Sydney Heritage Fleet Submission

29 April, 2013

Director-General

Department of Planning and Infrastructure,

GPO Box 39,

SYDNEY  NSW   2001

Attention Mr Daniel Gorgioski

Dear Mr Gorgioski,

3 Bank Street, Pyrmont – Sydney Heritage Fleet

Pyrmont Action Inc has met and considered the documentation associated with the construction of the Sydney Heritage Fleet at Bank Street, Pyrmont and has resolved to oppose the development. 

We have been in discussion with representatives of a number of community/stakeholder groups over many years and note the detailed analysis of the Environmental Assessment and accompanying reports submitted by the Proprietors of Strata Plan 80937, 2 Bowman Street, Pyrmont and endorse their findings regarding (a) the inadequacy of the documentation; and (b) traffic, transport, noise and visual impacts, but do not propose to duplicate these excellent submissions.

Our primary ground for opposition to the development is that it contravenes the current Bank Street Pyrmont Master Plan (2006).   We note that of the many planning instruments referenced in the Environmental Assessment document, there is NO reference to the current Master Plan.  We further note that the recently released Bays Precinct Task Force Report (p48 August 2012) “supports the current Master Plans as an appropriate guide to development within the Precinct and that the Master Plans should be considered by approval and consent authorities in development assessment”.   The Government has been considering the Task Force report for nearly a year and its recommendations now carry the weight of Cabinet endorsement.

The Bank Street Pyrmont Master Plan was approved by the then Minister for Transport, Frank Sartor in November, 2006 after many years of consultation with community/stakeholder groups, and gave effect to the then Government decision, announced in 2004, to dedicate the Maritime site as a “home for passive boating such as dragon boats and kayaks…. and include valuable open space.”  (Sandra Nori, Port Jackson Newsline, December, 2004).   In announcing the approval of the Master Plan, Minister Sartor advised that it “provides for a 9000 square metre foreshore park, including a boat ramp, dragon boat clubhouse and storage facility, a public foreshore walk and footpath and landscaping works”.   The Bays Precinct Task Force Report also recognises all sites on the Bank Street Public Recreation Area as the home for passive boating and waterfront park (p74).  The Task Force also recognises that the protection of the use of the waterways for recreational activities such as dragon boating, rowing and sailing is an important community priority.

Pyrmont Action Inc, along with all community/stakeholder groups expects the current Government to honour the terms of the Bank Street Pyrmont Master Plan and make the necessary arrangements with the City of Sydney, Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority and the passive boating and other community stakeholders, to expedite the provision of public passive and active recreation facilities on the site owned by Roads and Maritime Services, and a community water sports centre at 1 Bank Street, owned by SHFA.  We have been waiting almost ten years for the Bank Street Foreshore Park.

If this development application is approved at Bank Street, it will set a precedent for overturning all other Master Plans associated with the Bays Precinct, noting that two further Blackwattle Bay development applications are about to be submitted for assessment.  It must be rejected.

We ask that the Sydney Heritage Fleet DA and our submission be referred to the Planning Assessment Commission for determination and that we be permitted to address the PAC.

Yours sincerely,

Bill d’Anthes,

Deputy Convenor