Your vision

Demolish the external structures including stacks and coal conveyors (which will fall down shortly anyway) and refurbish the existing turbine halls for use as a TAFE facility-the area has great public transport (particularly if a ferry wharf was built) and a TAFE facility would provide both employment and training opportunities on a large scale to the area. New external buildings would also probably be required for such a facility. The TAFE could possibly specialise in marine trades and associated qualifications which would give a local flavour.

The power station has been left to crumble over the past thirty years- development needs to start soon or total demolition will be the only option.

This is the perfect site for a combined renewable energy R&D centre and museum facility - a bit like Redfern Technology Park but dedicated to renewable energy.

The facility would contain -

1) examples and displays explaining coal fired technology and how the old plant worked.

2) displays documenting Australia's renewable technology pioneers and current projects

3) state of the art laboratories and office space for renewable energy scientists and entrepeneurs.

This could be a major educational and tourist attraction as well as a powerful statement of support for our world leading renewable energy scientists.

Naturally, the complex would be solar powered...

David Eyre

I agree with David Eyre, and I hope these comments build on his concept. I have heard a lot of views over the years on White Bay Power Station. The idea that I like the most is a World Class Environment and Sustainability Centre. The major functions of the centre would be to assist in the education of environmental and sustainability practices relevant to all sectors of the community, large corporations, local councils, small business and the individual households. The centre would cover the following key areas but is not limited too and would change in time.

1) Air and more…

I like all the above suggestions.

I think that the whole development should take place on sustainable principles, and that this should include local power generation, waste disposal and water use/reuse.

My understanding is that power from waste no longer necessarily means burning it, and that there are "bio-reactors" and other fancy methods that can keep these things local yet viable.

I am sure the Power Station could form a part of those process. Presumably the local electricity supply infrastructure goes via the building anyway, and it's low lying location must make it ideal for water capture and treatment.

This dreadful Rees government should not be let anywhere near this project. It will end up in the hands of one of their many donor contractors and we will end up with yet another disaster presided over by their Minister for Planning.

I believe the buildings and grounds need to be preserved. I am concerned that any "new" development in the grounds will detract from the overall impact. A ferry wharf is an excellent idea as it will facilitate tourist visits from Sydney. Use of the part of the structure not required to be preserved needs to be sustainable, so that the Power Station becomes a living part of the community again.

Bulldoze it and use the space for some much needed parkland.

The White Bay power station NEEDS to be maintained and should be converted into a mass solar generating plant of some sort (as i've mentioned else where, I have no idea how this will look or work its just a concept). Parts of it could be tastefully re-cladded with modern facade elements to reflect some of OUR architectural era.

The Whitebay power station would call for a great shopping experience similar to Melbourne central's incorporation of the 50metre brick stack/shot tower.

Its a big, cumbersome but strangely beautiful building, and I’m very fond of it. I hope something can be worked out. Here goes...

Incorporate the new White Bay Metro station inside, then –

1. Make it into a transport museum – for trains (there’s a fabulous example in Broken Hill) and buses and trams. Last I heard the bus museum at Tempe was looking for a new home.

2. Incorporate retail concepts to suit museum visitors, tourists and commuters using the Metro.

3. Its still to big to use economically, so some cross subsidy will be needed. Housing isn’t such a bad option, if the developers design new additional structures to fit with the concept. ie. industrial style waterfront warehouse apartments. Considering the price similiar chic conversions all over the world attract, this should generate enough income for the project.

The key is DESIGN. If it looks good, attracts interest and money, the locals will go along with it. There will always be a noisy minority who oppose everything, but they are all voting Green anyway. Ignore them Minister Keneally and do something that will benefit eveyone!

ps. I do live locally, and am NOT petrified of “development” or change.

If a building is ugly it's ugly. If a building is old and ugly it's still ugly.

Just bulldoze it. Those stacks ruin my sunsets!

perhaps demolish some of the external structures such as the coal conveyers. Then incorperate it into a new, bigger fish market.

I really like what they have done at blaxland park.

I wonder if that pile of rubble, the old White Bay Hotel, is anyone’s “vision” for the future?

Unfortunately, I think it might be.

Just before it burnt down, the owner had a DA knocked back for a commercial hospitality business. I was told that the rejection was because of “resident’s concerns.”

If a modest venture like that is rejected on the basis of a tiny few local’s objections, and the Government is so terrified of loosing the seat of Balmian that it responds to the wishes of a minority of propertied interests, then NOTHING can ever happen to that Power Station.

It will more…

Just expanding on the above (I left it too long for the software to cope with an edit!), some residential, commercial and retail should all be incorporated. It should also be a public transport hub, housing the new Metro and/or Light Rail and ferry/bus of course.

A lot of people are worried about how the Tigers site further up the road will cope with being such a hub. The Power Station is more strategically located.

And any re-use has to incorporate some adaptive, sympathetic treatment of its structure. While it generated power for us, it played a huge part in making us a wealthy society. We have to respect that, and play homage in some way (eg museum etc). To me it's a cathedral to our prosperity.

Preserving its aesthetics would also mark respect for Balmain's working class history. There's precious little of that left, but I am proud of that past.

I strongly disagree with those who want to bulldoze it!

Even though re-use might be difficult and expensive, it is too valuable to let it rot, as (shamefully) it has for many years.

Retail, commercial, residential, cultural, environmental, all are possible, probably some combination of all. There is plenty of land there for further development (residential I hope) which are sympathetic to the area’s industrial flavour, AND have foreshore open space. It doesn’t have to be either/or, the way some people elsewhere have suggested.

I like the way the Walsh Bay finger wharf, the one they had to rebuilt, was designed to blend more…

Good points above (except those who want to destroy it!)

Its pretty obvious from my travels to other cities around the world that former docklands and industrial sites are popular with young residents, trendy shoppers and the uber-cool.

The important thing is design. It has to be done properly. Even though I was skeptical at first about what was happening at Birkenhead, its now shaping up quite nicely. If a developer there is willing to spend and invest, they will in White Bay, which has far more potential. And a Metro stop, please!

I see retail, residential and commercial space – marketed for cool, fashionable people. Like me of course! (only joking).

I'm glad there is respect for this "ugly" building in most of these comments! I thought I was alone in liking it, I have heard mostly negative things over the years. But I was keen on the power station at Iron Cove (now Balmain Shores), which was a much more handsome, and re-usable, building.

But no one gave a fig about it in the late 80s and 90s, and look at the horrors that replaced it.

KathM (above) is on to something – industrial-chic is very fashionable and cool, all over the world. A developer may need some help, ie. support for a museum in part, or other cultural/community facilities incorporated into the retail, commercial and other uses. Hopefully it will all pan out better than at that farce – the Italian Forum in Leichhardt.

A Metro station is absolutely vital, that goes without saying.

Now lets do it.

I'm pleased to see so many positive, constructive ideas. Good also that the nimbys and the tear-it-all-down and give us a park lot have stayed away for this forum.

A shame that politicians listen to them.

The building is a real challenge, that’s for sure! Its so big. I like what they have down in Brisbane to their power station on the river (art centre, theatre, cafe, cultural events), but it is a lot smaller and more manageable.

Some private sector involvement will be required at White Bay for retail and commercial development. But the core function should be like the one in more…

Another example is London. Contrast the Tate Modern with Battersea Power Station - both old powerstations, one developed, one not. The Tate shows what can be done with a bit of thought and care, while Battersea is the perfect counter example.

Another thing to note - a major problem with old powerstations is asbestos contamination. The powerstation in Melbourne CBD cost about $17 million to remediate, and that's via knocking it down. Cleaning for reuse is more expensive.

As I have mentioned in one of the other forums I really like the building. I think it could be redeveloped as the cornerstone to the intersection between the White bay and Glebe Island areas.

My personal thoughts are to keep as much of the building intact as possible and clean it up. Then turn the inside into a mixed use space with shops, cafés, pubs, and a metro station. Surround it with some nice boardwalks, fountans and blend it through into some mixed use in both Glebe Island and White bay and the area would be really enjoyable to walk around.

White Bay Powerstation is a remarkable site - so close to the CBD, right on the water, and it's a handsome "federation" building (as Power Stations go).

The most important thing about Sydney harbour foreshore use is that it is compatible with a working harbour. The immediate foreshore should be kept for commercial nautical use.

The rest - well it hasn't got great access as yet, but put it on the metro, build in a bus interchange, allow some car parking on site and you could do anything (other than retail, which I beleive is already adequately serviced elsewhere in Sydney) more…

PULL it down, why keep it, the area, is well served with history of the past. It has no major good looks, its only an old power station. I France they pull down 14th Century Castles because their not old enough. In Sydney we was time effort and money, keeping an old ugly structure. Was it EVERY anything but ugly

It is a Powerstation, so why not use it to generate Power!

Todays technology can provide us with quiet, clean gas fired turbines which could generate power for the City and create employment for local people (Like the ones put out of work when it closed).

Research and Development facility and museum also a great idea, incorporating both would be an interesting contrast.

For gods sake,please do NOT destroy this beautifully ugly piece of industrial history!

It's late at night, I'm feeling mellow and that's a recipe for typing way too much. Sorry if this appears long-winded...

Nice to scan everyone's views and great that the overriding opinion is to retain the power station. I've lived close to it from the days it last operated and I've done a complete 180 in favour of restoration and reinvention. Like me, some of you bloggers have been inside, seen the machinery that remains and been blown away by the sheer scale and height - equivalent to a 12 storey building. Built to power public transport (trams, trains too?), my more…

Obviously keep the structure but agree that the stacks have to go. Just like the old brickworks in St Peters, they are nothing but an eyesore. The question is return on investment and how we can achieve this. There needs to be some kind of commercial aspect to it but the question is what sort of facility don't we have in the city at the moment. Just look at the wonderful restoration of the carriage works at Eveliegh as an example of how we can successfully restore our industrial heritage.

SENT TO ADMINISTRATOR BY JOY

I suggest that the White Bay Power Station be redeveloped as a Cultural Centre with some car parking support as it is impossible to park in the area, including Rozelle and Balmain. I think a Cultural Centre is lacking in the inner west. This Cultural Centre could support an art gallery, an arts centre providing space for studios and tuition. The NSW Government should collaborate with the City of Sydney to achieve this Cultural Centre.

This has been a fabulous forum, and I’m really pleased to see so many others share my affection for this building. I hope and pray for a positive outcome and not, as I have feared especially since that mysterious fire, a pile of rubble. Malcolm’s words just above were particularly moving. Even if I could quibble with a few things he said, his sentiments were spot-on.

I’m right at the moment working on a piece about the Power Station and this consultation forum for the inner west publication I write for, and decided to re-read some of the entries. I’m sad to see the expiry date for comments is almost up. I have enjoyed it immensely.

I hope the State government is taking note of all the suggestions, and not just listening to the big money and the big political hard-nuts.

I guess that’s now up to all of us.

I wasn't born in Sydney, I chose this place to be my home. I guess that's why I don't agree with people who love eyesores just because "it's always been there" or because they've "grown fond of it".

I also can't see why some people dismiss everything that is commercial. Commercial business development is GOOD, not bad!!! Only businesses with their "selfish" interests will create (a) JOBS for us to live on, (b) SERVICE infrastructure for us to enjoy, (c) new, functional ARCHITECTURE for us to feel proud of, and (d) TAX REVENUES for all our 3 tiers of government.

A museum, or TAFE, or a Green Thinking Centre... which were all proposed in this forum, will do NONE of the GOOD things I listed above. So how can they make our lives any better???

But regarding the Power Station building... even though it is an industrial eyesore, it has a couple of original sections with ornamental brickwork, which are worth keeping and integrating in the new commercial developments. Maybe around 20% of the total elevation meterage, not more.

Why celebrate the past industrial damage done to the area and all of our lives retaining and celebrating the remnants of the industrial vandals?

It's time for some truly visionary thinking that will contribute to the long term future of our city. This is a great opportunity to return the foreshore a more natural state that all can enjoy without celebrating our past mistakes.