🔵 HMAS Pingu

HEARD THIS WEEK👂

🚢 Mosman Mayor wants green space — and no housing — on prime HMAS Penguin site

There is no room for new residential housing on the HMAS Penguin naval base site, Mosman Mayor Ann Marie Kimber told the Lorikeet on Thursday.

What happened: On Wednesday morning, Defence Minister Richard Marles announced that the Australian government would sell a number of its defence properties, including part of the HMAS Penguin naval base in Balmoral.

Diver survivor: Unlike other military properties, only a portion of the 16-hectare base at Balmoral will be sold. The base will maintain all of its approximately 350 personnel, and continue to function as a site for diver training and underwater medicine.

Marles did not make clear which part of the site he’d be willing to auction off.

Clues? However, an image uploaded to the Department of Defence website with the filename “HMAS_Penguin_Plan_final-01” showed an aerial view of the site that appeared to outline the section of land that would remain as part of the naval base.

Read the full story below.

🦉 Cautious celebration from local bushcarers, as North Ryde data centre is scaled back

The company behind a controversial North Ryde data centre has presented an amended design of the development to local conservationists, who have called the new proposal “a significant step in the right direction”.

What happened: In April 2025, Australian property investment company ISPT announced its intention to build a data centre on land in North Ryde, bordering the Lane Cove National Park.

The development was registered as a State Significant Development, meaning its approval was the responsibility of the state government, not local council.

Local backlash: The proposal saw pushback from local community members and conservation groups. In particular, a local conservation group, the Friends of Lane Cove National Park, that took issue with the development’s proposal to clear old growth bushland.

Friends of Lane Cove National Park claimed the bushland acted as an essential buffer zone for native wildlife between urban development and the national park.

The planning proposal received more than a hundred submissions against the development, citing concerns about local wildlife, environmental impacts, the use of water and noise.

A new hope: The Friends of Lane Cove National Park have now been presented with an amended design of the centre, which includes a 34% reduction in the development's overall size as well as the retention of 3,246m² of bushland and 179 trees.

Read the full story below.

🧺 All the markets bringing produce, food, art and more to the North Shore this month

Whether you’re looking to shop for some fresh, local produce, or just need an excuse to go out on a Sunday, here are all the best local markets on in the North Shore area.

Read the full piece below.

LOOKING NATIONALLY 👀

📈 Antony Green on 36 Years of Elections and the Biggest Lie About Preferences

Over at the National Account this week, Archie landed a really great interview with one of Australia’s national treasures: election analyst Antony Green.

Watch below to see them chat about Green’s 36-years in calling elections, unexpected victories, and the biggest misconceptions Australians have about their voting system.