White Bay Power Station redevelopment to be steered by UrbanGrowth NSW after tender process failure
THE NSW state government will be the developer of future of the White Bay Power Station after it rejected 13 private proposals, saying they weren’t in the public interest.
Inner West
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A proposed tech hub at White Bay Power Station will now be developed by UrbanGrowth NSW after private sector proposals failed to make the grade.
Instead, the organisation will draw inspiration from New York’s emerging Roosevelt Island development in partnership with industry and community to create a new home for Sydney’s high tech sector.
UrbanGrowth NSW chairman John Brogden said the state government’s vision was for the old White Bay Power Station to become Australia’s leading world-class tech hub.
“While some proposals were strong in certain areas ... the private sector proposals relied too heavily on residential development to fund decontamination of the power station,” Mr Brogden said.
“Doing so would have changed the nature of the site.”
Mr Brogden said UrbanGrowth NSW would instead assume the role of master developer of the White Bay Power Station site in the heart of the Bays Precinct.
“We will break the project into smaller parcels of land as part of a staged development to attract a diverse range of tenants who will meet the Government’s agenda,” Mr Brogden said.
UrbanGrowth NSW will expedite the project with an upfront financial contribution to restoring and rehabilitating the historic, “unique but contaminated” site.
“We have set a very high bar to transform this strategic asset and its surrounds into a tech hub that supports Australia’s knowledge-intensive industries,” Mr Brogen said.
“As the custodians of this heritage-listed building on public land, we owe it to Sydneysiders, the people of NSW and future generations to get this right.”
UrbanGrowth NSW will focus on securing suitable occupants for the White Bay Power Station by the end of the year.
State planning minister Rob Stokes said the government would only accept proposals that delivered on the State Government’s vision for a world-class innovation and technology precinct.
“This will not be an exercise where government hands over large areas of public land and gives away control, without ensuring good outcomes for the community,” Mr Stokes said.
Australian and international contenders had submitted 13 proposals for the White Bay Power Station’s redevelopment.
The Inner West Courier previously reported Google and LendLease were among those competing for the tender, submitting a joint proposal.
The University of Sydney, University of NSW, University of Technology and Macquarie University were also meeting in February to discuss a proposal for a multi-university campus in the Bays Precinct.
Former Leichhardt mayor Darcy Byrne had criticised the state government’s decision not to realise those proposals to the public.
“This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to bring something visionary to local residents and the whole city,” Mr Byrne had said.
“We’ve seen at Barangaroo how the public interest is sidelined when governments keep tender process secret.”
UrbanGrowth NSW has been contacted for further comment.
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