Momentary sigh of relief for locals

Community groups are thrilled the architectural plans for Blackwattle Bay Marina have been withdrawn.

Leading architectural firm Kann Finch withdrew their design for the 26 million dollar redevelopment of areas B1 and B2 earlier this month.

“It was completely against the Masterplan,” said Convenor of Blackwattle Cove Coalition, John Brooks.

The Rozelle Bay and Blackwattle Bay Precinct Master Plan states buildings cannot obstruct views to the bay along designated view corridors.

Mr Brooks said the proposed plans blocked waterfront views from Wentworth Park and meant “you may as well be sitting in the middle of the city.”

Accessing the waterfront was another issue for locals.

“The area is part of the city’s foreshore walk but the design and the proposal didn’t take any account for public access to the waterfront,” said Convenor for Council of Ultimo/Pyrmont Associations (CUPA), Mary Mortimer.

The proposed design is no longer available for use after Kann Finch was decommissioned for the project.

“I have no idea why our services were not retained,” said Kann Finch Director Trevor De Waal.

“But it was part of our agreement if we were not retained we would retain the copyright [to the design].

“As such no other party has the right to use that design as provided.”

But All Occasion Cruises, the group responsible for redeveloping Blackwattle Bay Marina, said otherwise.

“The plans have not been withdrawn,” said Managing Director of the company, Joe Elias.

Mr Elias maintained the design “was fully compliant with the Masterplan” but was subject to review.

“The stakeholder consultation has indicated a desire to review aspects of the Masterplan, particularly in respect of how it impacts safe operations for the site.”

NSW Maritime awarded the multi-million dollar project to All Occasion Cruises in 2009.

A development application was expected to be lodged mid this year but has yet to be received.

“The process for obtaining planning approval has been subject to the repeal of Part 3A,” said Mr Elias.

When asked when a DA could be expected Mr Elias said: “It is not possible to anticipate the timing as the process has yet to be defined by the Department.”

In the meantime, community groups continue to plead with the state government to reconsider the redevelopment plans.

“We have been writing to government saying please don’t do anything long term til there’s a cohesive plan,” said Mr Brooks.

“[Blackwattle Bay] is a very important part of Sydney for which there is no plan.

“The whole point of this is it should be done in a much broader bay context,” he said.

“It’s an architectural graveyard at the moment and we want to see that changed.”

Member of the Blackwattle Bay Cove Coalition, Robert Gavagna, said the proposal left B3, the Hanson Concrete Batching Plant, “as a re-developmental orphan.

“If you were going to redevelop the foreshore wouldn’t you want to redevelop the whole thing?” Mr Gavagna said.

Mr Elias said ensuring a sustainable future was part of plans for the site and “if some integration can be done to the neighbouring properties this would be a better outcome.

“A consultation process will be undertaken as part of the planning consent which will address these issues.”