We pay our respects to the Elders past, present and emerging, for they hold the memories, the traditions, the culture and hopes of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples across the State. A better understanding and respect for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures develops an enriched appreciation of Australia’s cultural heritage and can lead to reconciliation. This is essential to the maturity of Australia as a nation and fundamental to the development of an Australian identity.
Welcome to the community website for Patyegarang
A new vision for Patyegarang
A historic milestone
Patyegarang is located at Morgan Road, Belrose, approximately 15km north of the Sydney CBD and 6km north east of Chatswood in the Northern Beaches Local Government Area (LGA). The land was granted to the Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council (MLALC) under the provisions made in the Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983 (ALR Act).
MLALC has a vision for a development of the Patyegarang site, aimed at transforming a land asset into economic, social, and cultural opportunities for Aboriginal people.
A sustainable, resilient, and affordable community will be designed with a commitment to respecting and responding to the natural environment and its unique characteristics. A range of lot sizes will enable rocky outcrops, existing trees, and landscape features to be retained.
Self-determination and Caring for Country are the foundations of the masterplan that includes restoration of natural habitat, watercourses, and ecological corridors as well as conservation and preservation of significant Aboriginal rock carvings.
Self-determination and Caring for Country are the foundations of a masterplan that includes restoration of natural habitat, watercourses and ecological corridors as well as conservation and preservation of significant Aboriginal rock art.
The site
Approximately 19.8 ha of the 71-ha site is to be preserved and restored as conservation areas. The project includes renewed access to other parts of the site through formalised walking and cycling tracks, which honour and protect the existing registered Aboriginal archaeological sites and connect the place to its surrounds.
The detailed plans for development of the site are ongoing, with the key objective to achieve a balance between development, environment, economic, social, and cultural conservation as well as maintenance of the site.
A landmark decision for NSW
An amendment to State Environmental Planning Policy - Planning Systems (SEPP), formerly known as the Aboriginal Land SEPP, was gazetted by the NSW Government on Friday 5 August 2022 to include land held by the Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council (MLALC) at Morgan Road, Belrose, now known as Patyegarang. This is the first amendment of its kind for Greater Sydney and is a key historical milestone for NSW.
The Aboriginal Land SEPP framework aligns the NSW planning system with the intent of the ALR Act and stimulates improved governance, empowerment, strategic planning, and more efficient land use.
The landmark SEPP amendment sets an important precedent for empowering Local Aboriginal Land Councils to use their land assets to deliver tangible economic, social, and cultural benefits to the Aboriginal community across NSW.
The MLALC has worked closely with the NSW Department of Planning to progress the Northern Beaches Development Delivery Plan and the amendment to the Planning Systems SEPP.
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