NSW Government accused of 'complete backflip' over Sydney's last working port

Labor stands accused of a "complete backflip" on privatisation as it considers sinking Sydney's last working port to create a millionaires’ row on state-owned harbourfront land.

Labor stands accused of a "complete backflip" on privatisation as it considers sinking Sydney's last working port. Picture: Supplied

The NSW Government stands accused of a “complete backflip” on privatisation and misleading the public as the Opposition mounts an eleventh-hour case to save Sydney Harbour’s last working port.

Shadow Treasurer Damien Tudehope slammed Labor on Monday as the government considers scuttling the major maritime hub on Glebe Island for a millionaire’s enclave of high-rise apartments.

Mr Tudehope said Labor was carried to power two years ago on the back of an anti-privatisation agenda but now seems happy to put a “for sale” sign on prime waterfront land to fill a budget black hole.

Damien Tudehope speaks during a budget estimates parliamentary hearing at NSW Parliament House. Picture: Gaye Gerard

“Fundamentally Glebe Island represents the complete backflip this government has made in relation to privatisation,” he said.

“This is the epitome of a government selling off assets to private enterprise for the purpose of increasing the government’s coffers. They can no longer pretend they are anti-privatisation.

“There’s a great lie being told by the government that they are solving the housing crisis by privatising this land.

“But effectively this is privatisation for the wealthy.

A ship docks at Glebe Island to unload construction material brought from South Australia. Picture Thomas Lisson

“The people who might be in a position to buy properties in this precinct will not be your frontline workers, they won’t be people looking for social housing.

“They will be upwardly mobile professionals.”

The government argues high-density housing is required in the Bays area to complement a nearby metro station, planned to open in 2032.

In a bid to save Glebe Island port, a collective of more than 20 industry stakeholders has called for a hybrid model solution where operations would continue on a smaller footprint, allowing for coexistence with residential development.

The Working Port Coalition, fighting to save Glebe Island port, has pitched a hybrid model to the NSW Government that would see residential and industrial operations coexist. The above render of the potential new-look island was included in the proposal. Picture: Supplied

The Working Port Coalition presented a proposal to government a month ago, featuring futuristic impressions that showed 3000 apartments and a public park on Glebe Island alongside industrial facilities to service sectors including construction, food, tourism and events.

Spokesman and Business Sydney executive director Paul Nicolaou said of the hybrid model: “Sydney needs this solution and anything short of it would be tragic for our city”.

Paul Nicolaou fronts a media conference for the Working Port Coalition. Picture: Gaye Gerard

Mr Tudehope said the state coalition would support the government on finding breakthroughs to the supply issue fuelling Sydney’s crippling housing crisis.

“But our plan is to increase exposure to infrastructure and greenfield sites in affordable areas rather than increasing opportunities for the wealthy,” he added.

“The government needs to get the mix right between its commitment to housing and its commitment to cost of living.

“When you take away a working port – Sydney’s last working port at Glebe Island – in the manner they’ve been suggesting, you’re only going to add to cost of living pressures.

“You’re also going to add to the strain of other facilities that are needed to service Sydney.”

Originally published as NSW Government accused of 'complete backflip' over Sydney's last working port