In a recent speech to state parliament, Liberal MLC Catherine Cusack confirmed that the Office of Strategic Lands had initiated negotiations with the owner, Paul Unicomb, under the Land Acquisition Act.

“On August 30 this year the Department of Planning and Environment issued a letter to the landowner regarding good faith negotiations and compulsory acquisition. The NSW Government is currently engaged in a six‑month period of these negotiations before it can reacquire the land,” Ms Cusack said.

“The issue is in the hands of solicitors.”

Ms Cusack praised the efforts of Port Stephens Council in championing their community in a way that could ultimately achieve a positive outcome.

“This is tremendous good news for all those who care about recovering this site and ultimately incorporating it into the wider reserve,” she said.

In June 2016 the six-hectare Mambo Wetlands, having been declared surplus by the Department of Education, was sold for a reported for $250,000.

Last November plans for a dual occupancy at the site were scrapped.

Following her election to Port Stephens Council, Cr Jaimie Abbott moved a motion seeking the compulsory acquisition of the land, with full costs to be borne by the State Government, which was unanimously supported.

In February Premier Gladys Berejiklian formally instructed the planning minister to pursue acquisition options, described by Ms Cusack as “the breakthrough moment” which succeeded in getting all the key players in local and state government onto the same page in an effort to resolve the issue.

Outspoken critic on the issue Labor MP Kate Washington has labelled previous announcements from the Liberals as “a last minute attempt to buy credibility from a government whose policies and actions are putting our koalas at risk of extinction”.

“Labor is committed to buying back the Mambo Wetlands through compulsory acquisition.”

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