Sydney Fish Markets not off the hook

The Pyrmont/ Ultimo community are disappointed the Sydney Fish Markets has dumped its 40 million dollar redevelopment plans.

Shareholders knocked back the proposal earlier this month despite the Government’s 20 million dollar contribution to revamping the tourist destination.

“We’re disappointed,” said Convenor of the Blackwattle Bay Coalition Cove, John Brooks.

“It’s all part of the piecemeal development in the area.”

Mary Mortimer, Convenor for the Council of Pyrmont/ Ultimo Associations (CUPA), agreed.

“It’s a heavily visited tourist site… but generally people don’t stay long because it’s so smelly and dirty and there’s no access to the water.”

Ms Mortimer said the wharf was overrun by ibises and there was “no real way of managing the rubbish or waste.”

Sydney Fish Markets spokesperson, Belinda Toward, said the plans were scrapped because shopkeepers did not support the move.

“Sydney Fish Market Tenants and Merchants Pty Ltd were concerned Sydney Fish Market could not support expanded retail activity,” said Ms Toward.

But Ms Mortimer speculates the decision was motivated by commercial interests.

“Their board said they didn’t want to spend the money because it wouldn’t bring them any more business and if there were more businesses it would increase competition for them.

“My view on that is tough titties,” she said.

“That’s the commercial world.”

The Fish Markets is currently looking to maintain and repair aspects of its site. This will involve re-surfacing the car park and improving drainage.

But community groups don’t think this is enough.

Quoting Sydney Fish Market CEO Graham Turk, Ms Mortimer said: “It’s lipstick on the bulldog.

“It’s patching, it’s not going to give any substantial improvement [to the Fish Markets].”