Noakes, Pattons: north shore planning panel determines marina, slipway expansions

The jostle between residents and working marinas on Sydney Harbour is heating up with a decision on the next major development set to be handed down this week.

A decision comes after plans for the Noakes expansion in McMahons Point was handed down this month.

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Contentious plans to expand a Kirribilli slipway are set to be handed down – days after a nearby proposal for a $5.8 million “floating dry dock” was knocked by planning authorities.

The Sydney North Planning Panel will meet this week to determine whether to approve a $3 million expansion of Pattons Slipway on Willoughby St amid ongoing concerns from surrounding residents and homeowners. 

Plans show the project would include a new boat crane servicing 35 tonne vessels along with a new two-storey boat shed and a floating pontoon accommodating up to five vessels at a time.

A concept plan of the Pattons Slipway development.

The expansion of the site has prompted a string of objections from residents and North Sydney Council due to impacts including traffic congestion, air pollution and “significant adverse impacts on public views”.

Earlier this year, Pattons Slipway scaled down the scope of the project including minor reductions to the height of the boat shed, but despite the adjustments the council voted to reject the application earlier this month.

Pattons Slipway, in plans for the expansion, said the project would not significantly impact views and was in line with State Government planning laws aimed at supporting industrial working activity on Sydney Harbour.

A concept plan of the Noakes expansion.

“The existing facility is one of only a few working-harbour boat yards in Sydney, which caters for a wide and continuously varying range of vessels,” the plans stated.

“Foreshore sites should be retained so as to preserve the character and functions of a working harbour, in relation to both current and future demand.”

But the jostle between waterfront residents and harbour facilities has generated backlash over a string of other proposals including the Gladesville Bridge Marina.

A decision on Pattons also comes three weeks after the Sydney North Planning Panel rejected a $5.8 million plan by Noakes Shipyard in McMahons Point to build a floating dry dock servicing vessels weighing up to 1000 tonnes.

The proposal – which sparked a petition signed by 450 people – was unanimously rejected by panel members on grounds including air quality and noise impacts.

In its plans, Pattons Slipway said the proposal would have various measures in place to address the amenity of the area including a complaints handling procedure, ongoing water monitoring and noise mitigation.

A decision will be handed down on Wednesday.