). So far these transfers have not proceeded and the relevant parcels remain Council Community Land or vacant Crown Land.

4.4 Services and infrastructure

All lots in the Tableland have access to electricity, including the former Queen Victoria Hospital site. Most lots have reticulated sewer available, except some lots along Hordern Road and Little Switzerland Drive which are unsewered. The former Queen Victoria Hospital site also does not have sewer available. Approximately 18 of the developed parcels have on- site sewage systems, including approximately 8 small sized lots. Of the 18 lots unsewered, 7 lots have on-site systems despite the availability of mains sewer.

All lots have reticulated water available, except for the former Queen Victoria Hospital site where mains water is unavailable.

All roads at the northern end of Kings Tableland are sealed except for Little Switzerland Drive and a small portion of Daintrey Rd. Tableland Rd becomes unsealed after the former Queen Victoria Hospital site. Tableland Road is the only access road into and out of the area which is a single lane road past the last residential development heading south. The road also narrows past this point, and is further restricted by the significant encroachment of verge vegetation growing across and on the road.

5. Risks

5.1 Bushfire

The bushfire risk to the Tableland is significant and the area is located within a Major Bushfire Risk area in the Blue Mountains District Bushfire Management Committee’s City Planning Branch - November 2006 Page 18 of 33 File: C07886

Bushfire Risk Management Plan (2000, p37). The former Queen Victoria Hospital site is especially vulnerable due to its remoteness from the other developed areas on the northern section of the Tableland, compounded by the fact it is surrounded by natural bushland and heritage gardens, and the lack of reticulated water supply to the site. Protecting the heritage buildings and gardens of the site during a major bushfire event would be a particular challenge.

The history of bushfire events on the Tableland are outlined below:

• A major fire originated in the Jamison Valley to the west of the Tableland in 1957. This fire is recorded as having burnt up to the western side of Tableland Road but did not appear cross the roadway (BMCC 1986, p15). • A major fire also occurred on the eastern side of Tableland Rd in 1977, and burnt in an easterly direction down into the Erskine Creek catchment (BMCC, 1986, p15). • There was also a fire closer to the top of Tableland Road, in the vicinity of Bodington Hill in 1990. This was a much smaller scale fire but occurred in an area which is now developed (Department of Environment and Conservation 2006). • Another fire burnt an area in the Jamison Valley to the west of the Tableland in 1993. This was of moderate size but does not appear to have breached the escarpment or threatened developed areas (Department of Environment and Conservation 2006). • The last major fire on the Tableland began on 24 December 2001, and burned for approximately three weeks. This fire was ignited by a lightning strike in the vicinity of Mount Hall (approximately 15km southeast of the former Queen Victoria Hospital site), with the fire and associated back-burning covering the entire developed face on the eastern side of Tableland Road to McMahons Lookout (Department of Environment and Conservation 2006). • Recently (September 2006), a fire burnt within the former Queen Victoria Hospital grounds, approximately 150m south of the access road to the Civil Aviation facility. Both sides of Tableland Road were affected and an area of approximately 1.9 hectares was burnt (Department of Environment and Conservation 2006).

5.2 Access

As mentioned previously, the main access to the Tableland is via Tableland Road which is a sealed road until the former Queen Victoria Hospital. Past the main residential development, the road narrows and in some areas is being encroached upon by verge vegetation. A previous Bushfire Risk Study commissioned as part of a development application for the former Queen Victoria Hospital site noted that, given the length of Tableland Road and the nature of the adjoining bushland along its length, the “…roadway would be under severe threat during a major fire event” (Conacher Travers Pty Ltd 2001a, p18). The Study concluded access for emergency service vehicles would therefore be impacted if there was a fire threat, and that it would not be advisable to use the road for evacuation purposes during major fire events. The Study recommended that, as the access to the former Queen Victoria Hospital site could be restricted should there be a fire event, the residents should be evacuated to “…safe refuges within the village confines” (ibid) rather than being extricated from the site. Given the intensity of the potential fire threat it maybe problematic to find a safe refuge on the site of the former Queen Victoria Hospital depending on the type of proposed redevelopment and the number of people involved.

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This Bushfire Risk Study undertaken as part of the proposed redevelopment of the former Queen Victoria Hospital site reinforces that there is a severe risk in relation to accessing Kings Tableland generally during a fire, especially the extremities of the Tableland. In addition the narrowness of the road impedes the use of large fire tankers and other emergency vehicles.

5.3 Potentially contaminated land

The Council considers the former Queen Victoria Hospital site potentially contaminated land as a result of past (and possible present) uses of the site as a fuel storage facility and due to part of the site being used as landfill and for sewerage disposal (Coffey 1999). Investigation into other potentially contaminated land on the Tableland has not been undertaken for this Report.

6. Threats to values

6.1 Existing development - urban/bushland interface

The majority of the private land in the Tableland backs onto or is surrounded by natural bushland which is, by and large, in very good condition. Some of this bushland is on National Park or Council Community Land, while other large tracts of bushland are privately owned. Much of the character of Kings Tableland is derived from the fact the residential development has occurred in this bushland setting. However, there are significant impacts on the natural, cultural and social values of the Tableland from existing development. These potential impacts include: • Impacts on watercourses through stormwater and urban runoff, poorly operating on site sewer systems, and changes in natural flow regimes. • Impacts on bushland and native vegetation such as the spread of weeds, illegal clearing and slashing, encroachment of gardens into bushland areas, illegal dumping of rubbish (illegal dumping of garden waste was in evidenced during a recent inspection of the Tableland), and changes in natural water flow regimes. • Impacts on native flora and fauna including fatalities through cars, impacts of domestic animals such as dogs and cats, habitat loss and the development and maintenance of Asset Protection Zones.

Some management strategies to address these impacts and issues could include the following: • The Council encourage the seven lots currently unconnected to sewer on the Tableland but which have mains sewer available, to connect to sewer as part of its Connect to Sewer Program. • The Council should continue, as part of the its revised Sewer Strategy, to advocate the expansion of the sewer mains on Kings Tableland to include the last remaining small residential lots that are presently unconnected to sewer (these lots are situated on Hordern Rd). Currently these lots have been previously identified by the Council for inclusion on Sydney Water’s sewer expansion program, but to date no commitment to sewer these lots has been given by Sydney Water. • The Council should assess whether Little Switzerland Drive should be sealed. While this road has no residential development, the road is heavily used by residents and

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tourists accessing by car and bus the informal scenic lookout on the south-west side of the road. • The Council should continue its current enforcement activities in terms of illegal dumping, in an effort to minimise its occurrence and impact on the Tableland. • The Council should continue its current opportunistic weed management and other land management activities on the Tableland, and monitor stormwater management. • The Council should continue to monitor water quality in streams, and where necessary develop improvements in stormwater infrastructure, particularly where stormwater is impacting upon threatened species or ecological communities.

6.2 Recreational activities

As outlined above the Tableland is heavily used as a recreation resource by both local residents and tourists. The recreational uses are varied including unregulated camping and 4WD, walking, and road and mountain biking on bush tracks. These recreational uses occur not only on the public lands (National Park, Council Community Land and vacant Crown land) but also within private landholdings such as the bushland components of the former Queen Victoria Hospital. There are also a number of informal and formal lookouts on the vacant Crown land adjacent to Tableland Rd, the Council Community Land off Little Switzerland Drive, and within the Blue Mountains National Park. Some of these lookouts are also accessed by commercial tour operators.

There is evidence that some of this recreational activity is impacting on the natural, social and heritage values of the Tableland. Impacts include the following: • Some of the popular and accessible scenic lookouts on the Tableland are informal with no signposts, formalised access points or defined parking areas. This has resulted in numerous access tracks leading to and from some of the scenic lookouts, resulting in erosion, sedimentation, increased litter and destruction or damage to significant heath vegetation. Because of this, some areas around the lookouts are unattractive and unsightly, impacting on the scenic experience. • There appears to be evidence of unregulated activity such as creation of bike jumps and bunds, which has resulted in erosion, sedimentation and destruction or damage to native vegetation. There also appears to be evidence of the creation of a network of informal tracks made by 4WDs, which again leads to erosion, sedimentation and destruction or damage to native vegetation. • There also appears to be evidence of unregulated camping, including old campfires. This is an issue in an area which is major bushfire risk. There is also littering and human waste associated with unregulated camping.

Some management strategies to address these impacts and issues could include the following: • As a result of the Public Lands Rationalisation Project, the Council Community Land along the western edge of Little Switzerland Drive (i.e. the portions closest to the escarpment and adjacent to the National Park), and the large parcel of vacant Crown land on the eastern side of Tableland Rd were recommended to become National Park. So far these transfers (along with the majority of transfers proposed under the Public Lands Rationalisation Project) have not proceeded and the relevant parcels remain Council Community Land or vacant Crown land. If these parcels were consolidated under one management authority (Dept of Environment and Conservation) and made National Park, this should result in improved visitor management of these sites. The Council should consider strongly advocating with the relevant State Government

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agencies for these parcels to be transferred as soon as possible, consistent with the Public Lands Rationalisation Project. • The Council should continue to monitor the impact of visitation on Council managed lands to limit the impact on flora and fauna. The Council has undertaken some recent remediation work on Council Community Land off Little Switzerland Drive, including fencing, weed control and track rationalisation. The Council may need to consider whether to undertake further work on this site as well as other sites on the Tableland consistent with the Council’s Nature Based Recreation Strategy 2005-2015 and in light of the fact some areas are proposed to be transferred to the State Government as outlined above. • Consideration should be given, if the former Queen Victoria Hospital is developed, to negotiate with the developer a voluntary developer agreement under sec 93 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (or some other form of agreement), which would allow for some of the bushland areas of the site to continue to be made available for recreational uses either as an addition to the National Park, or through some agreement with the developer to allow public access with appropriate management controls.

6.3 Inappropriate development

Previous planning studies have identified inappropriate development as a major issue impacting on the values of Kings Tableland (BMCC 1984, BMCC 1986, and BMCC 1989). The 1984 study identified the visual effect of development on the Tableland as the most important planning principle of the Study, which identified a number of already existing developments that were unsympathetic and unsuitable (BMCC 1984, p19). Impacts on water quality from development; degradation of natural vegetation through inappropriate rural uses (especially at the site of the former Deer Park); insufficient site controls during actual construction; clearing of locally significant vegetation communities for residential housing; and intensive ribbon development along Tableland Rd impairing the bushland setting have all previously been identified as issues resulting from inappropriate development which have detrimentally impacted on the values of the Tableland (BMCC 1984 and BMCC 1986).

The planning controls resulting out of these studies (LEP 1991) and the acquisition of key areas by the Council have, by and large, imposed a current planning regime which, given the current undeveloped lots on the Tableland, is considered appropriate to conserve the values of the area. This is discussed in detail below. This is not to say that inappropriate development has not occurred in the past. Today, however, there is very little potential on the Tableland for further development beyond single residential dwellings, except at a few key sites.

7. Future development and adequacy of current planning controls

7.1 Kings Tableland Area generally (excluding the former Queen Victoria Hospital site)

The majority of privately held developable lots (excluding the National Park land, Council Community Land and the vacant Crown land where development is excluded) on Kings Tableland have already been developed and there are very few vacant lots or lots which have

City Planning Branch - November 2006 Page 22 of 33 File: C07886 not reached their full development potential. Previous planning studies (BMCC 1984 and BMCC 1989) have resulted in some acquisition and re-zoning of key parcels of land on the Tableland to protect environmentally important features and scenic views. As a result, the zoning on the Tableland is very restrictive, with many large blocks zoned wholly Environmental Protection.

A quick analysis was undertaken to assess what lots remain undeveloped on the Tableland. There are a small number of standard residential lots along Tableland Rd, Daintrey Rd and Coronation Rd which remain undeveloped. These blocks are zoned either completely Residential Bushland Conservation (No Subdivision) or part Residential Bushland Conservation (No Subdivision) and part Environmental Protection. These zonings restrict the development of these lots significantly and preclude subdivision. Given the residential character of the area, it is likely the only development that will be proposed for these lots will be single residential development within the areas zoned Residential Bushland Conservation (though other uses are permissible with consent).

Some large bushland lots on the Tableland do remain undeveloped. The following lots fall into this category:

• Bodington Hospital. o The Bodington Hospital land includes the large parcel of land on the eastern side of Tableland Rd, bisected by Bodington Drive. The hospital buildings which form Bodington Hospital are located along and at the end of Bodington Drive within the Bushland Conservation (Hospital) Zone. Further expansion of the hospital could be accommodated within this zone. o The Bodington Hospital land directly adjacent to the eastern side of Tableland Rd is partly zoned Environmental Protection, severely limiting development potential of this section of the lot and precludes residential development. o Part of the eastern block of Bodington Hospital, directly adjacent to either side of Bodington Rd, is zoned Residential Bushland Conservation with a minimum lot size of 8 lots per hectare. The No Subdivision restriction prevalent on the Tableland does not extend over this area. This area of the Bodington Hospital land could potentially be more developed in the future, including increased residential development and subdivision. o The portion of Bodington Hospital on the western side of Tableland Rd is zoned wholly Environmental Protection, as well as being totally covered by a Protected Area – Escarpment. This block is covered in bushland that is in good condition and provides an east/west wildlife corridor across the northern end of Tableland Rd. The zoning over this block severely restricts its development potential, and precludes residential development. • 40 Queen Elizabeth Drive. The 4 undeveloped lots at the end of Queen Elizabeth Drive form No 40. Three lots are zoned totally Environmental Protection, with the remaining lot zoned part Environmental Protection and part Residential-Bushland Conservation (4 lots per hectare). The No Subdivision restriction prevalent on the Tableland does not extend over the area zoned Residential-Bushland Conservation (4 lots per hectare). The portion zoned Residential Bushland Conservation (4 lots per hectare) could potentially be more developed in the future, including increased residential development. The portions zoned Environmental Protection severely limits development potential of these lots and precludes residential development. • 7-33 Hordern Rd. This large lot on Hordern Rd is zoned almost wholly Environmental Protection as well as being totally covered by a Protected Area –

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Escarpment. A small portion of the lot adjacent to existing residential development on Hordern Rd is zoned Residential Bushland Conservation (8 lots per hectare). This limits the development potential of the lot to one or two residential homes within the Residential Bushland Conservation Zone • 3-4 Frawley St. This large lot on the corner of Tableland Rd and Frawley St is zoned almost wholly Environmental Protection as well as being totally covered by a Protected Area – Escarpment. A small portion of the lot adjacent to existing residential development on Tableland Rd is zoned Residential Bushland Conservation (No Subdivision). This limits the development potential of the lot to one residential home within the Residential Bushland Conservation Zone adjacent to Tableland Rd. • 18 Hordern Rd (former Deer Farm). The parcels which make up the former Deer Park are zoned Bushland Conservation (Consolidation) or Environmental Protection. Most of the site is also constrained by Protected Area – Escarpment and Protected Area – Environmental Constraint. Due to the Consolidation requirement the three small lots adjacent to Little Switzerland Drive could not be developed into three residential houses. The small parcel adjacent to Hordern Rd is zoned wholly Environmental Protection precluding residential development. In effect, the area has little development potential • 276-293 Tableland Rd. This is a large parcel of land just past the former Queen Victoria Hospital site. This parcel is zoned Environmental Protection and Bushland Conservation, however the parcel is, in fact, part of the Blue Mountains National Park.

Given that there are few undeveloped lots left on Kings Tableland, and given the restrictive zoning which applies to these lots which allows very limited development, the current zoning and other provisions within LEP 1991 (e.g. Development Criteria and Special Provisions) are believed to be appropriate to conserve the values of the Tableland. The exceptions to this are the developable portions of the Bodington Hospital lot on the eastern side of Tableland Rd adjacent to Bodington Drive zoned Residential Bushland Conservation and the developable portions of 40 Queen Elizabeth Drive zoned Residential Bushland Conservation. However, the potential for further subdivision and development on these two areas will need to be the subject of detailed environmental assessment. Existing bushland on these two lots may also have other environmental constraints, which will also influence the capability for subdivision and further development.

Kings Tableland will be a priority area for the review of LEP 1991, along with other key sites such Megalong Valley and the Radiata and Shipley Plateaus. Given the review outlined above, the current zoning provisions on Kings Tableland provide a good “holding pattern” until the LEP 1991 review is complete. During the LEP 1991 review, current zonings of undeveloped lots of Kings Tableland will be assessed, including the key sites identified above, in light of the environmental, cultural and scenic values of the lots and any perceived demand for an increase in residential lots throughout the Blue Mountains. It is anticipated (subject to negotiations with the Dept of Planning in regard to the standard local environment planning template) that the approach in LEP 2005, including the environmental modeling and the establishment of ecological buffers and protected areas, will be duplicated for LEP 1991 areas. This will lead to enhanced environmental outcomes across LEP 1991 areas, especially areas where development potential remains. On Kings Tableland, where there is little development potential and the current zoning is very restrictive, it is considered that this environmental modeling, while providing additional information to assist with development assessment, will not have as a significant impact and the overall planning principles of the area will be maintained.

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7.2 Former Queen Victoria Hospital site

As outlined above, the former Queen Victoria Hospital site contains significant environmental, cultural, social and recreational values. This includes the former hospital buildings and landscaping which has been assessed as State significant, as well as the significant environmental values of the bushland areas including the presence of regional and nationally significant vegetation communities, and threatened flora and fauna. The Blue Mountains community has strong ties to the former Queen Victoria Hospital site and there is keen community interest in the future of the site. The proposed re-development of the former Queen Victoria Hospital site in 2001 as the Queen Victoria Hospital Wellness Centre and Aged Care Facility by Longevity Management Systems created a lot of community concern. The re-development ultimately did not proceed as the applicant withdrew the development application and the company then went into receivership. However, the assessment reports and public comments from this proposed development as well as the comprehensive tender documents when the site was sold by the State Government does mean that the Council and community have a great deal of specific information about the former Queen Victoria Hospital site, including the values of the bushland, the buildings and the gardens. This knowledge is invaluable. Any future re-development of the site, given the current information on the values, would require a high level of impact assessment before re-development could proceed. However, while the site remains undeveloped and unutilised, the heritage values of the buildings and gardens are being impacted.

As outlined above, the lots which make up the former Queen Victoria Hospital are zoned part Environmental Protection, part Bushland Conservation (No Subdivision) and part Bushland Conservation (No Subdivision) with the special use of Hospital. Development on the lots is also subject to two protected areas, Protected Area – Escarpment and Protected Area – Water Supply Catchment which covers the portions of the lots west of Tableland Rd. Development on the site is also subject to the other general provisions within LEP 1991 (eg Development Critieria and Special Provisions). Other issues which would impact on the future development of the site is the lack of infrastructure (there is no mains water or sewerage), contaminated land on site, access issues, the bushfire risk, the presence of mapped significant vegetation communities on a large portion of the site, the presence of threatened flora and fauna species, the significant European heritage values of the buildings and gardens, documented and undocumented Aboriginal cultural values and the current use of the site for recreation.

During the sale of the site by public tender and during the later public consultation for the proposed re-development of the site in 2001, there were calls for the site to remain in public ownership either as a hospital or be converted to another public use or become part of the Blue Mountains National Park. The Council could consider advocating the purchase of the site by the State Government for inclusion in Blue Mountains National Park or, for some other public purpose. This option would ensure the ongoing protection and conservation of the bushland areas, the conservation of the heritage gardens and buildings and allow continued recreation access for the community. However, this outcome is not considered feasible for the following reasons:

• The State Government sold the site in 2000 and therefore is unlikely to wish to re- purchase. • The cost of purchase would be high given the development potential. • The ongoing management of the land and buildings would be a major financial burden, and a deterrent to purchase.

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• The Council in the past has advocated the purchase of other key areas of high conservation value in the Blue Mountains (specifically Radiata Plateau) for addition to the National Park. These efforts have been unsuccessful. The State Government has indicated that its priorities for acquisition for additions to the National Park system are elsewhere in NSW.

While the Council has purchased high conservation lands in the past to include in the Council’s bushland reserve system, purchase of this site by the Council would be far beyond the limited financial resources of the Council and would be a serious financial burden in terms of management.

The key issue then, assuming the site stays in private ownership, is whether the current zoning of the site, together with the other provisions of LEP 1991, provide adequate planning protection for the important values of the site. As already outlined above, given the comprehensive documentation of the site which already exists, the Council would require a high level of impact assessment to satisfy the provisions of LEP 1991.

In terms of zoning, the following are developments which are permissible with consent on the former Queen Victoria Hospital site under LEP 1991:

• Environmental Protection zone: bushfire hazard reduction, drainage works, recreation area, roads, utilities, visitor facilities, walking tracks. • Bushland Conservation (No Subdivision) zone: advertising signs, animal establishment, arts and craft establishments, bed and breakfast establishments, bushfire hazard reduction, camping site, child care centre, communication facilities, community centre, dam, display garden, drainage works, dwelling house, educational establishment, exhibition homes, guest house, high technology industry, holiday cabins, home industry, institutions, keeping of hoofed animals, low intensity agriculture, mine, parking, place of worship, recreation area, recreation facility, refreshment room, retail plant nursery, roads, utility installation, veterinary establishment, visitor facilities, walking tracks, warehouse, wholesale plant nursery. • Bushland Conservation (No Subdivision) with the special use of Hospital zone: same as above but with the addition of hospital.

As can be seen by the above permissible uses, a large portion of the site cannot be developed as it zoned Environmental Protection. The only developable portions are those zoned Bushland Conservation.

In terms of the future of the site the following scenarios have been identified.

• The current zoning is retained and the Council considers re-development of the site consistent with the current permissible uses. A large range of permissible uses apply to the areas zoned Bushland Conservation and Bushland Conservation (Hospital) within the site. Realistically, however, only a small number of permissible uses are ever likely to be proposed for the site, given its location and site limitations. These include arts and craft establishment, bed and breakfast establishment, dwelling house, educational establishment, guest house, holiday cabins, recreation facility, refreshment room and of course hospital. Given the cost of purchase of the site, and the significant costs of the management, restoration and conservation requirements of the heritage buildings and landscape, it is unlikely a developer or landholder would consider using the site for some of these currently

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permissible uses, given some of these developments will have low or negligible commercial return which would not justify the purchase, restoration and ongoing management costs. On the other hand, some of the current permissible uses which have a greater commercial return, such as educational facility and hospital are problematic for the site given its isolation, lack of infrastructure and risk issues associated with access and bushfire. Re-development of the site into another hospital facility would need to be especially carefully considered.

The maintenance of the current zoning is considered to potentially run the risk of the site continuing to remain undeveloped and unutilised for a long period, with the heritage buildings and gardens deteriorating through lack of use and maintenance, or alternatively the site being proposed to be redeveloped for a use which, whilst permissible, is inherently unsuited to the site (e.g. hospital).

• The Council considers re-development of the site under clause 25.6 of LEP 1991. Clause 25 in LEP 1991 outlines the Special Provisions which apply to heritage items like the former Queen Victoria Hospital, which are heritage listed under the LEP. Clause 25.6 of LEP 1991 also allows the Council to grant development consent, other than subdivision, for any purpose, of a building that is a heritage item or of the land on which the building is erected, even though the development would otherwise be prohibited (emphasis added). Stringent conditions apply to the use of Clause 25.6, including that the Council must be satisfied that the development would not adversely affect the heritage significance of the building and the heritage significance and amenity of the surrounding neighbourhood, that the heritage item is most appropriately conserved if used for the development purpose, and a conservation plan prepared for the heritage item supports the proposed development. The Queen Victoria Nursing Home Wentworth Falls, Conservation Management Plan prepared for the New South Wales Department of Health when the site was sold recommended in terms of future uses of the site that it should preferably remain an institution of some sort (Noel Bell Ridley Smith & Partners and Cultural Resources Pty Ltd 1999, p65). It should be noted that the Plan is now five years old, and best heritage practice is to review or update a Conservation Management Plan every five years. The range of uses recommended in the Conservation Management Plan (ibid, p59) as being potentially appropriate were:

o Private school use (school, field study centre or residential camp) o Back packers Accommodation (including camping and caravan accommodation) o Aged Care Accommodation (private nursing home, hostel accommodation, self contained resident housing) o Private Hospital o Residential Conference Centre o Religious Educational Centre o Resort Accommodation

Some of these suggested redevelopment options for the site as outlined in the Conservation Management Plan are currently prohibited (Backpackers Accommodation, Aged Care Accommodation and Resort Facility), or probably prohibited depending on the scope (Residential Conference Centre and Religious Educational Centre) or are permissible (Private Hospital ) but may not be the best use of the site. In addition some of the possible future uses identified in the Conservation

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Management Plan (eg school, aged care facility) will require consent from the Rural Fire Service under sec 100B under the Rural Fires Act, including careful examination in terms of the suitability of the development given the bushfire risk.

It is recommended that the Council note that Clause 25.6 allows the Council to consider re-development of the former Queen Victoria Hospital site to a currently prohibited use, consistent with the Conservation Management Plan of the site. It is also important to note that the change in use would be limited to the heritage area as defined under LEP 1991 which make up a large part of the site (the entire lot on which the current buildings and gardens exist) but not the site as a whole. The Council would need to consider any such proposal carefully ensuring that the conditions of Clause 25.6 are complied with and taking into account the other values of the site including environmental and scenic. However, Clause 25.6 provides an avenue to overcome some of the issues of the current zoning of the site.

• The Council examines the zoning of the site as part of LEP 1991. As outlined above, the current zoning of the former Queen Victoria Hospital site is problematic in terms that the current permissible uses are unlikely to attract the commercial return to sustain the short and long term investment required to appropriately manage and conserve the site, or alternatively only attracts a commercial use which is unsuited to the site due to access, risk and infrastructure reasons. It is therefore recommended that the Council ensures that the former Queen Victoria Hospital site, as one of several key sites, is examined carefully as part of the review of LEP 1991. This assessment should include the issues raised in this Report, the appropriateness of the current zonings in the context of the other LEP 1991 areas, and the environmental modeling that is expected to occur in aligning LEP 1991 areas to LEP 2005 areas.

• Potential rezoning of the site to a currently prohibited use. The Council should note that it also has the option of considering a rezoning of the site, to allow a currently prohibited use such as a resort accommodation. The Council, if considering this option would need consider the re-development carefully given the environmental, heritage and scenic values of the site. It also worth noting that a spot rezoning would also only be approved by the Dept of Planning under the current planning reforms if it attracted significant jobs growth. It is also considered that such a planning approach is unnecessary given the option in LEP 1991 of Clause 26.5 which provides the Council with some limited flexibility to change the potential uses of certain parts of the site, without “opening up” the zoning of the whole site, which may result from a proposal to rezone the site.

Whatever re-development option is examined in the future, consideration should be given by the Council to negotiate with the developer either a voluntary developer agreement under sec 93 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 or some other form of agreement such as a voluntary conservation agreement or covenant, which would allow the bushland areas of the site currently zoned Environmental Protection to be managed and continue to be made available for recreational uses either as an addition to the National Park, or through some agreement with the developer to allow public access with appropriate management controls.

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8. Conclusion and Recommendations

This Report (Report on Kings Tableland Plateau, Wentworth Falls) summarises the significant social, cultural and environmental values of Kings Tableland. The Tableland includes two sites provisionally assessed as being of State heritage significance, the Bodington Hospital and the former Queen Victoria Hospital and a number of significant Aboriginal sites on the Tableland. The Tableland is home to many threatened flora and fauna species as well as regionally significant vegetation communities and a nationally listed endangered ecological community (Blue Mountains Swamps). The Tableland also has high scenic value. These values overall, with some exceptions, have been well protected to date through existing planning controls and the inclusion of key areas as Council Community Land or National Park.

Development on the Tableland is impacted by some risk issues associated with bushfire and access, and some limits on infrastructure such as roads, sewer and water. An assessment of the current planning controls on the Tableland concluded, given the limited remaining undeveloped lots on the Tableland, that the current planning regime was an appropriate “holding pattern” until the review of LEP 1991 areas, including Kings Tableland, is complete. It is anticipated (subject to negotiations with the Dept of Planning in regard to the standard local environment planning template) that the approach in Local Environmental Plan (LEP) 2005, including the environmental modeling and the establishment of ecological buffers and protected areas, will be duplicated for LEP 1991 areas. This will lead to enhanced environmental outcomes across LEP 1991 areas, especially areas where development potential remains. On Kings Tableland, where there is little development potential and the current zoning is very restrictive, it is considered that this environmental modeling, while providing additional information to assist with development assessment, will not have as a significant impact and the overall planning principles for the area will be maintained.

There are, however, a number of issues associated with the former Queen Victoria Hospital site, which is currently vacant and unutilised, consequently impacting on its significant heritage values. The current planning regime for the site, in part due to its historical use as a hospital, means the site is zoned for a limited set of uses. These uses are either considered problematic for the site (due to a lack of access and infrastructure as well as bushfire risk issues), or may fail to attract sufficient commercial investment in the short or long term to ensure the maintenance and enhancement of the heritage values of the site. This Report outlines a number of scenarios for the site for the Council to note. It is recommended that the zoning of the former Queen Victoria Hospital site, along with the remaining undeveloped areas of Kings Tableland, are examined carefully as part of the review of LEP 1991 areas, in light of the issues raised in this Report.

It is therefore recommended that the:

• Council note the information outlined in this document (Report on Kings Tableland, Wentworth Falls) including the values, current land use pattern, risks, threats to values and assessment of the current planning controls; and • Council note the suggested environmental management strategies outlined in this Report to conserve the values of Kings Tableland, and • Council note the assessment in this Report that the current planning controls in place for Kings Tableland generally are considered appropriate to protect the values of the area; and

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• Council note that the planning controls on Kings Tableland will be assessed as part of the review of LEP 1991, along with other key areas, and that the issues identified in this Report be considered as part of that assessment; and • Council note the assessment of the planning issues associated with the former Queen Victoria Hospital site as outlined in this Report; and • That the draft heritage assessment of the former Queen Victoria Hospital Site be reported to the Council for endorsement as soon as possible so as to enable Council to pursue with the NSW Heritage Council listing of the site on the State Heritage Register.

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9. Bibliography

Blue Mountains City Council (BMCC) 1991, Local Environmental Plan 1991

Blue Mountains City Council (BMCC) 2005, Local Environmental Plan 2005

Blue Mountains City Council (BMCC) 1984, Kings Tableland Environmental Study

Blue Mountains City Council (BMCC) 1986, Blue Mountains Environmental Management Plan Part II: Study Area 1 – Wentworth Falls

Blue Mountains City Council (BMCC) 1989, Blue Mountains Environmental Management Plan, Environmental Study Stage 1 Rural and Environmentally Sensitive Areas

Blue Mountains City Council (BMCC) 1997, Environmental Management Plan Stage 2, Local Environmental Study, Study Area 2 Katoomba, Leura and Wentworth Falls.

Blue Mountains City Council (BMCC) 2002a, Environmental Management Plan 2002 Planning Study Vol 1 Planning Framework

Blue Mountains City Council (BMCC) 2002b, Environmental Management Plan 2002 Planning Study Vol 2 Planning Context

Blue Mountains City Council et al (BMCC et al) 2002c, Blue Mountains Public Land Rationalisation Project Stage 1 Public Exhibition Report

Blue Mountains City Council (BMCC) 2005, Nature Based Recreation Strategy 2005 - 2015

Blue Mountains Conservation Society (Consoc) 2001 Re: Queen Victoria Nursing Home Complex, Tableland Rd Wentworth Falls Land Use Application X01/1013 letter to the General Manager, Blue Mountains City Council dated Dec 22 2001.

Blue Mountains District Bushfire Management Committee 2000, Bushfire Risk Management Plan

Coffey Geoscience Pty Ltd 1999 Stage 1 and Stage 2 Preliminary Environmental Site Assessment, Former Queen Victoria Hospital Site Wentworth Falls Plan prepared for the New South Wales Department of Health

Conacher Travers Pty Ltd 2001a, Bush Fire Threat Assessment for a Proposed Aged Care Village at Queen Victoria Hospital, Kings Tableland Rd, Kings Tableland Wentworth Falls

Conacher Travers Pty Ltd 2001b, Flora and Fauna Assessment at Queen Victoria Hospital Environs, Kings Tableland, Wentworth Falls

Department of Environment and Conservation (NSW) and (Cth) Dept of Environment and Heritage August 2005 Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area – Draft Strategic Plan

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Department of Environment and Conservation (NSW) 2006, Blue Mountains Bushfire GIS Maps

Department of Environment and Heritage (Cth) 2006, The Australian Heritage Database, TB Sanitarium Chalets, 214-228 Tableland Rd, Wentworth Falls NSW, retrieved 24 July 2006 from: http://www.deh.gov.au/cgi- bin/ahdb/search.pl?mode=place_detail;search=place_name%3DTB%2520Sanitarium%3Bkeyword_PD%3D on%3Bkeyword_SS%3Don%3Bkeyword_PH%3Don%3Blatitude_1dir%3DS%3Blongitude_1dir%3DE%3 Blongitude_2dir%3DE%3Blatitude_2dir%3DS%3Bin_region%3Dpart;place_id=17140

DM Taylor Landscape Architects Pty Ltd 2001, Landscape Conservation Guidelines, Queen Victoria Nursing Home

Flood, J. 1995, Archaeology of the Dreamtime Sydney

Jack et al. 2005, Blue Mountains State Heritage Inventory, Former Queen Victoria Memorial Hospital (Draft) prepared for Blue Mountains City Council

NSW Heritage Office 2002, Redevelopment of Former Queen Victoria Nursing Home 231- 233 Tableland Road, Wentworth Falls, Letter to The General Manager, Blue Mountains City Council dated 5th April 2002

Noel Bell Ridley Smith & Partners and Cultural Resources Pty Ltd 1999, Queen Victoria Nursing Home Wentworth Falls, Conservation Management Plan prepared for the New South Wales Department of Health

Smith, P and Smith, J, 1995 Flora and Fauna Study for Blue Mountains Environmental Management Plan Study Area 2: Katoomba and Wentworth Falls

Stockton, ED and Holland, W 1974 “Cultural Sites and their Environment in the Blue Mountains” in Archaeology and Physical Anthropology in Oceania Vol 9, No 1

Stockton E. (ed) 1996 Blue Mountains Dreaming Katoomba

Urban Bushland Management Consultants Pty Ltd 1999 Habitat Investigations at the Queen Victoria Nursing Home, Wentworth Falls prepared for the NSW Dept of Health

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10. Maps

Map 1. Land Ownership and Heritage Items

Map 2. Significant Vegetation and Watercourses

Maps Zones Provisions and Protected Areas; a) Locality Map b) Sheets 1-4

City Planning Branch - November 2006 Page 33 of 33 File: C07886 Sheet 1 of Map Produced 19 Sept 2006:AB Private Land Council Community Land National Park Public Recreation Reserve or Unreserved Crown Land Heritage Item Heritage Conservation Area Heritage Item  LAND OWNERSHIP HERITAGE LAND OWNERSHIP & HERITAGE ITEMS

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(NS)

(WATER CATCHMENT)

Map Produced 19 Sept 2006:AB  Sheet 4 of 4