This landmark presides over the lake with great majesty
There’s more to Munibung Hill than any one snapshot can capture. We invited Wendy Harrison* to reflect on her memories and connection with Munibung Hill as a local resident and as a civic minded person whose vision set the scene for a Management Plan for Munibung Hill to act as a template for protecting and conserving her for many generations to come. Wendy writes …
MOVING TO SPEERS POINT IN 1967 I have lived in the shadow of Munibung Hill for nearly six decades. In my early years I probably took Munibung for granted, as we often do with things that are ever present in our lives.
Over the years I have come to appreciate the significance a landmark such as Munibung Hill plays in linking the past with the present. Each generation enjoys it in their own unique way but it connects us with a shared admiration for its splendour and the experiences it provides.
This landmark, with its high vantage point and expansive views presides over the lake with great majesty. It has played a role in so many lives over many generations beginning with our Indigenous ancestors, the Awabakal people.
My husband, Carl, who has lived most of his life in Speers Point explored Munibung as a young boy in the 1950s. He recalls adventures of traversing ‘the hill’ and on occasions, camping overnight with friends in one of the caves.
My first venture onto Munibung Hill was with my young children and a friend with her children in the early 1970s – that’s 50 years ago. We accessed it via Fairfax Road through one of the old orchards, if I remember correctly.
After climbing to the top for our picnic,
I recall being in awe of the view, as I continue to be to this day.
My son who now lives interstate visited Munibung again recently and commented on the variety of bird life he saw but was concerned about the evidence of feral animals such as rabbits and cats.
I visited Munibung Hill again a few years ago when I was a Councillor on Lake Macquarie Council and the Munibung Hill Management Plan was being developed. During that visit the potential for tourism was discussed as were the barriers and limitations including multiple landowners, contamination from the Sulphide smelter days and the perennial funding issues.
Munibung is important, not only to Speers Point and surrounding suburbs but to the Hunter region generally. Whether exploring its tracks, learning about its flora and fauna, its place in Indigenous and European history or admiring the spectacular views it offers, it continues to provide special experiences to all who encounter it.
We need to ensure the generations that follow us
have the privilege of enjoying Munibung as we have.
*Wendy Harrison, served as an Independent Councillor on Lake Macquarie City Council from 2004 to 2021. Wendy, as the story above testifies, has been a supporter for the protection and conservation of Munibung Hill for many years. In 2017 she moved a motion at Lake Macquarie City Council that was supported by all the Councillors in attendance. This has resulted in a Management Plan for Munibung Hill being produced, placed on public exhibition and adopted by Council on 26 April 2022.
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NOTE: Developed in line with feedback received from the community the draft management plan sets out 15 key objectives to be achieved over the next 10 years, including:
- Making walking tracks safe and stable
- Protecting Aboriginal cultural values and ecological communities
- Restricting vehicle access to essential services and emergency vehicles
- Ensuring activities provide public benefits, not private benefits
- Increasing the number of people visiting the area
…. First appeared in MMM Issue #44, June-July 2024