Bays Precinct needs development not just port uses

7 October 2012

The Bays Precinct comprising Glebe Island and White Bay has become empty derelict sites that need to be developed, says the Urban Taskforce.

“These large waterfront government owned sites have been empty for years”, says Urban Taskforce CEO Chris Johnson.  “The relatively small amount of port usage for dry bulk can still continue next to the silos while the rest of the site can easily be developed.”

“The White Bay Power Station has been empty for the last 30 years and there is no sign of a use that could fit the excessive heritage requirements.”

“The Conservation Management Plan seems to require the retention of everything including the rusted finish to the cladding.  It also prohibits any new buildings that would obstruct views of the Power Station from Observatory Hill and even from the Harbour Bridge.”

“With these constraints the White Bay Power Station will remain an empty shell for another 30 years.”

“The Urban Taskforce understands that the port use at Glebe Island is for dry bulk which includes salt, gypsum and cement.  It is understood that increased need for sand and aggregate is planned due to dwindling supplies in Sydney, but our research shows that this can still be accommodated next to the existing silos.”

“The Urban Taskforce asked three architects to develop schemes for the empty land with a range of heights.  The scheme by FKM allows for eight residential towers of a similar height to the towers at Jackson‘s Landing across the water in Pyrmont.”

“Innovarchi prepared a ‘lighthouse’ tower 200 metres tall which would be a 60 storey tower that could become a new icon for the inner harbour.”

“Marchese Partners developed a medium rise scheme ranging from 4 to 9 storeys in height.”

“The term LAZY ASSETS has been used to describe underutilised assets and the Urban Taskforce believes that a thorough analysis is needed of all government owned land, especially waterfront land.  We support the role of the special taskforce established by the government to look into the issue of underutilised land.”

“The fact that the government is able to locate a temporary exhibition centre, on the Glebe Island site until 2016 indicates that it is underutilised.  We need to be planning now for future uses.”

An issue of Urban Ideas explaining in detail the proposals for the Bays Precinct can be view here.

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Radio coverage: 8th Oct