Gladys keen to find new home for tech giant after its rejection of White Bay Power Station site

UPDATE: The Premier has denied embarrassment after Google pulled out of negotiations to house its regional HQ in the government’s planned Bays Precinct redevelopment.

Google has pulled out of negotiations to create its new regional HQ at White Bay.

• Ditched: Sydney’s hi-tech centre with 10,000 employees

PREMIER Gladys Berejiklian has denied embarrassment after Google pulled out of negotiations to house its new regional headquarters at the state government’s planned redevelopment of White Bay Power Station.

The tech giant has 1500 employees in Sydney and had aimed to grow this to as many as 10,000.

The main stumbling block for Google appears to have been the lack of public transport around the Bay’s Precinct. The rejection is a major blow for the state government’s redevelopment plans.

Ms Berejiklian today denied she had been embarrassed by Google’s decision.

“No, can I say I had an extremely constructive and productive meeting with Google and what really inspired me is they’re absolutely focused on retaining not only a strong presence in Sydney but building that presence,” she said.

“The government’s working actively with them on finding the best site.

“Their needs are immediate and, as you know, the White Bay precinct isn’t appropriate for them until further work occurs.”

Former NSW premier Mike Baird announced plans in 2015 to turn White Bay, Glebe Island and parts of Rozelle into a tech precinct, with major new housing developments and upgraded waterfront public land.

The entire development, called the Bays Precinct, is also planned to feature a revamped Sydney Fish Market and improvements to Wentworth Park.

An artist’s impression of a redeveloped Glebe Island, within the Bays Precinct. Picture: Supplied

An artist’s impression of how centre would have looked. Picture: Supplied

The centre would have created 10,000 new jobs. Picture: Supplied

Google was in negotiations to site its new regional headquarters at White Bay, with plans to dramatically expand its Australian head office, currently located in Pyrmont, opposite The Star casino.

But the tech giant has dramatically pulled out of the talks, saying it wouldn’t be able to make the move within its preferred time frame.

The disused White Bay power station sits on a 10ha site close to the waterfront.

White Bay Power Station. Picture: Toby Zerna.

The White Bay Power Station is now a relic. Picture: Toby Zerna

Planning Minister Rob Stokes and then NSW Premier Mike Baird announce the project last year.

“We are grateful to the NSW government and UrbanGrowth NSW for their efforts to deliver on their impressive vision for White Bay Power Station,” a Google spokesman said.

The company said it remained committed to Australia and said it will search for another home in Sydney.

“Through the genuine and productive negotiations in the past few months we’ve come to realise that achieving that vision isn’t possible within our time frame. So we’ve mutually agreed with UrbanGrowth NSW to discontinue negotiations over the site.”

An aerial view of Pyrmont peninsular showing White Bay in foreground.

A state government spokesman said: “The NSW government remains committed to the development of the White Bay Power Station as a technology and innovation hub. White Bay is part of the 95ha Bays Precinct, one of the largest urban transformation projects in the world.”

During a speech in 2015, Mr Baird outlined the importance of having global technology companies located in Sydney.

“NSW is already Australia’s ICT capital and many global tech companies have chosen Sydney as the base for their Australian and Asia Pacific operations, ­including SurveyMonkey, Google, Facebook and Twitter.

“This commitment to technology and innovation sends a global signal that Sydney is a place for investment, a place for start-ups, a place that is geared towards the future.”