You heard it here
Glebe Island or Bays West or ???
the Government will give you a chance to name this place but no chance to live there!
The NSW Government has replied to community reactions to use the land to relieve the housing crisis particularly for the young and those on low incomes with spin and distraction. Here is one paragraph from their letter to Hands off Glebe: ‘Centred on White Bay Power Station, Bays West will further develop as a new arts, culture, nighttime economy and entertainment precinct. The project will deliver between 7,000 and 8,500 new homes, and is close to transport, jobs and services. At least 10 per cent of these homes (700 to 850 dwellings) will be set aside in perpetuity for affordable and essential worker housing.’
These sentiments about entertainment and nighttime economy strike a discordant note in a situation of housing crisis. 10% is a pathetic target for some relief from the housing crisis
Read the full letter on our website – a shocking indictment by a NSW Government that doesn’t care.
The NSW Government has announced that it has set up the Bays West Delivery Authority chaired by Anita Mitchell to run this project. This procedure is usually made up of people who are not very sensitive to the needs of the local population or to the current needs of housing for the good of NSW’s citizens. Instead these people are usually connected with the building industry and private enterprise.
In a move based on show rather than substance is the invitation of the NSW Government to name the new suburb pretending that we have a stake in this massive commercial enterprise. One group has suggested it be called ‘Minnimal’ since it makes a minimal difference to the housing situation. They suggested the name also contains many letters of the Premier’s name.
The Former Fish Market Site
This NSW Government sold this site to Mirvac. The Government claims Mirvac must provide only 7.5% of the site for affordable housing. Once again, the NSW Government has ignored the chance to provide some relief from the housing crisis by providing public housing.
A local GG reader reported this encounter with the Mirvac. “ we wandered around to Bank St to look at the former Fish Market site. Just around the corner in Bank St, bordering the on-ramp to the Anzac Bridge, was a group of people. They were standing in two huddles, some with clipboards and others with pieces of paper.
Being inquisitive, I wondered what they were about, so I stopped to ask them. They openly told me that they were from Mirvac and were looking at the former Fish Market site that they will be developing. As we were standing under one of those very large trees that is very popular with birds, I asked if the trees were to be left standing. I heard one lady a step or two away from me, who appeared to be one of the leaders, say quietly “No”.
What a shame. I’m sure you’ve heard and seen the flocks of birds that swoop and spiral at the end of the day to finally settle in those trees.” This is an edited version of the letter read the full letter on the website.
Cowper St Development
The development on the corner of Cowper St and Wentworth Park Rd, is finished. The development did evict around 30 people and demolished a gem of a building. We were promised an appearance by the Prince’s Trust, but this is not happening still when King Charles was in town, he did visit the site and was told it was an extraordinary piece of urban design. The new building has 75 dwellings comprised of: 3 Studio apartments, 40 1-bedroom apartments, 27 2-bedroom apartments, 6 3-bedroom apartments.
Conflicted about Wentworth Park
News that Wentworth Park will be an urban renewal project is good news. Space for recreation is limited in the inner city, and this move will add a significant improvement. The removal of the Grandstand is unfortunate. The building stores carbon and to remove it will use carbon, so this has an environmental aspect as well. This quite a substantial building could be repurposed. It may be used for several purposes such as indoor and outdoor meetings. Plus, a host of other uses that the community could come up with. The present track could be converted to an athletics track.
Jesse Deacon and Mental Health Issues
Some may remember Jesse Deacon, a 43-year-old man who was fatally shot by NSW Police during a welfare check in his Glebe apartment on July 20, 2023. The inquest into this event was recently concluded. The incident related to a mental health issue which the police had to deal with. One of three officers wrote a letter to the Jesse’s mother in it he said he wanted her to know how ‘deeply sorry’ he was that he was involved in the ‘chain of events that ended with Jesse losing his life.’ There was some discussion of the police’s training or lack of it in relation to mental health issues. The coroner suggested that several lessons be taken from the tragedy that overtook Jesse on that night and the NSW Government has set about implementing them. People experiencing mental health emergencies will be met by healthcare workers as opposed to police. The change comes under a new model being rolled out by the state government, called the Virtual Mental Health Hub. Under the model, the virtual team will advise Triple Zero (000) staff on whether a mental health clinician should attend a call for help, instead of police.
As a result of the inquest on Joel Gauchi the man involved in the Bondi Junction stabbings, the coroner has called for more crisis accommodation for those suffering psychosis. The SMH has called on the NSW Government’s response ‘all talk and no action’. Hands off Glebe renews its call for better services for people with mental health issues. (more info on the website)
Empty Houses need tenants
We are seeking addresses of empty houses to prompt the State Government to fill them with tenants. We ask that if you are aware of an empty public housing place, please send the place’s address, how long approx. it has been empty and a photo, if possible, to Kobi Shetty at balmain@parliament.nsw.gov.au
Homelessness situation in NSW
The latest data modelling from Homelessness NSW and Equity Economics shows that the number of people experiencing homelessness in NSW could be as high as 80,000, with another almost 700,000 people also at risk of homelessness. The latest figures in the 2026 Street Count reveal the severity of the crisis, with 2,308 people counted sleeping rough in NSW this year, up 42% from 2023. These numbers are an indictment on our state.
quote from Jacqui Munro Shadow Assistant Minister for Innovation, NSW
What political parties have been active on housing?
In a poll printed in the SMH 17/07/2026 to the question Who would you trust to handle housing crisis? The answer came back in these percentages ALP 27% Libs 22% One Nation 24% Greens 11%. The Hands off Glebe group has been to many events to protect and extend public housing including demonstrations, candidates’ meetings and housing rallies, vigils, street stalls and so on. Never has any rep of One Nation showed up or expressed any interest or concern about housing to us. We have had support from independents, communists, socialists and the Greens Party. The ALP has been more supportive in opposition than in Government but has been a player. The Lib/National parties have had poor housing policies and practices, but they have done something.
Financial Support for Hands off Glebe
The work of Hands off Glebe is all voluntary and we raise the money to cover the costs of printing the Glebe Grapevine which is about $2,200 per year. Any donation is gladly accepted. Donation via direct bank transfer you can use bsb 659 000 account no. 755 116 (sometimes a bank accepts this number for the account 100153047 this is because a recent amalgamation.) Acc name: HANDS OFF GLEBE- GRAPEVINE, the bank’s name: UNITY BANK.