CONSTRUCTON is to start soon on a multi-user facility at Glebe Island, Port Authority of NSW has announced.

A Port Authority spokesperson said Glebe Island had been a vital maritime supply route used for importing concrete supply materials and gypsum to service Sydney’s construction supply needs since the early 1990s.

“Due to the depletion of local sand supplies required to make concrete to service the NSW Government’s major infrastructure projects, the construction of a new facility, located close to the city on the eastern side of Glebe Island in Sydney Harbour, has become essential,” a Port Authority spokesperson said.

“Importing sand by sea brings significant benefits by minimising congestion, air pollution and road maintenance costs.”

Site establishment and construction s to start in early July 2020 and expected to be completed by mid-2021.

ADVERTISEMENT  

“The construction of a multi-user facility is a big step forward and helps with the NSW government’s plans to increase construction projects, helping to drive jobs and economic development in response to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic,” a Port Authority spokesperson said.

Once built, operators of the facility are to facilitate taking the materials (sand and rock aggregates) off ships via conveyor belts to an enclosed storage building.

The materials would then be fed from the storage bays to an internal truck loading area, before being distributed to Sydney concrete batching plants.

“As this will be a new building facing Jacksons Landing, the Port Authority is keen to hear from local residents on how they think it should look,” the spokesperson said.

The Port Authority is concurrently consulting on a Port Noise Policy for Glebe and White Bay to manage noise from commercial ships.

The policy is on the Port Authority’s website.

Stakeholders can have their say on the policy until 10 August 2020. Visit www.portauthoritynsw.com.au/glebeisland for more information.