DISCUSSIONS are ongoing regarding the future of Sydney’s Bays West precinct including the Glebe Island port.
Glebe Island is Sydney Harbour’s last working port and the announcement last year that the New South Wales government was considering turning it into a residential zone generated opposition from industry and the Department of Defence.
A group called the Working Port Coalition (WPC) was formed, made up of 24 businesses and industry associations including Svitzer, CSL Australia, Cement Australia, the Tourism and Transport Forum (TTF), Ausbarge, Kraken and Sugar Australia.
The WPC argues the loss of Glebe Island as a port would drive up construction costs, increase traffic congestion and lead to significant job losses.
Discussions between the government and stakeholders regarding the Bays West precinct are said to be ongoing.
“Discussions with key stakeholders, including the Navy, are ongoing as part of the broader review of the Bays West precinct,” a WPC spokesperson told Daily Cargo News.
“Meanwhile, the Port Authority of NSW is actively seeking long-term tenants to keep operations going at Glebe Island and White Bay, underlining the site’s strategic and economic importance to the city’s future.”
According to WPC, the debate reflects “a growing tension between urban development pressures and the need to maintain vital industrial infrastructure”.
According to statements from the NSW government, plans to rezone Bays West reflect the need to provide housing.
“Currently, there is a shortage of diverse and affordable well-located homes in New South Wales,” a government statement read.
“Bays West has been identified as a Transport Oriented Development accelerated precinct because it will have the capacity to support more new homes close to a transport hub when the new Bays Metro station opens in 2032.”
The Bays West TOD will include staged master plans for the sub-precincts and track on a different timeline to the other TOD accelerated precincts due to the need to resolve working harbour and ports uses.
Further community consultation for the Bays West TOD rezoning proposal is set to occur when it goes on exhibition mid this year.