The NSW Government’s proposal to turn Glebe Island and White Bay into a dynamic technology city can transform this run down precinct, says the Urban Taskforce.
“Shipping uses have mainly transferred to Botany Bay so sites like Glebe Island and White Bay are ripe for urban renewal,” says Urban Taskforce CEO, Chris Johnson. “The temporary exhibition centre on Glebe Island will not be needed when the new centre is completed at Darling Harbour in just over a year so planning must start now for new uses.”
“It is important that the NSW Government limits port activities on Glebe Island in the short term to the wharfage adjacent to the silos and looks towards relocating these port activities to Port Botany within a few years. This will free up the waterfront for public access and ensure that a continuous walkway around Sydney Harbour can be realized.”
“The NSW Government’s preference for a technology hub on Glebe Island and White Bay needs to be tested by market interest. The focus on high end jobs is appropriate for such an iconic site but comparisons with similar centres in London and New York need to be balanced by an understanding of the much higher populations in those cities.”
“The NSW Premier in outlining his vision for the Bays Precinct also announced the winner of the Bradfield Scholarship, Caitlin Hanrahan. Caitlin outlined her concept of creating CLDs (Central Living Districts) rather than CBDs (Central Business Districts) and this would seem to be very appropriate for Glebe Island and White Bay.”
“The Urban Taskforce would like to see both Glebe Island and the White Bay Power Station precinct developed as Central Living Districts with a strong focus on technology jobs and with significant residential development. Public access to the waterfront is important on both sites.”
“Public transport connections from Glebe Island to the centre of Sydney city will be important to resolve. If the Bays site are developed fully then a light rail connection may not be adequate to get quick access to the city and a future metro that duplicated the Western heavy rail line could connect with a Glebe Island station as well as improving the Sydney Olympic sites connectivity.”
