Locals keep fighting to stop ‘wedding factory’
BY GEORGIA FULLERTON
An ongoing proposal to redevelop six historic buildings into a ‘world class entertainment precinct’ on the southern head of Sydney Harbour has been met with opposition from Watsons Bay residents and Sydney MPs.
Environment minister Mark Speakman will be given consolidated information by the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage in early May and will make a decision as to whether to award the lease.
In August last year, The National Parks and Wildlife Service unveiled the project, which would include a 120-seat licenced restaurant and a functions area that would cater for 570 people until midnight.
The tender to occupy the six buildings was won by Chris Drivas from Dockside Group, who has large function centres in Darling Harbour and The Rocks.
Roger Bayliss, a Spokesperson for Save Watsons Bay, said there was no consultation with the community. “Between October 2013 and August 2015, the community was told nothing about the preferred proposal. Working up the proposal was done in complete isolation by the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage.”
“We remain aghast that any responsible government agency could operate in such a devious manner, especially an agency tasked with the stewardship of precious national parks.”
Mr Bayliss said the land is a priceless asset for the public, “The Gap Bluff/South Head area is arguably one of Sydney’s most precious urban national parks. To degrade its natural attractiveness, public use and environment by creating a ‘world class entertainment precinct’ is simply a dysfunctional diversion of natural parklands, predicated purely on commercial returns from high-volume entertainment activities.”
The area is already home to The Watsons Bay Boutique Hotel, which has a capacity of 800 patrons, Dunbar House, a function centre that specialises in Weddings, and seafood restaurant Doyles on The Beach, which has led to a high volume of traffic and a limited amount of parking on weekends.
On March 17, residents took 12,000 signitures to the NSW Legislative Assembly and heard speeches from MPs including member for Sydney, Alex Greenwich, member for Newtown Jenny Leong and Vaucluse MP and NSW State Attorney General Gabrielle Upton.
Mrs Upton said: “Watsons Bay is a peninsula of unique natural beauty in my electorate. Watsons Bay is a destination suburb and peninsula. It is a tight-knit community and quiet residential neighbourhood that generously shares its home with visitors, both local and international. I will fight so its unique character and beauty are never compromised.”
Mr Drivas was contacted by City Hub but did not respond in time for print21
