Walsh Bay residents push for fishing ban on Sydney Harbour
Sydney anglers are accusing wealthy waterfront apartment owners of waging a “class war” on people who want to throw a line into Sydney Harbour. Walsh Bay residents are pushing for a ban on fishing off the wharves — accusing anglers of talking too loudly, hurling abuse and shining lights into their homes.
NSW
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Sydney anglers are accusing wealthy waterfront apartment owners of waging a “class war” on people who just want to throw a line into Sydney Harbour.
The Walsh Bay Precinct Association is urging the NSW Government to ban all fishing off the wharves at Walsh Bay near Barangaroo.
They accuse fishers of using the wharves, called piers, as a toilet, leaving rubbish everywhere, talking too loudly, hurling abuse and shining lights into their multimillion-dollar apartments at 3am.
The Association also says people sitting at nearby cafes are scared they will be caught by a hook as anglers cast their lines.
But Recreational Fishing Alliance of NSW president Stan Konstantaras said rich property owners are simply trying to kill a 150-year-old Sydney Harbour tradition.
“These people do not want to meet and talk with us and are rather selfish,” Mr Konstantaras told The Sunday Telegraph.
“I really think that property owners believe that because they pay millions for their apartments they deserve to not have to look at fishermen.
“It’s a class war, make no mistake.”
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Some Walsh Bay piers are home to apartments which sell for as much as $6.9 million and where no fishing is allowed.
But fishing is permitted on neighbouring piers whish are in commercial use.
The problems started in October last year when construction work — part of a $210 million project to transform the area into the “NSW Arts Precinct” — meant anglers couldn’t fish from Pier 2 and Pier 3, and also made Pier 4 and Pier 5 out of bounds.
The project is due to be complete in 2020.
The construction work has pushed fishers from there to Pier 8 and Pier 9, close to the waterfront apartments.
The piers are famed as one of the few places an angler can hook the Harbour’s most prized catch — a big kingfish — from the shore.
In a letter to former primary industries minister Niall Blair sent in February, Walsh Bay Precinct Association spokesman Darren Gardner said attempts to fix the situation have broken down.
“We have, on numerous occasions been informed that DPI (NSW Department of Primary Industries) will undertake an advisory campaign so anglers know they must do the right thing or risk ramifications,” he said.
“However, this does not seem make any difference in their anti-social behaviour.
“In addition to the mess there have been reports from business owners of theft and the relocating of their outdoor furniture for seating purposes along the Pier apron edges and private property damages.”
The RFA says a newsletter from The Walsh Bay Precinct Association reminds its members says “our petition is still here in the Precinct office for those who feel strongly enough to join our efforts in banning fishing from the area” after claiming anglers were responsible for “bright lights pointing into apartments, banging on glass doors of businesses and frightening staff working on the weekend”.
Mr Gardner declined to be interviewed, saying “the committee do not feel an interview will be a positive result as the fishers group are quite threatening and likely to lobby even more fishermen to come here”.
Mr Konstantaras admits conversations at 3am — especially when a big fish is caught — can carry across the water.
But he maintains anglers have done everything they can to keep the peace and are even paying NSW Police $180,000 every year to monitor anglers and enforce rules.
Agriculture Minister Adam Marshall did not respond to requests for comment, including whether he would ban fishing in the area.
However, a DPI spokeswoman said the department “has been working with fishers at Walsh Bay following recent anti-social behaviour and mess left behind at Sydney’s Walsh Bay”.
“Cleaning of the piers, including at Pier 8, is continuing and Water Police patrols targeting the Walsh Bay precinct are underway 24/7,” the DPI spokeswoman said.
“DPI has installed signage encouraging fishers to be responsible on Pier 8 and responsible fishing flyers have been printed in a variety of languages and will be distributed to fishers at Walsh Bay by police and DPI Fisheries officers.”
Angler Andy Law, 49, throws a line in from Pier 8 most afternoons.
He said he has heard about apartment owners complaining about the behaviour of anglers on the weekend.
“I would say ‘no way’ to a fishing ban but I think that people have to make sure that they clean up their mess,” the Sydney Olympic Park man said.
“It is a great spot to fish. I’ve pulled a 90cm kingfish out of the water here.”
Originally published as Walsh Bay residents push for fishing ban on Sydney Harbour
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