NSW To See Largest Urban Renewal Program Since Sydney Olympics

NSW Premier Mike Baird and Planning Minister Pru Goward announced the NSW Government will host an international summit later this year, to hear from world leading urban renewal experts about the best ways to revitalise The Bays Precinct in Sydney’s inner harbour.

Over a 80 hectare site, The Bays Precinct will be transformed into new housing and retail, tourism, commercial and maritime areas, along more than 5.5 kilometres of waterfront land, making it the city’s largest single urban renewal program since the Sydney Olympics.

Mr Baird said the NSW Government will ensure that underutilised and degraded waterfront areas in and around Blackwattle Bay, the Sydney Fish Market, Rozelle Bay, Rozelle Rail Yards, and the heritage-listed White Bay Power Station are regenerated to provide a vibrant new harbour front.

“The Bays Precinct is just two kilometres west of the Sydney CBD, and presents possibly the most exciting and ambitious urban renewal and city building opportunity in the world today,” Mr Baird said.

“At the moment we have an urban wasteland that is four times the size of Barangaroo sitting right next to the world’s greatest harbour.

“We owe it to future generations to make sure we get the renewal of such a significant area right, which is why we’ve decided to hold an international summit in Sydney in November,  to which we will invite the greatest minds in the field of city building and urban regeneration  from across Australia and the world.

“The participants will be invited on the basis of their experience, expertise and  demonstrated success in the delivery of major urban renewal projects.

“The international summit will be held on the 19th and 20th of November and it has been timed to coincide with the G20 Summit in Brisbane.

“The public and other stakeholders will also be asked to provide input as we develop plans to revitalise this area.

Ms Goward said The Bays Precinct Urban Renewal Program would be a 30 year program.

“Our plans to regenerate The Bays Precinct will deliver vibrant and dynamic places for cultural, maritime, recreational, retail, residential and commercial use,” Ms Goward said.

“The Bays Precinct Urban Renewal Program represents a game changer for Sydney, with  the potential to create the next big destination after the iconic Sydney Opera House.”

UrbanGrowth NSW

, the government’s urban renewal authority, is leading the revitalisation of The Bays Precinct.