Berrys Bay masterplan meets mixed response from north shore residents

A masterplan for a historic maritime precinct has prompted concerns the area could become a destination for ‘glitz and glamour’ attracting commercial events and weddings. See what they want instead.

A masterplan for a historic maritime precinct has prompted concerns the area could become a destination for “glitz and glamour” that would attract commercial events and weddings.

Residents on the lower north shore have called on the state government for certainty over a newly released masterplan for Berrys Bay that is set to transform the foreshore area into a new recreational hub.

The project has been driven by the Western Harbour Tunnel project that will turn government owned land on the western side of the bay into a tunnelling and construction zone during the duration of the project.

Plans show works on the revamp would begin once the tunnel construction activity is completed and would be built by the yet-to-be announced contractor of the motorway project.

The plans include almost three football fields worth of open space, a gathering space for welcome to country events and new lookouts across Sydney Harbour.

The project would be built by the tunnel contractor.

Heritage buildings in the precinct would be adapted, including the historic Quarantine Station and the 114-year-old Woodley’s boat yard, which would be retained and turned into a harbour side community space connecting to a new amphitheatre.

A new jetty would be built next to the boat yard as well as new access points to beach areas and launching points for vessels such as kayaks.

Residents have raised concerns over lack of detail in the plans including over what commercial activities would be permitted in the precinct and the bay.

A concept plan of the masterplan.

Mary Curran, who sits on a local resident precinct group, said concerns have been fuelled by previous development attempts for the bay which included a marina that was staunchly opposed by locals.

“The masterplan that was put out is more of a landscape plan and doesn’t include detail about how the land and water will be used,” she said.

“What we want is for the bay to be for the people and not for someone to be making money off.

Mary Curran, pictured back right, is among residents who have raised concerns over the masterplan.

“We like the idea of passive recreation and kayaking, what we don’t want is glitzy glamour or a wedding centre – we want it to be a low key public asset where people can enjoy peace and quiet.

“We’re living in a very dense urban environment and it should be a place where people can connect with nature.”

The release of plans has also prompted renewed concerns about what will happen to the decaying state of historic buildings in the precinct including the Woodleys boat yard.

A concept rendering of the masterplan.

North Sydney Mayor Zoe Baker has said many buildings in the present were at risk of facing “demolition by neglect” during the construction timeline of the Western Harbour Tunnel.

Ms Baker has called for sections of the precinct not required for tunnel construction to be handed over to the community before the tunnel is completed.

North Sydney Council is pushing for the masterplan to be “specific enough that the government of the day can be held to account for it”.

The project would transform Berrys Bay.

“As it will be seven or eight years before it is delivered the masterplan needs to be adopted by the community, by the council and by Transport for NSW, and the document needs to hold the contractor to account in eight years’ time,” the council said.

In a statement, a Transport for NSW spokeswoman said the project would deliver community benefits.

“Transport prepared a draft landscape masterplan for Berrys Bay which was open for community feedback,” she said.

“The plan will provide a vision to transform the former industrial land of Berrys Bay into usable public open space.

“Transport for NSW remains within the Western Harbour Tunnel procurement tender phase for the second stage of works for the project. A contract is expected to be awarded and successful contractor announced by the end of 2022.”

Other features of the masterplan include footpaths connecting “missing links” in current walkways on the Waverton peninsula.

Visitors would also have to make use of existing street parking on the peninsula with 16 parking spaces provided in the new precinct due to site constraints.

The 6.5km Western Harbour Tunnel will link Rozelle to the Warringah Fwy with three lanes in each direction.