Decision details

Moved by Councillor Thompson, seconded by Councillor Miller –

It is resolved that:

(A)      Council note:

(i)         on 19 January 2026, the new Sydney Fish Market officially opened in Blackwattle Bay;

(ii)        the site is anticipated to welcome up to 6 million local and international guests per year, an increase of over 3 million compared to the previous Sydney Fish Market, and will eventually house more than 40 food and retail operators; and

(iii)      the NSW Labor Government has recently partnered with Mirvac to redevelop the neighbouring, old Sydney Fish Market site at Blackwattle Bay where 1,400 new homes will be built, in addition to 2.6 hectares of public space and the completion of the 15-kilometre foreshore walk between Rozelle Bay and Woolloomooloo;

(B)      Council further note:

(i)         since the opening of the new Sydney Fish Markets, there has been growing concern from the local community about the impacts this development is having on parking and the resultant traffic increase and impact on amenity in neighbouring streets, particularly on weekends;

(ii)        for 5 years, the Community Consultative Committee has expressed concerns and offered solutions to the Government and Infrastructure New South Wales regarding the impact of visitors driving on traffic flow, local parking, and amenity in neighbouring streets. This issue has only intensified since the opening of the new Sydney Fish Market;

(iii)      as the Lord Mayor’s representative on the New Sydney Fish Market (NSFM) Community Consultative Group, the Deputy Lord Mayor Jess Miller has advocated on behalf of residents to request parking changes through official City channels;

(iv)      this advocacy has resulted in a number of community petitions, and City of Sydney staff have been reviewing feedback from City Rangers' patrols since the new Sydney Fish Market opened;

(v)       this work has culminated in the City beginning formal consultation on parking restriction changes in parts of northern Glebe on 30 April 2026;

(vi)      in June 2025, following 2 years of advocacy by the Deputy Lord Mayor Jess Miller, including a unanimously supported Resolution of Council and consistent community campaigning, the NSW Labor Government announced $30 million for the construction of a Sydney Fish Market commuter ferry wharf, and $40 million on improvements for the nearby Wentworth Park light rail stop, each by the end of 2026;

(vii)     the NSW Labor Government has a responsibility to align large-scale infrastructure and development projects with timely, and proportionate, increases in services such as public transport; and

(viii)    in September 2025 the Lord Mayor wrote to the Minister for Transport, John Graham, requesting improved access to the new Sydney Fish Market site including:

(a)       delivering a separated cycling connection between the new Sydney Fish Market and the Union Street cycleway;

(a)       providing a separated cycleway in front of the Sydney Fish Market;

(b)       introducing bus services along Bridge Road; and

(c)       delivering a safe and comfortable walking route along Pyrmont Bridge Road, including footpath widening, removal of the Wattle Street slip lane, and reduced pedestrian delays at the Western Distributor interchange;

(C)      the Lord Mayor be requested to write to the Minister for Transport, John Graham, requesting an update on the progress and timeline for the construction of the $30 million Sydney Fish Market ferry wharf, and $40 million Wentworth Park light rail upgrades which can be shared with the community;

the Lord Mayor be requested to write to the members of the New Sydney Fish Markets Community Consultative Committee: Former NSW Senator the Honourable John Faulkner, Jan Wilson (Coalition of Glebe Groups), Jenny Burn (Glebe resident), Asa Wahlquist (Glebe Society Member), Nicola Frowen (Stakeholder representative of Dragon Boats), Paul McGirr (Community representative), Lindsay Charles (Community representative), Elizabeth Elenius (Stakeholder representative of Pyrmont Action), Mark Tietjen (Stakeholder representative of the Glebe Rowing Club), Graeme Milton (Strata, 84 Wentworth Park Road, Stakeholder representative), and David Johnson (Chair of the Community Consultative Committee) and thanking them for their tireless service and advocacy for the Bays Precinct and local community; and

(D)      the Chief Executive Officer be requested to update Council, via the CEO Update, with the results from the parking assessment and review, inclusive of the feedback provided by the community during consultation.

Carried unanimously.

X113760