Decision details

By Councillor Scott

It is resolved that:

(A)        Council note:

(i)          that in November 2018, the NSW State Government unveiled plans to move and undergo a massive redevelopment of the Sydney Fish Markets:

(a)        the redevelopment is expected to be completed in 2023 on the eastern end of Blackwattle Bay – adjacent to the current site; and

(b)        consultation regarding the redevelopment has been extremely limited, including only three different sessions attended by a total of 225 people;

(ii)         concerns expressed by residents and local businesses about the NSW State Government's planned redevelopment of the Fish Markets. These include but are not limited to:

(a)        concerns over the sale of public land at the current site;

(b)        that access to amenities and the public foreshore will not be returned to public use;

(c)         the future of the current site – both local businesses and residents have raised concerns that the current site will be not be used in the public interest due to a lack of planning provisions; and

(d)        that the NSW State Government lacks a long term vision for the Bay Area surrounding the site; and

(B)        the Chief Executive Officer be requested to:

(i)          commission the development of a public vision and masterplan for the Fish Markets and surrounding bays area, considering concerns being expressed by residents and the results of an extensive consultation process; and

(ii)         write to the NSW Minister for Planning and Public Spaces, The Hon. Rob Stokes MP, asking for the release of a Bay Precincts masterplan.

Note – at the meeting of Council, the content of the original Notice of Motion was carried by Councillor Scott. Subsequently, it was –

Moved by Councillor Scott, seconded by Councillor Scully –

It is resolved that:

(A)        Council note:

(i)          that in November 2018, the NSW State Government unveiled plans to move and undergo a massive redevelopment of the Sydney Fish Markets:

(a)        the redevelopment is expected to be completed in 2023 on the eastern end of Blackwattle Bay – adjacent to the current site; and

(b)        consultation regarding the redevelopment has been extremely limited, including only three different sessions attended by a total of 225 people;

(ii)         concerns expressed by residents and local businesses about the NSW State Government's planned redevelopment of the Fish Markets. These include but are not limited to:

(c)         concerns over the sale of public land at the current site;

(d)        that access to amenities and the public foreshore will not be returned to public use;

(e)        the future of the current site – both local businesses and residents have raised concerns that the current site will be not be used in the public interest due to a lack of planning provisions; and

(f)          that the NSW State Government lacks a long term vision for the Bay Area surrounding the site; and

(B)        the Chief Executive Officer be requested to develop an alternative vision for the Fish Markets, retaining public access to the foreshore, respecting the City’s planning controls for the area and considering concerns expressed by residents; and

(C)       the Lord Mayor be requested to write to the NSW Minister for Planning and Public Spaces, The Hon. Robert Stokes MP, requesting the release of the Bay Precincts masterplan, advocating for retention of the public foreshore in the Bays Precinct and urging the NSW Government to work collaboratively with the City of Sydney on an alternative vision for the future of the Fish Markets.

Foreshadowed motion. Councillor Thalis foreshadowed that, should the motion moved by Councillor Scott be lost, he would move an alternative motion.

The motion was lost on the following show of hands –

Ayes (1)          Councillor Scott

Noes (9)          The Lord Mayor, Councillors Chung, Forster, Kok, Miller, Phelps                            Scully, Thalis and Vithoulkas.

Motion lost.

Councillor Thalis then moved his foreshadowed motion, seconded by Councillor Scully –

(A)        Council note:

(i)          that in November 2018, the NSW State Government unveiled plans to move and undergo a massive redevelopment of the Sydney Fish Markets:

(a)        the redevelopment is expected to be completed in 2023 on the eastern end of Blackwattle Bay – adjacent to the current site;

(b)        consultation regarding the most recent iteration of the development has been extremely limited, including only three different sessions attended by a total of 225 people; and

(c)         no preliminary or final designs or development applications have been released for public consultation, therefore there is no current plan for the Fish Markets for the City and community to respond to;

(ii)         concerns expressed by residents and local businesses about the NSW State Government's planned redevelopment of the Fish Markets. These include but are not limited to:

(a)        concerns over the sale of public land at the current site;

(b)        that access to amenities and the public foreshore will not be returned to public use;

(c)         the future of the current site – both local businesses and residents have raised concerns that the current site will be not be used in the public interest due to a lack of planning provisions; and

(d)        that the NSW State Government lacks a long term vision for the Bay Area surrounding the site; and

(iii)        a 2014 report commissioned by the City of Sydney highlights the long history of this precinct. The report notes that over the past two decades there have been a myriad of strategic plans and policies developed for the Bays Precinct area which have set out various principles, objectives and actions for the future redevelopment of the predominately publicly-owned land. Yet the majority of these plans remain undelivered and their principles unfulfilled; and

(iv)       Councillor Philip Thalis and Councillor Jess Scully have convened a number of meetings about the Bays Precinct with various local community groups, Inner West Councillors and local Members of Parliament in this term of Council. These meetings have resulted in information sharing, the confirmation of principles and combined actions consistent with many of the plans already developed over the years.

(B)        the Chief Executive Officer be requested to:

(i)          contact infrastructure NSW (INSW) and request that they provide Council with a briefing on future concept plans, options and proposals for the Bays Precinct including the proposed design for the Fish Markets; and

(C)       the Lord Mayor be requested to:

(i)          write to the NSW Minister for Planning and Public Spaces, The Hon. Robert Stokes MP, asking for the release of the latest strategic plans, policies, overarching concepts, options and proposals developed for the Bays Precinct and that the State Government consider the principles, objectives and actions for the future redevelopment that have been developed over time; and

(D)       Council reconsider the matter, based on the briefing referred to in (B)(i) above.

Variation. At the request of Councillor Scott, and by consent, the motion was varied such that it read as follows –

(A)        Council note:

(i)          that in November 2018, the NSW State Government unveiled plans to move and undergo a massive redevelopment of the Sydney Fish Markets:

(a)        the redevelopment is expected to be completed in 2023 on the eastern end of Blackwattle Bay – adjacent to the current site;

(b)        consultation regarding the most recent iteration of the development has been extremely limited, including only three different sessions attended by a total of 225 people; and

(c)         no preliminary or final designs or development applications have been released for public consultation, therefore there is no current plan for the Fish Markets for the City and community to respond to;

(C)       Council support concerns expressed by residents and local businesses about the NSW State Government's planned redevelopment of the Fish Markets. These include but are not limited to:

(i)          concerns over the sale of public land at the current site;

(ii)         that access to amenities and the public foreshore will not be returned to public use;

(iii)        the future of the current site – both local businesses and residents have raised concerns that the current site will be not be used in the public interest due to a lack of planning provisions; and

(iv)       that the NSW State Government lacks a long term vision for the Bay Area surrounding the site; and

(D)       Council note:

(iii)        a 2014 report commissioned by the City of Sydney highlights the long history of this precinct. The report notes that over the past two decades there have been a myriad of strategic plans and policies developed for the Bays Precinct area which have set out various principles, objectives and actions for the future redevelopment of the predominately publicly-owned land. Yet the majority of these plans remain undelivered and their principles unfulfilled; and

(iv)       Councillor Philip Thalis,Councillor Jess Scully and the Deputy Lord Mayor Councillor Linda Scott have convened a number of meetings about the Bays Precinct with various local community groups, Inner West Councillors and local Members of Parliament in this term of Council. These meetings have resulted in information sharing, the confirmation of principles and combined actions consistent with many of the plans already developed over the years.

(B)        the Chief Executive Officer be requested to contact infrastructure NSW (INSW) and request that they provide Council with a briefing on future concept plans, options and proposals for the Bays Precinct including the proposed design for the Fish Markets; and

(C)       the Lord Mayor be requested to write to the NSW Minister for Planning and Public Spaces, The Hon. Robert Stokes MP, asking for the release of the latest strategic plans, policies, overarching concepts, options and proposals developed for the Bays Precinct and that the State Government consider the principles, objectives and actions for the future redevelopment that have been developed over time; and

(E)        Council reconsider the matter, based on the briefing referred to in (B)(i) above.

The motion, as varied by consent, was carried on the following show of hands –

Ayes (8)          The Lord Mayor, Councillors Kok, Miller, Phelps, Scott, Scully, Thalis and Vithoulkas

Noes (2)          Councillors Chung and Forster.

Motion carried.

S129266