We need a genuine strategic vision
for the Bays Precinct
By Jamie Parker MP
In 2015 the government released their ‘Transformation Plan’ for the Bays Precinct which promised to turn the area into a bustling hub of enterprise, activity and beautiful spaces. But rather than transformation, we’re now seeing a list of ad hoc developments that are being pushed independently without any consideration of their cumulative impact on our community and wider Sydney.
In the last year, the government has announced plans to turn sections of White Bay into a massive construction site and dumping ground for their Western Harbour Tunnel. There is also a plan in place to ramp up industrial activities on Glebe Island with a new multi-user facility and the relocation of the Hanson Cement batching facility from the current site at Bridge Street. Some of these new facilities will operate 24/7 with associated noise, air pollution and truck movements.
What we don’t have yet is an idea of the cumulative impact that all these various proposals will have on our roads, air and waterways.
We need a genuine strategic vision for the Bays Precinct that prioritises public transport, green space and employment, rather than more short-sighted schemes that will only impact the liveability of our suburbs.
What will be the cumulative impact of all these proposals?
KEY
- The new Fish Markets – a 3 story building that protrudes into the bay further than the existing wharf. Construction starts 2020.
- Mixed use (residential and commercial) develop-ment, including 2760 apartments. Construction starts 2020.
- Multi-use facility at Glebe Island 24 hour, 7 days a week bringing building materials into Sydney by sea. Construction starts 2020.
- Hanson Concrete batching facility. To move to Glebe Island in 2020.
- 3 smoke stacks. Each WestConnex tunnel smoke stack will be 35 metres tall. The smoke will be unfiltered. A green space is currently under construction adjacent to the proposed smoke stack location.
- Sydney Metro West. Construction commences 2022. Underground.
- Western Harbour Tunnel. Construction commences 2020/21 and due to open in 2025/26. Underground.
- WestConnex tunnel exit. Tunnelling planned to commence 2019 and cease 2021.
- WestConnex M4-M5 Rozelle Interchange. Tunnelling planned to commence 2020 and cease 2022. Interchange due open in 2023. Underground.
- White Bay Power Station renewal. Details of ‘renewal’ are not available to the public. ‘Renewal’ commences in 2020.
- Rozelle Bay. Rozelle Bay is included in the Bays West project. Future status of this site is currently unavailable to the public.
- Wentworth Park. The park has been integrated into the Bays Market District development to falsely meet the ‘green space quota’. Integrating Wentworth Park in the Bays Market District’ begins 2020. Details of what this means is not available to the public.
- White Bay. White Bay is included in the Bays West project. Part of White Bay will be utilised as a car park and heavy vehicle marshalling area during the construction of the WestConnex tunnel. The future of this site is currently unavailable to the public.
Get active!
Don’t allow this attack on our community and our environment to go ahead. Join Hands off Glebe Inc and join the fight back.
Our next meeting will be held at the Old Fire Station in Mitchell Street at 6pm on Wednesday 17 October. You are warmly invited to attend.
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The “Build to Rent” Con
The NSW Government plan to hand over to a developer, free of charge, public land at 600 Elizabeth Street, Redfern must be stopped. Social Housing Minister Pru Goward claims this is a great development but it is con.
The “Build to Rent” model gives a lease, with no charge and no land tax/ This new version of using public land to enrich private developers is expected to produce 400 to 500 dwellings. Of these 70 per cent will be earmarked for renters at market prices and 30 per cent will be social and affordable housing.
The developer will benefit from the profits made from rents, can borrow against the property and extend the lease under a different government in 2058. What benefit does the public get?
The government says all land and dwellings will be returned to the NSW community after the lease expires. But even if the property is actually handed back after 40 years it will be in need of repair and ready for demolition.
Keep public land for public housing!
The Grapevine calls on the government to shoulder its response-bilities and to spend some of the billions it gets from land tax and stamp duty to build public housing on this public land – no private developments for private profit.
The “market” should no longer be allowed to determine the availability of shelter for our people — the common good is superior to the right of private property.
SIGN OUR PETITION
Please go to change.org public lands in public hands and sign