The plan includes provision for more than 1500 apartments in 12 towers up to 45 storeys,with smaller buildings of four to eight storeys,a waterfront promenade,and public space between the bay and the Western Distributor.
The state government has been working on proposals to reshape the waterfront areas around Glebe,the Sydney Fish Market,Rozelle and White Bay with more intensive development.
Citing concerns with the government’s “state significant precinct study” for the Blackwattle Bay site,the City of Sydney council last year requested staff to prepare a design review to identify possible improvements to the plan.
In itssubmission on the study last August,the council described the provision for 2850 residents at the site as “gross overdevelopment” that would result in:a precinct of “excessive bulk and scale not in context with its surrounds”;more traffic;public spaces lacking in sunlight;a narrow – “far from world-class” – foreshore promenade and;people living in units “exposed to the damaging health effects of noise and air pollution”.
Among the suggested improvements in its design review for Infrastructure NSW,the council advised the proposed 10-metre wide foreshore promenade was “too narrow” and should be expanded to 30 metres.
This would allow for separate zones for outdoor dining,sitting and meeting,and walking or cycling – similar to foreshore promenades at Circular Quay and Barangaroo.