Has the horse bolted on Bailey’s?

“It’s significant that we talk about the importance of Sydney Harbour – the value of the inner harbour to the community, corporate as well as residential – and then for the State Government to turn around and put a fuel dump on that headland, for me, beggars belief.”

Giacomo Latella has lived next door to the container berth at White Bay for 27 years, and has seen plenty of operators come and go in that time. But even for someone who bought into the area in full knowledge of, and accepting of, the noise and disruption, the recently-signed lease for Bailey’s Marine to construct a marine refuelling depot on the headland is a step too far.

“The reality is that ‘working harbour’ is not all Sunday sailing and a lovely tugboat chugging along a still inner harbour,” he said. “That is lovely – but it’s not the reality. It’s no longer the 1880s, it’s no longer sailing ships and quiet tugboats. Nowadays, it’s about generators and the very powerful engines of ships that are coming through – you can feel them reverberate through your building.”

Balmain state Labor MP Verity Firth reiterated her belief in operational restrictions as effectively minimising the impact on residents in the area. “Members of the community would know that I fought against this facility and I believe that there are better uses for this site,” she said. “However, a number of planning conditions are imposed on Bailey’s Marine in response to community views, including restricted operating hours and noise controls. I will be fighting to ensure that these are strictly enforced.”

But her assurance cut little ice with Mr Latella. “From what I understood, it’s going to be a 24-hour service, and all they’re going to do, as I think Verity Firth said, is ask them to ‘be quiet’. She seems to put all her effort into stopping a rock concert for the people on New Year’s Eve, but she’s doing nothing about this,” he said.

Ms Firth argues the lease is “only until 2020, meaning the site can be included in the holistic future planning for the Bays Precinct.” Cabinet approval is required for continued operation of the site beyond that date.

However, this argument was rejected by Balmain Precinct Chairman Tom Denovan, who argued it was likely an extension to the lease would be approved past that date. “It’s virtually inevitable an extension to the lease will be rubber-stamped when the time comes,” he said.

With the $8 million lease signed late last month, independent Leichhardt councillor John Stamolis has been calling upon the State Opposition to rescind approval for the lease, citing recent comments made by leader Barry O’Farrell that, if elected, he would not be bound by agreements recently entered into by Premier Kristina Keneally.

But in a response to Cr Stamolis, Shadow Minister for Planning and Infrastructure Brad Hazzard declined to back his call in the event a State Coalition government was elected in March.

“We don’t know the details of the lease, which makes it difficult to discuss,” Mr Hazzard told the Independent. “But if there is a legal position that Bailey’s have lawfully obtained, then we would support that. With respect to Bailey’s, the issue of legal retrospectivity is a far bigger issue than anything else.”

Nevertheless, Cr Stamolis remained resolute in his opposition. “The Bailey’s development is virtually unanimously opposed by all who see this spectacular location and who are alarmed by its proximity to local residences,” he said. “There is now a perfect opportunity for the State Opposition to make a strong statement about Part 3A, community consultation and participation, and protection of our harbour foreshores.”

At the most recent Council meeting, the three Liberal councillors voted against the latest motion to oppose the Bailey’s development. Councillor Gordon Weiss argued that despite his belief White Bay was an inappropriate location, the project had progressed to the point it was time to “move on and focus attention elsewhere.”

Labor councillor Darcy Byrne agreed, saying that while he likewise did not support the location of Bailey’s at White Bay, he agreed with Cr Weiss that “it was disappointing to see Council constantly wasting ratepayers’ time and resources opposing things.”