Rosehill collapse reignites Glebe Island debate

THE NEW South Wales government must immediately rule out turning Glebe Island into a housing precinct, the Sydney Working Port Coalition says.

This follows the collapse of the state government’s plans for housing at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse, after Australian Turf Club members voted not to sell.

Premier Chris Minns has expressed disappointment at the decision but appears to have ruled out the option of compulsory acquisition.

In a statement, SWPC spokesperson and Business Sydney executive director Paul Nicolaou said Glebe Island should not be used as a housing replacement.

“The Sydney’s Working Port Coalition is calling on the NSW Government to immediately rule out using Glebe Island as a fallback for its CBD housing strategy,” Mr Nicolaou said.

“Following the collapse of the Rosehill housing deal, we understand the urgency of finding alternatives — but closing Glebe Island is not a viable option.”

According to the SWPC, a shutdown would:

• Add 226,000 truck movements per year on already congested roads.
• Increase building costs during a housing affordability crisis.
• Strip more than $500 million from the NSW economy over time.

“International cities like Rotterdam, Gothenburg, New York Harbour, and London show that working ports and liveable cities can, and do, coexist,” Mr Nicolaou said.

“Glebe Island is too valuable to lose — and keeping it operational is the only choice that makes sense.”

According to Port Authority of New South Wales, Glebe Island in Bays Port has been a vital maritime supply route for more than 100 years and has been used for importing concrete and gypsum to service Sydney's construction supply needs since the early 1990s.

The port's berths are said to provide “a low-cost, low-impact and sustainable way to bring dry bulk materials (including sand for making concrete) into the city”.