Hunters Hill’s vocal locals wage ‘existential battle’ over Woolwich Marina

The well-heeled folk of Hunters Hill have been known for their strident stance against overdevelopment since 1971 when about a dozen local mums joined with the late union organiser Jack Mundey and his “green bans” movement to stop Kellys Bush becoming a housing estate.

So an application to the council to almost double the size of Woolwich Marina met a groundswell of opposition in what is being billed an “existential battle” against the privatisation of a public waterway.

Hunters Hill councillor Ross Williams and volunteer coordinator David Griffith are leading a community battle against the expansion of Woolwich Marina into one of the busiest parts of Parramatta River.Credit: Dion Georgopoulos

On the drawing board is a proposal to expand Woolwich Marina from the current 45 berths to 79, and to moor larger vessels up to 35-metre super yachts.

The estimated cost of $8.5 million seems to be the least of the hurdles facing the marina’s ultimate owner, Hong Kong businessman Chan Hoi Li, given it was unanimously rejected by both Hunters Hill Council and the North Sydney Local Planning Panel.

The next step will be an on-site conciliation meeting with the Land and Environment Court on September 19 and 20.

Chief among the 11 grounds for refusal – including maritime, Aboriginal and bushland heritage concerns, visual impacts to the state heritage-listed Kellys Bush Park, the existing use of public space and public consultation – are what former mayor Ross Williams cites as the privatisation of a public waterway and the safety risk to children sailing in what is already a congested section of the Parramatta River.

An artist’s impression submitted by Micheal Fountain Architects of how the expanded marina will look from Kellys Bush Park.Credit: Hunters Hill Council

Then there are the heritage concerns of a native kelp forest and a shipwreck in the Parramatta River, as well as the endangered White’s seahorse recently discovered living off Cockatoo Island.

Less represented among the local community groups objecting to the proposal are the casual boat users and kayakersy.

“They’re not organised, but there are a lot of them,” lifetime local David Griffith said in his submission to the planning panel. “The only winner in all this is the owner who will get a wonderful financial windfall from privatising a public waterway.”

Marina manager Idy Chan, the daughter of the owner, referred queries to architect Micheal Fountain, whose firm designed the proposed expansion and who said any comment would be inappropriate given the matter is before the Land and Environment Court.

Hunters Hill locals and community groups have mobilised against a proposal to expand Woolwich Marina.Credit: Dion Georgopoulos

Chan family corporate interests bought the marina in 2015 for $10 million. The historic Glen Mahr residence behind it was added in 2019 for $6.6 million.

Idy Chan made no secret of lans for the marina, telling Good Weekend magazine in 2018 that she had a waiting list of Chinese emigres wanting berths for their smart yachts.

There were 406 submissions to the council for and against the proposed new marina.

Of the 289 submissions in support, the 285 form letters were counted as a single submission.

The 117 objections included a formal objection by the elected members of Hunters Hill Council.

Rallying behind the vocal locals, opposing community groups include the Lane Cove 12ft Sailing Skiff Club, Greenwich Flying Squadron, Hunters Hill Sailing Club, Friends of Kellys Bush and the Hunters Hill Trust.

“Even the kindy P&C are involved one way or another. It’s a proper community outrage,” said Chris Stannage, president of the Hunters Hill Sailing Club.

An artist’s impression showing the proposed berths for Woolwich Marina.Credit: Hunters Hill Council

“The key issue is that unlike most working marinas on the harbour, this one is set in a working channel and has roughly 150 ferry movements through it a day.

“We already exist alongside the ferry drivers, party boats and everyone else on the harbour, but we also have fairly substantial duties of care, and if it means our sailors will be put at undue risk then we would have to look at where we sail. That has turned this into a pretty existential battle from our perspective.”