Rezoning Clears Way for Harbour Renewal Project

The Blackwattle Bay Precinct, a Sydney Harbour foreshore project which over the next decade will create 1200 new apartments and about 100,000sq m of commercial space, has moved a step closer to fruition with final re-zoning approval.

Located less than a kilometre from central Sydney, the urban renewal covers about 10.4ha of harbour-front land between Anzac Bridge and the Sydney Secondary College on Bridge Road, Glebe. 

Some 1200 units in residential towers of between six and 35 storeys will be built on the old Sydney Fish Market site at Blackwattle Bay under revised plans by the New South Wales government’s development arm, Infrastructure NSW.

The rezoning was finalised in late December, however, not before 2400 submissions forced Infrastructure NSW to lower the five towers by as much as 21.5m, which meant nearly 380 fewer apartments.

The revised plans also increase the width of the precinct’s proposed waterfront promenade to 30 metres—a demand by Sydney City Council.  When finished the promenade will fill in the missing link along the 15km foreshore walk from Rozelle Bay to Woolloomooloo.

Revitalisation of the inner-city precinct— historically an industrial area—includes the relocation of the Sydney fish market to new $10-million facilities, designed to become a major tourist attraction while supporting the NSW seafood industry.

▲ Under pressure from Sydney City Council Infrastructure NSW revised plans to increase the width of the precinct’s proposed waterfront promenade to 30 metres.

In June of 2020 the minister for planning and public spaces approved the relocation of the market to the head of the bay, which then freed up about 10.4ha of harbourside land for the new state significant precinct.

The new planning controls enable about 100,000sq m of commercial space, which the government says will lead to 5600 new jobs. The new apartments, expected to house about 2400, will be close to existing and proposed public transport, including the planned Pyrmont metro station.

More than 3ha of interconnected parks and public space will be created, including a new waterside park, ferry wharf, cafés, restaurants and retail.

▲ The revitalisation of the precinct includes the approved relocation of the Sydney Fish Market to new modern facilities at the head of the bay.

Speaking of the re-zoning finalisation, NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet said the government was unlocking yet another section of under-utilised harbor foreshore.

“Sydney is home to one of the most spectacular harbours in the world but for so long, much of the foreshore, such as Blackwattle Bay, has been neglected and left underutilised,” Perrottet said.

“This is all set to change with Blackwattle Bay to be transformed into an exciting new foreshore precinct and tourism drawcard.

“After more than five years of careful planning and engagement we now have the green light to breathe new life into the precinct, returning it back to the community as an iconic waterfront destination.”

The original Fish Market was established in 1871 at Woolloomooloo, the-then mooring site of the local Sydney fishing fleet.