She is travelling to the small coastal town to see the site that is the focus of community and developer interest in the wake of the school closure late in 2014. Her visit is at the request of the Crowdy Head Environment and Cultural Centre Working Group; a collective of people who are working to try to ensure the site remains in public ownership and developed into an education centre to promote the region's unique indigenous and environment features.

According to group spokesperson, Daintry Gerrand, the meeting today at 2pm will also include representatives from Greater Taree City Council; the executive leader service delivery, Paul De Szell and senior leader planning and environmental services, Richard Pamplin.

Dr Faruqui is the Greens lower Mid North Coast spokesperson and also holds the environment portfolio.

"I have been contacted by the community who have a plan for the now closed down Crowdy Head Public School that could immensely benefit the community and the environment. I'll be attending the community meeting and am very interested to hear more about these plans," Dr Faruqui said.

"The school site has a great location near the coast, is nestled into a nature reserve and even has a Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden.

"It seems to me that publicly owned properties that are no longer being used, such as the Crowdy Head Public School, should be put to public benefit, not just left to rot. While the (Aboriginal) land claim is being resolved, it seems sensible to maintain the site.

"The government should be working with the community on future public uses of the site not putting up barriers," she added.

Mrs Gerrand says the working group is "continuing to try to establish the current status of the land".

"It seems it is still with the department of education but waiting for the minister for education to sign off on the disposal of the land," Mrs Gerrand said.

"We are rather concerned over the lack of clarity as to who will be handling the site once declared surplus from the department of education.

"A department of education contact tells me there has been a lot of interested parties enquiring about the site.

"We are unable to get clarity on whether it will be Crown Lands or government properties that will handle the site once it comes across from Crown Lands, and of course, until the (Aboriginal) land claim is determined it cannot be disposed of - if that is the government's intent."

Mrs Gerrand says the working group is waiting for a response from member for Port Macquarie, Leslie Williams about three key issues.

o The current status of the land - including which government department the property is being transferred to.

o How best to further discussions regarding the retention of this facility for environmental and cultural education - bearing in mind the current Land Claim over the property.

o The necessity for the retention of the toilet block.

"We have not heard back from our correspondence with Leslie Williams except to say; they have passed our questions on to the Minister," Mrs Gerrand explained.

Mrs Gerrand says the working group is also "collaborating with Surfing NSW who are interested in the site and are advocating for the retention of the site and facilities for community use."

"Surfing NSW has been advocating with the Premier Mike Baird who is the Patron of Surfing, for the site to be used as a surfing and education centre," she added.

DR Mehreen Faruqi joined the NSW Legislative Council in June 2013.

Her portfolio responsibilities include the environment, transport, roads, maritime and freight, status of women, multiculturalism, animal welfare, drug and harm minimisation, young people, western Sydney and the NSW Mid North Coast.

Dr Faruqui migrated from Pakistan to Australia in 1992 with her young family and earned a Bachelor of Civil Engineering from University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore, and a Master and PhD in Environmental Engineering from the University of New South Wales (UNSW).

She has worked in leadership positions in local government, consulting firms and higher education institutions in Australia and internationally. This includes her role as manager of environment and services for Mosman Council, manager of natural resources and catchments for Port Macquarie-Hastings Council, and as the director of the Institute of Environmental Studies (UNSW) and an associate professor in business and sustainability (AGSM UNSW). Her publications include a co-authored book entitled 'Environmental Decision-making - Exploring complexity and context.'

Dr Faruqui has delivered major projects such as stormwater reuse and recycling infrastructure, cycle ways, hydropower generation and rainforest rehabilitation as well as doing work for action on climate change and waste reduction. She has chaired a number of panels and committees on sustainability, water and waste management for industry, local, state and federal government.

ainslee.dennis@fairfaxmedia.com.au