Government Taskforce to Advice on Development of Our Bays

 

The Minister for Planning, Frank Sartor, has confirmed that the Government has established a taskforce to advise on the range of development scenarios for the ‘Bays Precinct’ (including Glebe Island, White Bay including the disused power station, Rozelle Bay and Blackwattle Bay).

 

The taskforce comprises the Coordinator General (chair), Department of Planning, SHFA, Sydney Ports Corporation, NSW Maritime, Ministry of Transport and NSW Treasury.

 

The terms of reference require the Taskforce to monitor and develop land-use scenarios for the precinct, ensure transport infrastructure responds to the future requirement of the area, and report to Government.

 

A community and stakeholder reference group is being established. Key landowners and community groups will be represented. The exact makeup of the representation on the reference group is being finalised, with the aim to meet shortly after the current sitting of Parliament.

 

Verity Firth, as Member for Balmain, has recommended that there be representatives from local community groups including the following:

• White Bay Precinct Committee,
• Glebe Island/White Bay Community Liaison Group,
• Blackwattle Cove Coalition (BCC),
• White Bay Joint Steering Committee,
• Defenders of Sydney Harbour,
• NSW Rowers, and
• Dragon Boats NSW.

 

It has been proposed that there be two representatives from BCC, one from Pyrmont/Ultimo and one from Glebe/ Forest Lodge.

 

The role of the Community Reference Group will be to provide advice about community needs, advise on current and emerging issues of interest and concern to the community, inform of potential issues with any tabled proposals, encourage and informed community discussion by conveying information to the wider community, and provide input to matters being considered.

 

The planning and consultation process will begin in the coming weeks.

 

- Bob Armstrong for the Bays and Foreshore sub-committee

 

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Slipways Slips in Another One

Sydney Slipways, which was given approval last year by the Minister for Planning, Frank Sartor, has asked for a variation to extend their anchorage limit by 6m in the southerly direction by the side of the old Glebe Island Bridge. This may sound a small amount but the total distance to the other bank in this area is only 37 m. Furthermore, it is just beside the two channels under the Glebe Island Bridge, one of which has to be negotiated by all boat traffic entering or exiting Rozelle and Blackwattle Bays.

The Glebe Society did not oppose the original application by Sydney Slipways, but it did suggest that the proposed water use so close to the Glebe Island Bridge would cause water traffic problems. This variation this will cause a much greater problem by, firstly restricting the area for manoeuvre still further, and secondly by allowing bigger boats to enter the Sydney Slipways anchorage area.

The present application proposes to reduce risk through a protocol for liaison with Sydney Ports governing commercial movements into the Johnson Bay area . There is no mention of the passive use of the Bays by pleasure craft (especially those generated by the dry boat facility in Rozelle Bay), by rowing boats, particularly eights, dragon boats and canoes. The narrow channel leading into and out of Rozelle and Blackwattle Bays from the two very narrow channels under the Glebe Island Bridge is already a potential collision area. The Glebe Society reiterates its previous warning that proposed congestion in the area is creating a dangerous situation for the future and joins with the Sydney University Women's’ Rowing Club in strongly objecting the proposed variation.

The proposed variation can be viewed at Leichhardt Town Hall: Section 75 (W): Modification Application (2); MP 05_00187: Marine Maintenance Facility, Lots 31 and 34, James Craig Drive, Rozelle Bay.

- Tony Larkum Bays and Foreshores convenor  

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Bellevue Reopens

 

It was a time for celebration , with the official opening of the restored Bellevue in Blackwattle Bay Park on Saturday 3 March, 2007.

 

The elegant style of the occasion was in keeping with appearance of the building itself.

 

Those who arrived early enough sat at tables with covered with gleaming white tablecloths.

 

Smartly dressed waiters served them champagne cocktails and delicate finger food, while a string ensemble played classical music. Later arrivals helped themselves to sandwiches and bottled water, and sat on the grass.

 

The Lord Mayor, Cr Clover Moore, welcomed everybody and talked about the history of the house. She then unveiled a plaque and cut the red satin ribbon at the door to open the house officially. We were then invited to walk through the house, which has been carefully restored. The old paint on some walls has been left exposed, showing the layers of the house's past appearance. Photos, some of them from Max Solling's collection, helped us to understand the house's place in the history of Glebe.

 

Four members of the Glebe Society, identified by red roses, stood by to answer visitors' questions about Bellevue.

 

On leaving the house, we signed the Visitor's Book and were given commemorative bookmarks.

 

Duncan Fine, Senior Media Officer at the City of Sydney, says that the unofficial count put the crowd on the day at 2000.

 

The next step will be to welcome new tenants to Bellevue and to see the building put to an appropriate use.

 

- Edwina Doe

* * * * * *

 

Historic Bellevue now stands proudly on the Point, a fine example of Victorian dwellings of the late1890s that once characterised the Blackwattle Bay foreshore.

 

Saving Bellevue was a long-fought battle starting in the early 1970s. As a result of
sustained community and union action, Blackwattle Bay Park, in two parcels, was
landscaped and dedicated to Leichhardt Council as part of a deal struck with Parkes
Pty Ltd, developers of the adjoining residential unit buildings.

 

When the park was handed over in 1984, the Council inherited the forlorn ruins of Bellevue and spent some $35,000 making it structurally sound, secure, and reroofed
in slate. The intent at that time was for the house to be restored for community use. It was listed as an item of State significance in the Local Environment Plan in 1984, granted a Permanent Conservation Order in 1986 and listed on the State Heritage Register in 1999.

 

In 1985 the Glebe Society made the first of a number of submissions for its use as a
Heritage Centre, focussed on the social and physical history of Glebe and combined with other uses such as Tea Rooms and a caretaker’s flat.

 

Lack of funding and use saw Bellevue fall into disrepair and subject to vandalism. It was not until Glebe was transferred to the City of Sydney in 2003 that funding started to match the enthusiasm in this long battle for the restoration of Bellevue.

 

The City included Bellevue’s restoration in the planned Foreshore Walk. The splendid
outcome is for all to see, and is an example of what can be achieved with strong collaborative input from community and Council alike.

Now for viable uses!

- Bob Armstrong

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Wander on the Water

Photo by Susan Alderman

 

A welcome from The Glebe Society
Sunday 29 February 2004

 

"A warm welcome to Wander on the Water, a harbour cruise with a difference, organized by the Glebe Society with financial assistance from the City of Sydney.

One of the reasons Glebe is such a great place to live is the diversity of its people. Yet there are not many opportunities for people to meet each other socially and enjoy this wonderful variety. It gives me particular pleasure to welcome people from all parts of Glebe and elsewhere today and give them the opportunity to meet and enjoy each others' company while cruising the most beautiful harbour in the world.

 

"The seed of this idea was a Glebe Society ferry cruise two years ago. We were having a great time, but when we looked around the ferry was half empty. "How silly!" we said. "Why didn't we invite lots of other people to share our fun?"

 

So that's what we've done today. The Glebe Society often combines social events with more serious business, but these are sometimes quite expensive. When I noticed the City Council was offering money for community events, I immediately thought of that half empty ferry, and applied for a grant. The application was successful, and so we are able to offer both very cheap tickets and some free places.

 

"This cruise begins with the serious business, so we can get that out of the way quickly. Sydney Harbour belongs to all of us: the indigenous people, everyone who lives here now, and the visitors from all over the world who come to admire it. The Glebe Society has always believed the best way to claim ownership is to have as much public access to the waterfront as possible. This is not just a belief: the Society pursues public access as a practical, achievable goal. Soon the entire Glebe waterfront will be publicly accessible, as the following speakers will show you. We believe it is possible to extend this access to Garden Island, making it one of the great waterfront parks of the world.

 

"Although the harbour belongs to all of us, often the only way we can see the foreshore properly is from the water. This cruise gives you the ideal opportunity to discover many of these waterfront sites for the first time.

		"There are many changes proposed for the waterfront, especially in the inner west. Collin Hills, harbour pilot and head of our Bays and Foreshores group, will lead off by telling you what is planned for Port Jackson, the port of Sydney. As we approach Blackwattle Bay, Bruce Davis, who designed the full colour souvenir leaflet you received on boarding, will review the future of Sydney Fishmarket and the waterfront walk. Finally, John Buckingham, who led the campaign to get us Bicentennial Park, our first large area of public waterfront access, will explain the impact of proposals in Rozelle Bay. Please ask questions of any of these people after they have spoken.   "Business concluded, the band will strike up and we will sail across the Harbour to Clifton Gardens for our picnic.

"Tea, coffee and biscuits are available free throughout the cruise, and there is a bar where you can buy drinks. Enjoy your day wandering, observing and having fun on the waters of Sydney Harbour."

 

Click here to view the "Wander on the Water" souvenir leaflet.

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Queries? email: secretary@glebesociety.org.au