Sydney Ports has rejected claims that it is refusing to cooperate on the development of the White Bay cruise terminal. THE mayor of Leichhardt Council has accused Sydney Ports Authority of ignoring all recommendations from the Barangaroo Review and refusing to hold community consultation on the new cruise terminal to...
Sydney Ports has rejected
claims that it is refusing to
cooperate on the development
of the White Bay cruise
terminal.
THE mayor of Leichhardt Council has accused
Sydney Ports Authority of ignoring all
recommendations from the Barangaroo
Review and refusing to hold community
consultation on the new cruise terminal to be
built at White Bay.
But Sydney Ports insists it is committed to
working with the council and local community,
and the new terminal will go ahead next
month, with government approval.
Leichhardt Council recently held an urgent
public meeting in order to brief Bay area
residents and business owners about Sydney
Ports’ plans and to receive feedback from the
community.
“Over 200 residents attended and
overwhelmingly rejected both Sydney Ports’
plans and the proposal that the cruise terminal
be located at White Bay wharves 4 and 5,”
Leichhardt’s mayor, Rochelle Porteous, told
Cruise Weekly.
Mayor Porteous also blasted the way that
other authorities had handled the
development process.
“This decision to ignore the
recommendations of the Barangaroo Review
shows the arrogance of the Sydney Ports
Authority and the weakness of the O’Farrell
Government,” she said.
In a written statement to Cruise Weekly,
Sydney Ports ceo Grant Gilfillan said Sydney
Ports participated in the meeting and
reiterated its position to continue engaging
with the community and the local council.
“Sydney Ports is working with the Council
and agreed modifications were made to the
Project Approval in June 2011, which were
approved by the Department of Planning on 14
September,” Gilfillan said.
“Sydney Ports has written to the Leichhardt
Council following a meeting last week to
further inform the Council in relation to the
development and to confirm our next steps.
“The correspondence explains clearly how
we will work with the Council on the
development of the cruise passenger terminal
at White Bay 5.”
Sydney Ports will this month award the
contract for the demolition of the existing
cargo shed on the site, with work commencing
“shortly thereafter”.
The contract for the construction of the new
passenger terminal building will be awarded in
early November.
Meanwhile, Leichhardt Council has called on
the NSW State Government to reject the
relocation and engage in “genuine community
consultation” in developing an alternative
master plan for the Bays precinct.
IF you would like to air your opinions on the
matter, why don’t you head to Cruise Weekly’s
Facebook page and open a discussion.
