Residents’ fury over $7.7m mega Gladesville Bridge Marina expansion
The newly proposed Gladesville Bridge Marina expansion aims to store a staggering 130 vessels, a jump from the 50 fixed berths at present.
Northern District Times
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DOZENS of furious residents have objected the proposed $7.7 million mega upgrade of a marina in Sydney’s inner-west claiming it will block their homes and encroach on public waterways.
The newly proposed Gladesville Bridge Marina expansion aims to store a staggering 130 vessels, a jump from the 50 fixed berths at present.
It would feature 115 vessels which can be fixed to the marina as well as an additional 15 swing moorings which is estimated to cost $7,753,154.
Eight new valet car parking spaces at the end of Victoria Place in Drummoyne have also been proposed, according to the development proposal lodged by Enares Pty Ltd on December 19.
Local community group Save the Gladesville Waterway Bridge Inc, which consists of about 40 members, have objected to the upgrade since its first rumblings last January.
The major concerns are increased traffic congestion, disruption of views and the domination of a public bay by a private company, said group president Scott MacLaren.
The applicant of the project has was approached for comment and did not respond. But Gladesville Bridge marina manager Matt Hundleby said it would allow more locals to use the waterway.
“The marina is here for everyone, including kayakers. About a third of boat owners on the marina are local,” he said.
“There is a massive shortage of recreational facilities in Sydney Harbour which is for everyone, from kayaks to yachts.”
Save the Gladesville Waterway Bridge Inc have set up an online petition which has attracted more than 850 signatures against the proposed expansion to date.
Mr MacLaren questioned why one company could “dominate” the bay when “everyone who lives in the same bay doesn’t have the same entitlement to that public asset”.
He claimed a “fundamental problem” with the proposed marina is that it doesn’t extend away from the land.
Mr MacLaren said other nearby marinas such those Birkenhead Point and Woolwich extend from the land and consequently don’t block views.
Residents have also claimed there is already limited parking on Victoria Place and said eight new parking spaces was not enough if the plan goes ahead, as it would attract more commercial-size boats.
“It’s not adequate now. So eight spots for about 50 new boats is absolutely nothing,” he said.
Mr Maclaren said the current marina is also at one of the narrowest parts of the Parramatta River and said an expansion would “slow down” the river.
“You can’t go through there at pace because the marina exists,” he said.
Canada Bay Council Mayor Angelo Tsirekas said he had “real concerns” about how the proposed marina expansion would visually impact the area.
“This proposed development would be a scar on the face of our beautiful waterway,” he said.
“The owners are proposing a significant increase in scale and I have real concerns about the dramatic visual impact of the proposal, the environmental impacts on the river and foreshore areas as well as the traffic and parking issues,” he said.
Mr Hundleby, however, rejected claims that the expansion would mean that the area was too narrow for vessels to pass.
“There is no issue with ferries and other vessels to pass, as we are liberating over a hectare of water and there is the potential for the department to widen the channel,” Mr Hundleby said.
While Mr Hundleby accepted there was a parking issue he said it was only in the evening.
“There is a parking issue at night. But our boaters are generally here in the daytime. I don’t think we are part of that problem,” he said.