More on the fish markets
Hands off Glebe Inc held an information evening on 13 February about the fish market development. Over 70 people attended and discussed the many community concerns. UrbanGrowth NSW then sent Hands off Glebe a letter responding to some of these issues (see pages 2 & 3). Unfortunately the letter does not answer many of our concerns about traffic congestion, Wentworth Park, noise, contamination of the bay and more.
Curious
The letter from UrbanGrowth NSW includes replies to “masterplan questions from Hands off Glebe”. But the “questions” are in fact community views that came out of a survey. The survey results were sent to UrbanGrowth on three occasions but they denied ever receiving them. Now UrbanGrowth has apparently got the survey results but has turned our views into “questions”. Very curious.
If you want a copy of the survey results, email us at glebegrapevine@gmail.com
UrbanGrowth NSW replies to community concerns about the fish markets
UrbanGrowth NSW wrote to Hands off Glebe with the following comments on the issues raised at our public meeting. Below we publish extracts from this letter. If you would like a full copy of the letter, email us at glebegrapevine@gmail.com
Wentworth Park
There will be no development on Wentworth Park or impact on the existing Fig trees. Wentworth Park will remain as public open space managed by the City of Sydney.
Visual connections between the park and Blackwattle Bay will also be improved at the Bridge Road intersections of Wentworth Park Road and Wattle Street so you can see the water which is currently blocked by industrial structures.
Bridge Road and traffic
The traffic lanes on Bridge Road will be widened to current standards and will accommodate drop off zones. A new footpath, which will be approximately 12 metres wide on the same side as the fish market, will include shared cycle lanes and provide safer access for pedestrians.
The new market will have greater light rail access with three stations within 400 m, as well as a ferry service. We are working with government and a range of stakeholders on a precinct-wide parking and transport mobility strategy for the future, which includes improved bus services.
Contamination
There will be no dredging, instead a piling method with a cofferdam and silt curtains will be used. Piling is preferred over dredging in most Sydney Harbour projects to minimise interface risks associated with existing pollutants. It is successfully used for most wharf structures in Sydney Harbour.
Relocating the Fish Market
The NSW Government’s vision is to create an authentic, rejuvenated fish market on Sydney’s inner harbour that will be dynamic, sustainable, and sympathetic to the local area. This vision has been informed by the community’s aspirations and feedback from the extensive public consultation that UrbanGrowth NSW has undertaken since 2014.
Glebe Grapevine comments:
The Glebe Grapevine does not think that the UrbanGrowth responses adequately answer the many community concerns about the fish market development.
We recommend that readers go to Issue 1 of 2019 of the Glebe Society newsletter which has an excellent article on the fish market by Lesley Lynch.
Go to www.glebesociety.org.au/publications/bulletin to access the article.