Industry members will be familiar with parts of this precinct that includes the Rozelle Bay Marine Precinct, home of numerous marine businesses including the Sydney Superyacht Marina and Sydney Boathouse. It also includes Glebe Island, which was the interim home of the Sydney International Boat Show for three years between 2014 to 2016 whilst the new facility at Darling Harbour was built.
Minister Stokes said, “The community told us loud and clear that Bays West’s history must be a focal point of its future – which is why the Glebe Island Bridge and White Bay Power station are centrepieces of the new vision.
Our plan is to open up the foreshore and create a continuous link from Rozelle all the way to Balmain and between Pyrmont and White Bay.
The first phase of remediation works is already underway at the White Bay Power Station and we are exploring options for long term management of the Glebe Island Bridge and active transport links for pedestrians and cyclists”
The Government web site reports the following.
Bays West comprises areas including Rozelle Bay, Rozelle Rail Yards, White Bay, Glebe Island and White Bay Power Station.
This stretch of Country – both land and water – has for thousands of generations, supported local Aboriginal people to live an abundant and sustainable lifestyle. Bays West has done so from its Aboriginal origins, through the industrial age, to its present-day use as a significant harbour-side precinct supporting ports and a working harbour, framed by decommissioned heritage structures and important arterial road infrastructure.
The Bays West of the future will evolve over time into a mixed-use precinct that is an innovative and sustainable new place for living, working and recreation.
The Bays West Place Strategy will guide the transformation of Bays West into the future.
The place strategy was finalised on 15 November 2021 and has been adopted through a Ministerial Direction under Section 9.1 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act. See the Section 9.1 Direction map.
The place strategy does not rezone land. It sets the future vision for Bays West and outlines steps to ensure investment and infrastructure is aligned to anticipated growth.
Feedback from the exhibition showed the community supports our vision for Bays West as a vibrant harbourside precinct that celebrates its past while looking to the future.
We have responded to the feedback by amending the place strategy to ensure public spaces are accessible, explore opportunities to create Aboriginal cultural spaces and facilities, better protect and allow future opportunities for the White Bay Power Station, and investigate future options for Glebe Island Bridge.
The draft place strategy has been built on our Bays West Connecting with Country framework which acknowledges the history, culture and continuing connection of First Nations People to Bays West.
What happens next?
We are now preparing a draft master plan for the White Bay Power Station (and Metro) sub-precinct to be exhibited next year. The master plan will be guided by the place strategy and will provide more details for key elements such as building height, land use and density.
The White Bay Power Station (and Metro) sub-precinct master plan will inform the rezoning process, which will establish the planning framework for the sub-precinct.
Master planning and rezoning for the remaining sub-precincts will be undertaken over time.
Community feedback will be sought on the draft master plans and subsequent rezoning proposals to help shape the future of Bays West.
The Department of Planning, Industry and Environment has prepared a place strategy to guide the transformation of Bays West into the future.
The place strategy builds upon previous urban renewal work in the wider Bays Precinct and creates a long-term vision for Bays West to be delivered over time. This is a vision for a connected and vibrant precinct that is an innovative and sustainable new place for living, working and recreation.
The draft strategy was exhibited from 22 March to 29 April 2021.
Those wishing to read more or to register for updates can do so at the following link: https://www.planning.nsw.gov.au/Plans-for-your-area/State-Significant-Precincts/The-Bays/Bays-West
To keep all interested in the project informed, the Government have shared numerous documents. They can be found following.
Bays West Place strategy V7 Bays West Strategic Place-Framework Bays West Consultations Summary Bays West Place strategy FAQ Bays West Map Section 91 Direction
