The NSW Government has unveiled plans for Sydney’s newest city suburb, which is set to deliver up to 8,500 homes – including a minimum of 10% affordable and essential worker homes – directly above the under-construction Bays West Metro Station.
The transformation will see under-utilised Government-owned port land on the Harbour converted into a new ‘Bays West’ precinct, while retaining adjacent deep-water port facilities for Sydney harbour.
Premier, Chris Minns said affordable housing will be embedded from the outset, including dedicated homes for essential workers such as nurses, teachers, paramedics, firefighters and police.
“Right above a new metro station and minutes from the CBD, we’re delivering thousands of homes where people actually need them – close to work, close to services and close to transport,” said Premier Minns.
“Importantly, this precinct will include affordable and essential worker housing from day one, so nurses, teachers, paramedics and police can live closer to the communities they serve.
“We understand that not everyone will welcome change, but cities don’t stand still. If Sydney is going to remain a place young people and families can afford to live in, we have to use well-located land better and plan for the future.”
Planning of the area will prioritise connectivity, including active transport links to neighbouring communities such as Rozelle, Balmain and Glebe, improved pedestrian access to the waterfront, and connections to the CBD, including an active transport link across the Glebe Island Bridge.
“The new Bays West Metro Station will unlock this precinct for thousands of future residents, and with the White Bay Power Station at its heart it will also become one of the most exciting cultural destinations in Sydney,” said Minister for Transport, the Arts, Music and the Night Time Economy, John Graham.
“This plan strikes the right balance of building thousands of well-located homes with world-class transport, whilst maintaining a functioning working harbour.
“With the metro, ferries, walking and cycling – this will be one of the best-connected communities anywhere in Australia.”
The Government has announced it will lead a master planning process that will include an international design competition to guide development across the precinct, ensuring homes, essential infrastructure, jobs, public spaces and transport links are delivered together.
It will be led by a new delivery agency to be established over the coming weeks, which will report to MMinister for Lands and Property, Steve Kamper, who already has oversight of major precinct renewal projects including at Blackwattle Bay and Barangaroo. Once established, the publicly owned land in the precinct will be transferred to the new agency.
“This is exactly the kind of development Sydney needs, well-designed homes in a central location, close to public transport, jobs, entertainment and essential services,” said Mr Kamper.
“If we want Sydney to stay liveable and affordable, we need to be bold about using underutilised government-owned land to deliver homes for the future.”
The Government says working harbour operations across the precinct will be consolidated, mostly into White Bay, ensuring the precinct will continue to provide critical services for the harbour, including boat maintenance and marine construction and as a base for tug boats and for emergency services.
A new staging area will be established in White Bay, securing the future of the New Year’s Eve fireworks, Vivid and other major events for decades to come.
The cruise terminal will be retained in its current location, meaning tourists arriving in Sydney will be welcomed by the new precinct, with new shore-power facilities currently being installed that will reduce noise and emissions. The Sydney Heritage Fleet will also be offered new premises in White Bay.
Deep-water berths will be retained to preserve Sydney Harbour’s strategic operational capability, and the removal of the existing 1970s industrial silos, currently used as a billboard, as well as to store cement and sugar, will unlock new opportunities for public space and future housing.
