January 2019
Happy New Year!
The Glebe Grapevine sends its best wishes to all our readers and supporters for a healthy and happy 2019.
We look forward to another year campaigning with you for the interests of our community.
Can you spare a minute …
The NSW Government is selling off public housing stock and transferring other homes to community housing providers – without tenants having any choice – at an alarming rate.
Have you heard of any plans or rumours of more sales and/or transfers?
If you have, please contact the Grapevine (details below) and let us know.
We will let the community know about these developments and try to develop campaigns to protect and expand public housing and to encourage the NSW Government to adopt policies which prioritise decent housing for all members of our community, protection of heritage, ending over development, and providing public transport and green space.
Some questions about the fish markets proposal
In late November last year the NSW Government unveiled its plans for the new fish markets located on a 3.6 hectare precinct in Blackwattle Bay on Bridge Road in Glebe and planned to open in 2023.
However, there are many outstanding matters of concern. Readers might contact the Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Anthony Roberts, the NSW Minister for Planning and ask them the questions below.
If you get answers please let us know so the Grapevine can share the information across our community.
Funding
The original cost of $250 million for the development is widely expected to increase significantly. How is the government going to pay for this?
Traffic congestion
With an expected 6 million visitors a year, what is being done to mitigate the potential traffic and parking congestion in the area? Where will the increased number of tourist buses park? What steps are being taken to mitigate traffic heading to and from Westconnex?
Housing
The high rise development of up to 2760 new apartments (much larger than Harold Park) on the old site had been excised from any consultation. Why? What are the numbers and types of dwellings for this small sliver of land? What will the numbers of a) private b) affordable and c) social housing be? What extra infrastructure will be available for schools, hospitals, parkland and other services?
Retail space
How will the government deal with increased traffic and parking pressures as a result of the planned 3,000 square metres of extra retail space?
Noise
There are concerns about the noise impacts in the area.. What noise abatement plans, if any, does the government have? How will the distraction of shopping, cafes, etc right next to Glebe Secondary College be dealt with?
Contamination
The development will extend over 140m over the water. This will require dredging and other construction work in Blackwattle Bay which is heavily contaminated. How will the government deal with these pollution issues?
What impact will pylons 140 metres out into the bay have on: tidal flows? Will rubbish collect under the markets? What is to stop a stagnant area created under the markets becoming a pollutant?
Parkland
The proposed building will fill most of the waterfront along Bridge Road between the Wentworth Road and Wattle Street inter-sections, leaving a small plaza at the eastern end.
At 4 storeys high (about as high as the fig trees across the road), it will almost completely eliminate any visual connection between Wentworth Park and Blackwattle Bay. Is this an acceptable sacrifice for residents and park users?
Local MP Jamie Parker comments:
“The details of the new fish market development … are designed to deliver public waterfront land to property developers at the expense of our local community….
The much-needed renewal of Sydney’s waterfront must not come at the price of community access to publicly owned waterfront land or the liveability of our city.”
You are invited to an
INFORMATION EVENING
Answering your questions about the Fish Market plans
Wednesday 13 February
84 Glebe Point Road
6pm
Speakers have been invited from the ALP, the Greens and the community
The Night Economy
Plans are well under way for Glebe Point Road to become a special area for the city’s night economy.
The plans mean Broadway can become a special zone with 24 hour trading and businesses in Glebe Point Road from Broadway down to about the Ancient Briton will have the right to open from 7am till 2 am.
You can see the plans in the Glebe Library.
The community should have a view about such a major change in trading hours. Send your ideas to Council — but be quick! Submissions close on February 8. Contact Julie Prentice Specialist Planner on 9265 9333 or at jprentice@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au. Ms Prentice will accept late submissions if individuals ask her for more time.