Locals hit back in response to wharf developers

The Pyrmont Community Group, in conjunction with local residents and businesses, has delivered a comprehensive critical response to developer Toga Group’s submission addressing over 355 public objections.

The objections regarding a proposed Marina extension at Jones Bay Wharf were lodged late last year by members of the community and highlighted a number of key areas of concern including traffic, noise, heritage, visual impact, and contamination.

The PCG, in a further submission to the Department of Planning last week, responded by saying Toga had failed to adequately address the concerns of the community and in some instances had perpetuated a misleading representation of the state of the wharf.

“The visual impact images provided in support of the increased numbers and size of the vessels being berthed are technically inadequate, misleading and prejudicial to any assessment,” stated the group’s submission.

The PCG’s submission also expresses concern over Toga’s approach to community consultation regarding construction and operation noise from the development.

“The applicant seeks to delay any consultation with the community on the construction and operating noise until the start of construction. How constraining is this on any objection and community consultation.”

The developer’s response, prepared by infrastructure consultants RPS Group was submitted to the Department of Planning on February 16.

It contains a series of specialist consultants’ reports all which support Toga’s plans to manage environmental and heritage issues raised by the City of Sydney and the PCG.

One of the key issues at stake is the impact of the increase in water coverage by boats berthing at the marina on the views both from Jones Bay Wharf and Darling Island.

Damien Hawcroft, co-convener of ‘Save Jones Bay Wharf’ group and Jones Bay Wharf office tenant, believes Toga is understating the potential effect of the increased capacity on the eastern bay.

“In Toga’s response … it states that the impact of this change is considered to be minor,” he stated in a submission.

“How can a 164 per cent increase in water coverage of the eastern bay be a “minor” impact?

“Conversely, how can a reduction in “clear” water on the eastern side of the wharf from 75 per cent to 33 per cent be regarded as a “minor” impact?”

While the Coalition has committed to repealing the contentious Part 3A planning laws under which the development falls, President of the PCG, Jean Stuart, said the community should remain vigilant in their opposition.

“At our meeting with the Shadow Planning Minister Brad Hazzard he assured us that the DA would not be granted under Part 3A if the Coalition were to be elected in March,” said Ms Stuart.

“However we need to be vigilant to prevent this DA from going ahead and our little bay destroyed. Views to and from the harbour to the heritage wharf must be preserved and the traffic congestion decreased not increased.”