Issue 10 of 2019 (Dec 2019 – Feb 2020) ISSN 1836-599X Public submissions show strong opposition to Infrastructure NSW’s plans for the new Sydney Fish Market The deadline for You can read the Society’s full submissions here: From the President submissions in response Concept and Stage 1: to the DAs for the redevelopment of the https://www.planningportal.nsw.gov.au/major- Sydney Fish Market projects/submission/595431; (SFM) was 13 November Stage 2: 2019. The Society’s https://www.planningportal.nsw.gov.au/major- submission concentrated projects/submission/594126. on the following issues: Please note that there are individual links to each of ➢ A lack of an the two submissions, however as the DAs for stages acceptable financial 1 and 2 were almost identical, so are the business case that submissions. justifies the additional expenditure of building Whilst the DAs were open for comment, there was over water versus some interesting discussion amongst the redeveloping the current community regarding the pros and cons of the land site. redevelopment. It is important that those discussions occur and views are expressed. Thank ➢ The early release of the SFM proposals prior to you if you joined the conversations on Facebook and the finalisation of the master plan for the Bays Twitter. Precinct, due to be completed in 2020. You will notice when reading our submissions, that ➢ Notwithstanding the SFM is considered a State we spent a lot of time ploughing through the detail, Significant Development, the disregard for the and special thanks must go to Asa Wahlquist for her current regulations that ensure that the use and meticulous research and time spent writing the enjoyment of the Harbour is for the public good, submissions. ahead of private interests. While we will continue to fight for the redevelopment ➢ The impact on, and damage to, the biodiversity of Blackwattle Bay. on the current site, the points raised in our submission hopefully should put the Government on ➢ The projections in relation to the transport notice that they have many issues to face up to and networks do not include all other development resolve, regardless of the location. activity, be they private or public, that will occur in the area over the medium to short term. It is apparent that we will be very busy next year engaging with the Government on their master ➢ The lost opportunity to complete the Glebe planning for the Bays Precinct. We already have a foreshore walk across the head of Blackwattle small working group, but we would welcome Bay, together with the loss of the Harbour / additional members who may have some expertise Wentworth Park amenity. and/or capacity to join and influence outcomes. ➢ The foreshore walk, as proposed, will be In the meantime, if seafood is on your menu for discriminatory to mobility impaired people, in Christmas Day and the holiday period, ENJOY. that, if you are unable to climb the external stairs when travelling from Glebe to Pyrmont On behalf of the Management Committee, Merry you will be forced to enter inside the building Christmas and a prosperous 2020 to all members, and navigate to the lifts. family and friends. Brian Fuller, Glebe Society President Looking south-east from the public walkway of Blackwattle Bay Park, outside the Glebe Rowing Club (Photomontage from the DA’s ‘Landscape Character and Visual Impact Assessment’, p.22.) This is over-development on an unprecedented scale for our suburb. The visual amenity of Blackwattle Bay and Wentworth Park will be destroyed by the oversized, hulking mass of the proposed new Sydney Fish Market. A quick review of the submissions to the DAs for the proposed Sydney Fish Market, Concept and Stage 1, by Asa Wahlquist Overall there are 183 submissions, 150 from the and objected, arguing the plan was not consistent general public, 24 from organisations, and nine from with waterfront use under SEP 26, did not provide public authorities. The vast majority, 96 of the an economic justification and was made in the general public submissions, opposed the DAs. Of absence of a Bays Masterplan – all arguments the these 15 were on the forms we distributed, and Glebe Society also put forward. many of the submissions raised points that were on The public authorities’ responses were all our flyer. There were also a number of form letters ‘comments’ except – and this I think is the best of all from employees of Hansons. – from the Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) In support, there were 18 general public which OBJECTED on the grounds of traffic. The submissions, but of these only five completely Glebe Society believes this is the argument that is endorsed it (one of them came from Orange in most likely to win the day, and it is indeed a rare Central NSW) with the others wanting alterations to experience to have the RMS on our side. the DA, mostly to do with traffic and access. Two RMS made the point that the transport data was specifically mentioned that the Glebe Society did not from 2017, and so might not fully represent the represent their views. increase in traffic due to more recent developments; Many of the 34 comments were actually very critical. that the proposed plans would result in traffic delays The majority were essentially form letters from at the Wattle St/Bridge Rd intersection; there needs members of the Glebe Rowing Club that said they to be a dedicated cycle lane (not one shared with thought the proposal was terrific then went on about pedestrians, which the RMS notes ‘will likely all the changes they wanted to see that would introduce safety concerns’); and the proposed enable the club to continue to use Blackwattle Bay increase in the road level of Bridge Rd between for rowing training. Wattle St and Wentworth Park ‘will require removal From the organisations, nine, mostly from fishing of a significant amount of foliage from the organisations, supported it; eight objected; and six established Moreton Bay fig trees. These are made comments. Friends of Ultimo was listed as considered to be highly important to the community making a comment, but in fact the submission was and should be protected where possible. critical. Pyrmont Action Inc was listed as an Furthermore, the increase in finished level along objection, although it stated they are not opposed to Bridge Rd will potentially exacerbate localised the relocation. They did have a number of strong flooding on the surrounding road network’. objections. The City of Sydney supported the proposal in Mirvac (owner of Broadway Shopping Centre and principle, but followed that with 27 pages of the Tramsheds) applied a good legal mind to the DA criticisms. 2 Glebe Society Bulletin no.10 of 2019 (Dec 2019 – Feb 2020) Infrastructure NSW is now required to respond to the (including the footprint of the structure over the Department of Planning over issues raised in the water and the pedestrian access along the submission by 27 January 2020. It must also waterfront); elements of the design, and parking. respond to a number of issues raised by the Asa Wahlquist Department, which include a comparison of existing Environment Subcommittee Convenor and proposed public domain/accessible areas Letters to the Editor as soon as it was put out! It’s always a fun night and Fish Market DA’s disregard for such a wonderful way of bringing people together equality of access and celebrating this creative, cohesive community. Hi Virginia, Thank you for your continued support for the Show. The Glebe Art Show continues to be a success In response to the Glebe Society (GS) letterbox drop largely due to a dedicated band of volunteers. It’s recently, I made a submission to the state planning the culmination of a year of planning, many body re Sydney Fish Market Development meetings and robust discussion. But even with the proposals. I was disheartened by the proposals’ raffle, entry fees and commission from sales, we general lack of vision and indifference to an could not manage without our wonderful sponsors. opportunity to reclaim this foreshore area for the community use. The list of winners is up on our website www.glebeartshow.org.au and the full catalogue of Thank you to the Glebe Society for issuing this 2019 artworks is available at https://glebe.blue/ communique to members for it also drew my attention to the DA proposals’ disregard for equality Thank you again. of access. Having lived experience of disability (and Kind regards, associated mobility challenges), and feeling strongly Peter Griffen about the issues raised by the Society I felt it President, Glebe Art Show important to lodge a submission listing my concerns and objections. Adventures of a Glebe Society Keep In any case, can you please convey my appreciation Cup of the work the Society is doing on such planning matters, and especially the work of Neil Macindoe, Dear Secretary, the Planning Subcommittee and Brian Fuller in I was amused by my letter being published in the keeping us informed. Glebe Society Bulletin. It reminded me that I’d Regards, forgotten to forward any more of my cup’s Kerri Thorne movements on my round-the-world trip. Here it is in Belgrade. Glebe Art Show and Glebe Society – Tanya Dus closer than ever! Dear Brian, We have enjoyed our closer ties with the Glebe Society this year and really appreciate the practical support that your team have given us in addition to your sponsoring the Character of Glebe Prize. Moving the Show to the Tramsheds continues to be a success with many more visitors, easier access and stronger sales than at our old home, Benledi House and Glebe Library.