White Bay access under attack

Sydney Ports Corporation released its proposals for public access to the White Bay Cruise Passenger Terminal on March 11; much to the dismay of various local groups and politicians.

The corporation flagged that there are two preferred public access locations to the White Bay area: Robert St and Grafton St. The proposal included disabled access and public toilet facilities.

A spokesman for the corporation said the proposal follows two community workshops about the White Bay precinct. “Sydney Ports has listened to the community over options for public access to the new Cruise Passenger Terminal at White Bay,” he said.

“Sydney Ports convened two workshops to enable the community, local business and Council to provide feedback on potential public access points,” said the spokesman. “Sydney Ports will now review the preferred locations… [and] will report back to the community, local business and Council in around a month’s time.”

President of the Friends of White Bay community group, Michael Lehmann, said the proposals under delivered on the desires of the community. “Balmain and Leichardt areas need more open space…Very little [of the community’s requests] were agreed to by Sydney Ports,” he said.

Balmain precinct secretary and community representative for the Sydney Ports liaison group, Christina Ritchie, was also critical of the proposals. “The public amenity needs of the fast-growing, high-density residential Balmain Peninsula are still being ignored. There is nothing being provided worth having access to,” she said.

Mr Lehmann said other community groups in the area supported his view.

Leichhardt Councillors Darcy Byrne, Gordon Weiss and John Stamolis also opposed the proposal. All three councillors unanimously called for the White Bay Function Centre to be removed.

Cr Stamolis has vociferously opposed various proposals by Sydney Ports regarding the White Bay precinct.

Cr Stamolis said the proposals will have a negative impact on the high density housing in the locality.

He said the use of White Bay for cruise ships denied public access more generally. He said in the holiday month of December, the public will not be able to access the White Bay precinct for 26 of 31 days due to cruise events.

Mr Lehmann, like Cr Stamolis, said the proposals should be more ambitious and called for Sydney Ports to create a foreshore walk, open other wharves at White Bay when unused and allow for 24 hour public access.

By Fabian Di Lizia