click here for the pdf of the results
Results of the Survey on the market district of the Bays Precinct or the Fish Market Proposals
June 2017
Introduction
The Glebe Grapevine and Hands off Glebe Inc, spurred on by a successful public meeting about the Bays Precinct, the Fish Market and associated issues, decided to conduct a survey of Glebe and Ultimo residents using the hand delivered Grapevine. We also provided an electronic survey for people outside the suburb. The questions are the work and responsibility of the committee. Our chief concern was to find out what the people of the area think about these issues.
We had a 2% survey responses were received. The responses were in the majority from Glebe 84% while we received 3% from Ultimo, 3% from Drummoyne, 3% from Leichhardt, 2% from Annandale and the remaining 5% from other suburbs.
Question 1 sought to check out what the locals thought the impacts would be on the area. The question was: Which of these possible impacts of the new ‘Market District’ are you most concerned about? Circle up to 3
Cutting down some of the trees that line Wentworth Park, losing some green space in Wentworth Park, Wentworth Park being shaded by high rise on 4 sides, Increased risk of pollution into Blackwattle Bay, Problems parking/entering the water/foreshore and other amenities, Threat of fish markets noise/smell entering the school Traffic and parking /lack of public transport
The results show that issues around Wentworth Park concerned 60% of respondents while traffic concerned 30% and pollution and the threat to the school concerned 6% each. There are some comments which are listed below bringing up other concerns.
not being able to walk all around the foreshore, awful high rise alienating “people” from the landscape, Wentworth Park was the first park ever opened after 1788 – it should be preserved and promoted as such. Bay being covered by buildings, impact on accessible tranquil bayside and green spaces, nimbys and lack of political will – would prevent it from happening 2
suggest underground parking under Wentworth Park, loss of air movement due to buildings
loss of views eg of the harbour bridge etc
Green space lost to development can never be recovered
Loss of Dragon Boat site at 1 Bank street
Q2.High Rise or Not?
This asked a simple yes or no question.
Those in the community opposing high rise outnumber those supporting or accepting high rise by 11% which is a considerable gap. Comments included:
prefer that the markets stay
look to Amsterdam and Paris some development but no high rise
the Glebe Ultimo Pyrmont area is already overdeveloped
only if 20% is affordable housing provided
Foreshore is owned by the people! Not developers.
What’s wrong with original site?
will create shade
How high?
insufficient space for new fish market
Absolutely necessary
high rise of less than 5 storeys
Must be low rise
Depends on height, remember Barangaroo?
Park please
10 Levels only!
Leave fish market where it is.
if low rise
want beach & parks
Already over developed
We have enough retail
3-5 levels only.
Question 3 If high rise housing is built at the old Fish Market site, what percentage of affordable and social housing would you like to see included?
Most residents indicated that they wanted to have affordable and social housing in any new residential towers by a massive 93% versus only 7% who rejected any affordable and/or public housing.
Comments included::
50% affordable, 50% public housing
50% public housing
no high rise on shoreline
10% affordable and 10%public
33% private, 33% public 33% affordable
enough social housing in Glebe already
public housing indefinitely not for example for 7 years as at Green Square.
build somewhere else
No public housing; improve social status of glebe
One-third public housing
All Public
between 5-20% affordable
100% public housing, don’t sell public land
All public land, do not sell
offset with suitable affordable housing in another location not on waterfront
10% each to public & affordable housing
Only affordable for all especially for essential workers
All public housing
A third to affordable, public and private
Question 4 Where would you prefer to see the fish markets moved from its current location?
The Government favoured site for the Fish Market next door to the school only scored 35% while other locations totaled 65%. This view is confirmed by the responses received to question 5 below.
Other comments made were:
move along but not close to school
not sure does it need to move?
WHY DOES it have to be moved?
where it is now, why move
leave it where it is
redevelop where it is
somewhere else
somewhere else more accessible
where it currently is
Do not move fish markets
Don’t move it at all
Q 5. What do you think should be done with the old Hanson cement site?
This open ended question elicited the following trends: 49% wanted the area converted to open space for walking, cycling etc. A further 16% were prepared to have low rise community buildings plus restaurants plus a walkway. This adds up to 65% not wanting the Fish Market to move there. 27% did want the Fish Market there and a further 9% mentioned a ferry wharf, a town beach, and a bus depot.
Nearly 100 comments were received to this question. They included:
close down and convert to pedestrian precinct
parkland and walkway
fish market
public access
fish market
no development over 3 storeys
move to western sydney
open space – reclaim bay
redevelopment into apartments, retail or fish market
open waterfront public space for recreation
fish market
fish market
foreshore walk
community area cafes and greenery
retail space
open space – community function spaces, outdoor music and film space
Question 6: What do you think of the idea of having a pedestrian bridge connecting Wentworth Park to the foreshore?
Respondents added comments including:
Any development must accommodate a bike lane to reduce/remove the motorist/cyclist danger on Bridge Road
build a flyover
sink Bridge Rd and extend Wentworth Park above it – no buildings
the park should not be touched
small footprint
ferry wharf for fish market
move road underground and connect park to fish market
pedestrian bridge good idea
footbridge never for cars
the park should not be touched
on the proviso that the footprint is small
move the traffic underground, connect the park to the foreshore
ok if it stays a footbridge and never used for cars in the future
depends on the location, design and impact
probably not needed just have traffic lights and pedestrian crossing on the road.
footbridge for larger numbers of pedestrians
depends on the ultimate alignment of Bridge Road — if the road is to be realigned to south of the light rail viaduct then a bridge may be moot or at least a short term palliative.
is it just for market/hi rise dwellers
Q7 How would you like to see the location of the current Fish Markets and the area along the Wentworth Park foreshore developed?
This open ended question elicited only a small response in favour of UrbanGrowth’s position of moving the Fish Market to the Hanson site and building high rise commercial and retail building on the old Fish Market site. Most replies opted for low rise, small commercial and open space.
Comments included:
community space public and affordable housing – NO High Rise
small commercial and recreational
retail and restaurants
no high rise residential on the shore line. Public walkways
public space no high rise
no high rise
renovate the existing buildings
more space for fishing boats
residential – expand Wentworth Park
redevelop fish market
continuous foreshore walk
cafes and apartments
medium density – unimpeded public foreshore access
no high rise
public use – some cafes – no high rise
mixed use – shops cafes – foreshore walk
foreshore walk and mixed use
update fish market – more outdoor grassed areas for eating outdoors
cafes and restaurants – like Darling Harbour
retail apartments -marina
green corridor, walking bicycle track -no High Rise, café
keep as is or community shared space
environmentally and pleasing way
keep fish market no high rise no expensive private housing restaurants cafes etc
extend foreshore walk from glebe low rise building terraced as at Glebe Pt
foreshore walk from Annandale to Wooloomoloo
don’t move fish market
Question 8 Do you use Wentworth Park now?
78% of respondents said they used the park regularly for walks, sports, training, exercising dogs and picnics.
22% reported that they did not use the park, citing age and fear of the homeless living under the viaduct. However, many of these people also stated that they value Wentworth Park because green space is important for a city and that Sydney does not have enough of it.