Alarm raised on Glebe Island Convention Centre

Construction of the interim Glebe Island Convention Centre will begin this month, with contracts for the project now finalised.

Infrastructure NSW (INSW) has signed papers with four separate companies to build the temporary facility, which will help meet Sydney’s convention and exhibition needs while the city’s existing plenary centres at Darling Harbour are rebuilt and expanded.

INSW Project Director Tim Parker said contracts were exchanged with Lend Lease, AEG Ogden, GL Events and Pacific Pontoons to build the interim centre, which is expected to open in February.

But concerns have been raised about the practicalities of the plan, and whether the facility will indeed be temporary. The State Government has given no guarantee that Glebe Island will revert to another use once the convention and exhibition facilities at Darling Harbour are completed.

The Member for Balmain, Greens MP Jamie Parker, said: “We need the government to ensure that this will indeed be a temporary convention centre and it won’t be kept open beyond what is absolutely necessary.”

Mr Parker called for more information on transport arrangements for the centre, and said the old Glebe Island Bridge should be reopened to pedestrian and bicycle traffic, to service the site.

Member for Sydney Alex Greenwich said Sydney would need interim facilities during the Darling Harbour reconstruction period but expressed misgivings about the Glebe Island plan.

“There are serious concerns about access, including transport for large numbers of patrons,” said Mr Greenwich.

“The government should rule out any permanent development for Glebe Island until an integrated long term master plan of the entire Bays Precinct is finalised, following extensive community input.”

Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore said it was appropriate for the State Government to provide alternative convention and exhibition facilities while those at Darling Harbour were rebuilt.

Ms Moore said she was focused on the opportunities the redevelopment of Darling Harbour afforded.

“The most important aspect of the redevelopment of Darling Harbour is rectifying the decades-old mistake of turning the precinct’s back on the city centre,” said the Lord Mayor.

“Better connections to the southern CBD, Haymarket, Pyrmont and Ultimo will help create a lively and enticing area [where it] currently feels isolated.”

The new convention and exhibition facilities at Darling Harbour are expected to open in late 2016.

Glebe Island was formerly a major port facility, receiving the bulk of Sydney’s imported cars until it was decommissioned in 2008. While referred to an island, the site has long been connected to the mainland via landfill.