significantly increase the size of the school and would result in 4.37 hectares of significant native bushland being cleared from the Manly Dam Reserve for Fire Asset Protection Zones. Concerned residents and members of the wider community objected to the proposal on several grounds: namely there being a significant fire and evacuation risk for the proposed increase in student numbers; parking and traffic issues in small residential streets; and the loss of significant areas of native bushland belonging to the Manly Dam Reserve and adjacent Council Land – home to a variety of protected and threatened native fauna and flora. Several Threatened Species including the Eastern Pygmy Possum, Red-crowned Toadlet, Powerful Owl, Eastern bent-wing bat and the Grey-headed fruit bat are known to occur in the area. Although a Species Impact Statement was presented by the Education Department with the Development Application, a large number of wildlife species that are known to utilise the site were not recorded due to the limited survey period and time constraints. The redevelopment of the Manly Vale Public School attracted media attention both in the local media and interstate. On 20 December 2016 the school development was approved by the Sydney North Planning Panel. The administrator of the Northern Beaches Council Dick Persson said that the decision was not the Council's position and maintained that “Council is strongly opposed in its current form as was the previously elected Council in Warringah.” He said his and the Council's major concerns were the sprawl of the site, building over bushland instead of building up, bushfire risks and traffic congestion. Tracks Manly Dam has a variety of walking tracks and mountain bike circuit of . The mountain bike circuit is very popular destination for mountain bike riders. Sports There is a signposted swimming area marked out by buoys near the main car park and picnic area 1. The section of water between picnic areas 2 and 3 is a dedicated water skiing area and is prohibited for swimming and non-motorised water activities. Hydraulics Laboratories Manly Hydraulics Laboratory is run by the NSW Government Department of Finance, Services and Innovation. The Water Research Laboratory is operated by the University of New South Wales. Both laboratories are located below the dam wall adjacent to Manly Dam Reserve. References Geography of Sydney Manly, New South Wales Dams in New South Wales Dams completed in 1892 Gravity dams