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A cultural and arts precinct
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Local resident, David Tretheway has submitted White Bay Redevelopment- A Good Proposal. What do you think?
This online discussion forum has concluded. You can still browse the site but the discussion area will no longer accept new comments or votes.
Comment 1 3 Nov 2009, 4:59 PM
A good start.
-Road access via James Craig Road (or similar) is an absolute must - no one will be happy with more congestion at the Robert St/Victoria Road junction.
-Film studio (or similar) is a good idea for this area, but will need to be viable - Fox is suffering with AUD so strong
- Foreshore access/public space looks good
- Some attempt to give character with port characteristics is good.
- Not much discussion on the cruise terminal or Glebe island, so hard to comment on these aspects
Comment 1.1 4 Nov 2009, 1:17 AM
I think there is a real lack of understanding of what already exists currently in White Bay. This area has deep water wharf access, which can never be built again in Sydney Harbour. To turn it into Public open spaces including community gardens, parking, and walkways borders on the ridiculous
As a Balmain resident who does avail myself of the many and various open spaces on the peninsula I can tell you that these areas are sadly underutilised. Most residents of the area do not take advantage of the facilities already on offer.
To turn an area that has been a more…
Comment 1.1.1 5 Nov 2009, 9:34 AM
Seagull, thanks for providing such a great example of how abused the term "community" has become.
Four self-appointed individuals:
- opine on matters that will affect stakeholders way beyond the local area, without any consultation with them
- come up with a conclusion that is unrealistic, intellectually bankrupt (ie: let's restore the shoreline to its indigenous state but we'll keep our houses and landrovers thanks) and horrifically expensive in both immediate and opportunity costs (no doubt they expect the state and federal governments should pay for their 'vision' too)
- then have the audicity to actually plonk it in their minutes as being "the community's preference"
Did they, at any point, consider that perhaps the 'community' is bigger than "me and 3 people who I agree with?"
What I find disgraceful, as a local ratepayer, is that Leichhardt Council actually gives these groups status and publishes this guff as an example of "open government".
As I have said previously on these blogs, I am absolutely sick of self-appointed, unrespresentative individuals perporting to respresent ME. They do not. You want to represent the local community? Stand for election!
Comment 1.1.2 10 Nov 2009, 8:46 AM
I'm perfectly aware of what currently exists at White Bay - a deepwater wharf, used about 50% of the time by large commercial vessels, with little or no impact with the local community, and minimal traffic impact. Personally, I don't have a problem with that. My main question would be why is this the best option for White Bay? From what I can see, the berthing work done currently in White Bay could be done anywhere - there's nothing requiring it to be in Sydney Harbour.
Also, please don't assert that all wharf usage is the same - a cruise ship twice a week is vastly different to the current commercial operations.
We have an opportunity to make some changes, which could make things better or worse. The status quo is one option, building parks another, building commercial or residential real estate another, cruise ships another. If the status quo is the best option on balance, then fine. But hanging on to existing uses at all costs would mean Ballast Point would still be an oil terminal (there's only one left in the harbour now...).
Comment 2 4 Nov 2009, 5:32 PM
I have to admit i'm not too keen on a film studio. I would rather see this space used by local, smaller artists who can bring more character to the area.
I still think the power station is an ideal location for the fish markets to move to, as they currently suffer from inadequate space at their existing location. It would help restore life and character to this decrepit yet historically significant building
As for the green space, i really like what they have done at Blaxland Park / Newington Armoury. Parkland with charismatic cafes would be ideal.
I still firmly oppose more…
Comment 3 5 Nov 2009, 6:35 PM
I think David Tretheway's idea has some merit, and as I have said all along, the development should be in the area where it is most accessible to people. This plan, conceptually, captures that. The problem with the development of these types of places on an isolated point, such as WB% or 6 is the bottlenecks that they cause - one road in and one road out.
Comment 4 8 Nov 2009, 8:46 AM
Good. But transport comment...
White Bay Metro stop will not be viable with only water and green space around it - you need higher density traffic generating things like housing or offices right on top of it for that. This means that this proposal would not have Metro access to the proposed commercial development, because the station would not get built just for film-makers. Thus there would be car traffic generated.
Also, I suspect this would all cost so much that the Gov't wouldn't pay for it, unless the film making was substituted for something a lot more profitable so that private sector would join in - not sure what, given that presumably new offices would want to be in N. Syd/Macquarie Park rather than inner west?
