Is Sub Base Platypus at North Sydney a business park?
The public is being duped into Sub Base Platypus at North Sydney becoming a business park, according to a community group, but planners believe they have the balance right.
The public is being duped into Sub Base Platypus at North Sydney becoming a business park, according to a community group, but planners believe they have the balance right.
The Friends of Platypus - residents seeking to influence the former submarine base’s redevelopment - has urged people to examine the latest development proposed for the site.
The Sydney Harbour Federation Trust is redeveloping the site for offices, restaurants and public space. A gasworks prior to being a naval base, the land was decontaminated in 2016.
The Trust recently proposed converting the five-storey former torpedo factory.
This would open the factory’s top level to become a harbour lookout and public carpark for about 40 vehicles. Vehicle access would be from High St.
The other floors would be leased to businesses.
The Friends’ Loretta Moy said the Trust was simply trying to convert the former factory to suit business.
Ms Moy said the site was public land. The structure could be demolished and a park provided, she said. The building is not heritage-listed.
“It’s ridiculous the Trust thinks this amazing site should be a business park,” she said.
“You have all these towers going up around the city, and you could have this green space.”
A spokeswoman for the Trust said the base had been closed to the public for 150 years, and was being gradually opened.
She said the Trust had demolished a number of buildings to create public open space.
The historically significant Retort House has been marked primarily for community use, she said.
The Trust had consulted the community extensively over many years on its plans, according to the spokeswoman, and these received broad community support.
The site was on the state heritage register and retaining buildings was important to understand its history, she said.
The former torpedo factory would be the third building at the base to be converted for business. Renovations are under way at the former submarine school and fleet workshops.
Other structures are being restored.
A park and playground were opened to the public in May last year.
The Trust is accepting public submissions on the plans for the former torpedo factory until April 12.
The Trust is a federal government body and its staff will decide whether to proceed with the plans.
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