Urban planners have been urged to be more transparent about high-rise apartment plans around Sydney Fish Markets

Thousands of high-rise apartments could be squeezed around the Sydney Fish Markets as part of the Bays Precinct redevelopment.

The Bays Market District, based around the Sydney Fish Markets, could be the site of more than 2,000 apartments in high-rise blocks.

CONCERNS that thousands of high-rise apartments will be squeezed around the Sydney Fish Markets has prompted calls for the State Government to be “transparent” about development plans for the Bays Precinct.

A Government document suggests developers could build 2760 dwellings in the Bays Market District, part of $20 billion in transformation plans for White, Blackwattle and Rozelle bays.

UrbanGrowth NSW, the Government agency overseeing its inner city renewal plans, produced a “potential outcomes” document last year indicating the homes could be located on the strip of waterfront land that takes in the fish markets.

Critics said if that large number of apartments were allowed in that area, it would lead to multiple high-rise blocks being built.

A worker uses a trolley to shift tubs of fresh fish at a Sydney Fish Markets auction. Picture Cameron Richardson

The development option came to light as part of a written submission from the Education Department to a current NSW parliamentary inquiry into enrolment capacity in inner city public primary schools.

In its submission to the Upper House inquiry the Education Department wrote: “Although official housing projections have not been released, a potential outcomes document (provided by UrbanGrowth NSW to the Department of Education in 2015) indicates that up to 2760 dwellings could be located in the Bays Market District.”

Now, NSW Greens MLC David Shoebridge and Balmain Greens MP Jamie Parker have vowed to pepper Planning Minister Rob Stokes with questions about its plans for the markets’ site.

“The Bays Market District is just a little strip of land which from just north of the fish markets, and south to some wharves with powerboats moorings and a concrete plant,” Mr Shoebridge said.

“The first thing we need is some transparency from the Planning Minister and UrbanGrowth.

“It can’t be left to a recycled rumour, through a submission from the Department of Education, to inform Sydneysiders what their plans are.”

UrbanGrowth said the figures quoted relate to a theoretical maximum number of dwellings that could be accommodated across the entire Bays Market District, an area greater than the Fish Market site.