Cargo ship call highlights Glebe Island value

WHEN Chinese cargo ship Yu Peng berthed at Glebe Island recently, it highlighted what many say is the need to retain Sydney Harbour’s last working deepwater port.

Yu Peng (IMO 9723473) was in town to unload heavy tunnel boring equipment needed for construction of the Western Sydney Harbour Tunnel.

The state government was seemingly poised to announce the closure of Glebe Island late last year, with plans to turn it into a residential precinct.

A rearguard action by industry groups and unions has seemingly changed the political landscape.

Sydney’s Working Port Coalition was formed to defend the port.

A spokesperson for the SWPC said they were encouraged by indications from Premier Chris Minns that he was prepared to compromise, with housing and port industries coexisting.

“The [SWPC] will continue to highlight the many reasons for Glebe Island to be retained as a port including its importance to the construction industry in Sydney, its role as a staging platform for major events such as Vivid Sydney and the New Year’s Eve fireworks, harbour maintenance work and for current and long-term defence requirements,” the spokesperson said.

The SWPC also argues closing Glebe Island would cause traffic grief for those living in Wollongong, the Sutherland Shire and southern Sydney.

“Closure of Glebe Island Port could see Mt Ousley traffic capacity eaten up that could be more beneficially devoted to supporting new job-generating industries and projects in the Illawarra,” the spokesperson said.

“Sydney’s Working Port Coalition supports the growth around Port Kembla, however, the most efficient way to transport large volumes of building products such as gypsum and cement into Sydney is through Glebe Island, not by adding 220,000 extra truck movements from Sydney to Wollongong and back.”

The SWPC argues that forcing Glebe Island cargoes to Port Kembla would also contribute to higher emissions, degraded air quality and accelerated wear on community roads.