Google and Baird negotiating to redevelop White Bay Power Station to tech centre with 10,000 employees

TECH giant Google and the Baird government have entered direct negotiations to redevelop the White Bay Power Station as a tech centre.

NSW Premier Mike Baird is in talks with Google. Picture: AAP Image/Paul Miller

GLOBAL tech giant Google and the Baird government have entered direct negotiations to redevelop the White Bay Power Station as a tech centre.

It follows a few false starts after Premier Mike Baird announced, during The Daily Telegraph’s Bradfield Oration, the government’s wish to turn the area into a technology centre.

A decision to put the station to tender failed to attract the sort of bid the government wanted, despite 13 companies tendering.

White Bay Power Station. Picture: Toby Zerna

It is understood the government was of the view that the bids involved too much proposed residential development when the desire was for more knowledge intensive industries.

The negotiations with Google Australia Pty Ltd focus on redeveloping the White Bay Power Station as a global centre for hi-tech jobs and innovation.

Light rail could be directed to the site and a station on the Western Metro line could even be placed at Glebe Island, government sources said.

Google has 1500 employees in Sydney with aims to grow this to as many as 10,000.

The White Bay Power Station is a central element of The Bays innovation district project.

Google plans to grow their current 1500 employees to 10,000. Picture: Toby Zerna

There could be light rail directed to the site. Picture: Toby Zerna

“Innovation districts are so important to cities because they catalyse job creation in future

industries, drive income growth, and increase productivity,” UrbanGrowth NSW chief executive David Pitchford said.

“A successful district in Sydney will help underpin the economy of NSW and contribute to ensuring our city’s ongoing growth and standard of living into the future.

“By offering the right mix of factors, as well as leveraging the unique characteristics of Sydney

Harbour, we can create an iconic innovation district like Seattle’s South Lake Union or those

being planned at New York’s Roosevelt Island and in London.

“As master developer of the site, UrbanGrowth NSW will work with the private sector to

transform the power station and its surrounds.

Inside the White Bay Power Station, this is the former Turbine Hall. Picture: Toby Zerna

“We intend to develop separate parcels of land in a staged process to attract a diverse range of

developers and tenants but our initial focus will be on repurposing this iconic building.”

Last year Mr Baird and his Planning Minister Rob Stokes announced their plans for a continuous waterfront promenade from Balmain to Pyrmont to be boosted by the transformation of the White Bay station for “knowledge-intensive industries”.

“This plan showcases the NSW Government’s ambition for The Bays Precinct to drive an internationally competitive economy by creating destinations on Sydney Harbour that will generate space for hi-tech jobs and sustainable homes of the future,” Mr Baird said at the time.

White Bay Power Stationcould be the new hub for knowledge-intensive jobs. Picture: Toby Zerna

“White Bay Power Station has the potential to be a hub for knowledge-intensive jobs in new economy areas, while providing an opportunity to restore the heritage building and provide public access to the foreshore.

“The plan will unlock The Bays Precinct’s enormous potential, returning this prime harbourfront land to the community and providing wonderful new waterfront destinations and public spaces.”

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