Swing Bridge Restoration Welcomed, But Port Facilities To Be Lost In Bays West Housing Plan

Beyond the promise of new homes in an upcoming suburb, the announced restoration of the Glebe Island Bridge has been welcomed — less so the loss of adjacent port facilities.

Bays West will extend from Rozelle Bay and the White Bay Power Station eastward across a dramatically redeveloped Glebe Island. It will join the litany of small harbourside suburbs, such as Dawes Point and Lavender Bay.

Before 1995, the heritage-listed Glebe Island Bridge carried traffic to and from the city centre. It now sits dilapidated and open. Once a necessary part of Sydneysiders’ daily commutes, its survival became unassured.

Glebe Island is home to Sydney Harbour’s last working port, facilitating significant cement, gypsum and sugar imports. It also enables major festivities, including for New Year’s Eve, Australia Day, Vivid and SailGP.

Cement imports will be diverted to Port Kembla. A staging area for cultural events will be established in adjacent White Bay. A new home is also promised there for the Sydney Heritage Fleet, currently based in Rozelle Bay.

In any major city, space is precious. This fact belies all feuds between the Minns Government and development opponents. The City Hub highlights what plans for the site entail for locals, and Sydney at large — other than 8,500 new homes.

Inner West mayor hails bridge restoration

Inner West mayor Darcy Byrne said that the Council “has fought long and hard” for the reopening of the Glebe Island Bridge, and public access to the foreshore.

“This announcement is the culmination of that fight. Connecting the Balmain Peninsula directly to the CBD with an easy ten-minute stroll is the key to bringing the whole Bays Precinct to life.”

“In order to make this whole development stack up, the Government needs to get moving on delivering this much-needed connection. There’s no need to wait for the design and construction of the new housing for the bridge to be delivered. We’ll be pushing hard to have it expedited and won’t stop until it’s actually open.”

Reopening bridge to pedestrians will improve connectivity, says MP

Balmain Greens MLA Kobi Shetty said that the “commitment to re-open the Glebe Island Bridge is a massive win for our community, who have been pushing for this missing link for more than a decade.”

“In the last year, we’ve had almost 1,500 people sign a petition supporting the return of the Glebe Island Bridge, and just two weeks ago hundreds of people came together for a community day of action to push the Government to act.”

“Reopening the bridge will make it much easier for people walking and cycling between Rozelle and Pyrmont. It’ll really improve our travel options and should make more people comfortable to leave the car at home.”

“This is the sort of investment we need the Government to be making when it comes to walking and cycling infrastructure, especially with thousands more homes on the way at Blackwattle Bay and Bays West. I’ll be pushing the Minister to make sure the bridge is delivered as a priority. It should be up and running before people are moving into their new homes in the Bays Precinct.”

Port is “a crucial pillar to Sydney’s ecosystem,” says industry group

Mary Osmond is the CEO of the Tourism & Transport Forum, part of the Sydney Working Port Coalition. She said that the forum “finds the decision to close Sydney’s last working port at Glebe Island a deeply disappointing outcome.”

 “This port has supported Sydney’s economy, safety, and growth for more than 150 years, and its loss will permanently change the nature and function of our world-famous harbour.”

“A crucial pillar to Sydney’s ecosystem, this was never an either-or choice. Glebe Island is a critical hub for jobs, major infrastructure projects, and iconic events,” Osmond said.

 She argued that housing and port functionality should be balanced. “A hybrid solution could have delivered both housing and a working harbour, and it is regrettable that this opportunity has been lost.” 

Osmond added that the TTF will continue to promote “practical solutions that protect both economic activity and community interests.”

Major port operations are due to cease by 2030. The Government has pledged to spend $270 million on upgrading roadways around Port Kembla and investigating ways to increase railway capacity.